Preliminary considerations for the territorial organization of the city of Girona into municipal districts

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to a debate on decentralization and citizen participation which should be initiated in the city of Girona (Gerona). The initial hypothesis is that decentralization and participation policies are essential, not only for the administration of major metropolis, but also for cities of the size of Girona (pop. 68. 985) taking into consideration, however, the differences which obviously exist.

Urban territorial subdivision is conceived as a means of implementing decentralization and participation policies. The purpose of the article is not, therefore, so much the analysis and explanation of the present system as the formulation of an adequate policy of spatial organization which would be applicable in the future. Bearing in mind the fact that the political and functional controls which will determine decentralization and participation policies in Girona have not yet been outlined, thus making it impossible to formulate an applicable proposal for territorial organization, the author elected to analyze those factors of historical, social and spatial origin which could influence the future district subdivision of Girona. These include: the historical precedents of territorial subdivisions in the city, the boundaries of former municipalities swallowed up in the city's expansion, the territorial limits of neighbourhood associations, existing urban district divisions, estimates of urban growth and urban-planning projects now being implemented, and the present limits of Girona. Lastly, the author proposes that the forty-two minor units identified using the above criteria should be grouped into eight municipal districts, in the hope of thus stimulating further discussion on the spatial organization of the city of Girona.