Leipzig’s Inner East as an Arrival Space? Exploring the Trajectory of a Diversifying Neighbourhood

Abstract

The article analyses and discusses the development of Leipzig and especially its inner east as an ‘urban space of arrival’ since 1990. It represents a study about arrival in the post-socialist context that is fairly rare in the international debate so far, since most of the arrival debate builds on western European evidence. Leipzig’s inner east was characterised by shrinkage until the end of the 1990s and by new growth, especially after 2010, as the whole city grew. Since the second half of the 1990s the inner east has developed into a migrant area, referred to here as an ‘arrival space.’ Today, in 2020, it represents the most heterogeneous part of the city in terms of population structure and is one of the most dynamic areas in terms of in- and out-migration. At the same time, it represents an area where large amounts of the population face different types of disadvantage. Set against this context, the article embeds the story of Leipzig’s inner east into the arrival debate and investigates the area’s development according to the characteristics discussed by the debate. Our results reveal that Leipzig’s inner east represents a meaningful example of an arrival space in a specific (post-socialist, shrinkage followed by regrowth) context and that arrival and its spatial allocation strongly depend on factors like population, housing, and real estate market development, as well as policymaking and, significantly, recognition.

Refugee Arrival under Conditions of Urban Decline: From Territorial Stigma and Othering to Collective Place-Making in Diverse Shrinking Cities?

“…Upon asking where they saw themselves in some years from the time the interviews were conducted, several respondents expressed considering leaving Pirmasens at one point or another due to limited job opportunities. This confirms the literature stating that shrinkage can encourage the emergence of arrival spaces [69].…”

The Role of Natio‐Ethno‐Cultural Difference in Narratives of Neighbourhood Change – An Arrival Area in the East German Context

“…Both studies cover the particularly dynamic period of urban development since 2010, characterised by rising housing costs and exceptional population growth (Figure 2). In this period, also first signs of gentrification of the arrival neighbourhood became apparent (Haase et al 2020).…”

“…The city, which suffered from strong population loss after German reunification, was only able to achieve economic stabilisation and transform into a moderately growing metropolis at the beginning of the 2000s. Since the 2010s, the city has experienced dynamic growth and economic recovery (Haase et al 2020). In the course of these developments, the formerly low share of residents with a migration background 1 has also increased noticeably (Figure 2).…”

“…An instructive example is the city of Leipzig, whose demographic development was characterised by distinct out-migration processes after reunification, but which recently shows strong population growth and is considered a pioneer in terms of international migration in the new federal states of Germany (Bernt 2019). Using the example of an 'arrival' neighbourhood (Saunders 2010;Haase et al 2020;Hanhörster & Wessendorf 2020), the paper examines how differentiated exclusions and belongings referring to 'migration' are reflected and reproduced in media discourses and subjectivities of local actors. The following complimentary research questions are at the heart of the analysis:…”

Green Spaces and Their Social Functions: Specific Challenges in Urban Spaces of Arrival

“…It starts with a short reflection on the social roles and functions of urban green spaces, especially with respect to encounter, communication and interaction. Then it discusses specific challenges for these functions that may appear in heterogeneous urban environments, so-called urban spaces of arrival that can be found in many European cities and that are characterized by a highly heterogeneous population and a high representation of people with international background (Haase et al, 2020;Hans et al, 2019). Within this context, urban green spaces are being discussed as spaces of contact and conflict, of coping with difference and as places of social experience, learning and cooperation.…”