Changes in the Use of Urban Land on the Example of Katowice Downtown in Years 2003-2017
Changes in the Use of Urban Land on the Example of Katowice Downtown in Years 2003-2017

Summary/Abstract: Purpose - The aim of the article is to identify the phenomenon of undeveloped land in the city downtown and therefore fill the gap in the recent urban land literature, likewise to provide recommendations to local authorities how to tackle with the idle land problem. Design/methodology/approach - The data of landed property sales transactions are examined in downtown Katowice during the years of 2003-2017, paying special attention to changes in land use after the purchase. The researched period of 14 years is characterised by strong transformation of city’s landscape and its surrounding, that is creating Upper Silesian Agglomeration, and then formal structure of GZM Metropolis (Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis). Applying the case study method for city description, it is seen, that numerous public and private investments have contributed to a strong reduction in land supply and densification of downtown Katowice. The literature review bases on the specificity of the land market in the city centres. Findings - The study shows that corporations are the main player on the land market in downtown Katowice. 35% of the number of purchased land stays undeveloped, of which 81% of land remains undeveloped for over a period of 3 years. Research limitations - As the study is the introduction to the topic, it contains basic descriptive statistics regarding landed property prices, transaction parties, and changes in land use. As the research focus on Katowice downtown it does not take into account possible liaisons with other cities that constitutes metropolitan area. Research implications - Recommendation to local authorities are the following: to levy taxes on vacant land, execute perpetual usufruct contracts, establish spatial development plan for whole area of the city, change an attitude to the investors for less liberal attitude and with greater emphasis on spatial order of city.

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