The Urban Heritage Observatory: neighbours managing cultural heritage

Background

The Urban Heritage Observatory was set up in 2016 with the following main objectives: 1)To develop an observation as well as a decision-making tool based on qualitative and quantitative data  to feed the management and evaluation processes that have been developed as part of the CH Management Plan of the City of Lyon, 2) To provide more visibility and coherence in the analysis of the situation on UNESCO-listed site allowing the definition and implementation of future appropriate sectorial urban planning policies and actions and 3) To develop an information base for decision making of urban planning stakeholders and exchanges with the public.

The Observatory is meant to be a living initiative, evolving with the public participation, flexible and not expert-oriented.

The focus group of ten people approx. will hold five meetings a year, allowing temporary guests to attend. New ideas, challenges and solutions will be analysed and integrated throughout the process, and precise actions are to be defined after each meeting. The monitoring will be carried out considering quantitative and qualitative parameters. An auto-evaluation tool will be also put in place.