The role of real estate development activity in the re-urbanization of cities – a case study of Łódź, Poland

Abstract The suburbanization of cities began in many countries after World War II and was caused, among other things, by the growing popularity of the motor car, the development of transport networks, and the growth in human populations. In post-socialist countries, this process started later (mainly after the collapse of socialism). Suburbanization was often an uncontrolled phenomenon (due for instance to an ineffective urban spatial policy), which contributed to urban sprawl, and in which developers played a significant role. The growing costs of city maintenance have prompted local authorities to undertake planned activities for re-urbanization. The increase in development activities in recent years encourages reflection on their importance in these processes. This article aims to outline the role of developers, responsible for the new construction and the reconstruction of existing facilities, in the process of city re-urbanization, using the city of Łódź, Poland, as a case study. It is an example of a post-industrial city in which, the process of suburbanization, combined with the phenomenon of urban sprawl, proceeded rapidly after 1989. The phenomenon of depopulation has also been observed in Łódź for several years. Therefore, re-urbanization may be an antidote to some of Łódź’s population and spatial problems. The methods of desk research and a case study were used to achieve the aim.