Łódź has been cooperating with ‘EurobuildCEE’ for several years now, organising many joint events and meetings. The most recent conference we held together, focused on the construction of the CPK [Central Communication Port]. Perhaps the real estate market is an area that you are particularly engaged in. Why is that?
Hanna Zdanowska, the Mayor of the City of Łódź: It’s a pleasure to answer that question – not so much from the perspective of personal preferences, but rather in terms of the responsibility that comes with managing a city with such immense potential for transformation as Łódź. For any local authority, the real estate market is an extremely important tool – it shapes spatial development, affects residents’ quality of life, and plays a key role in attracting investment. Over the last dozen or so years, Łódź has undergone a profound transformation – from a post-industrial city with a vast stock of properties in need of restoration, into a metropolis that now plays an active part in both national and European investment conversations. Cooperating with partners such as ‘Eurobuild’ has allowed us not only to promote Łódź’s potential, but also to take part in setting standards and solutions for the market as a whole. Personally, I find this area of activity particularly meaningful, as it brings together the social, economic and spatial aspects – and it is at their intersection that a modern, open and functional city can be built.
How do you and your local authority see the current state of the real estate market in Poland, particularly with regard to Łódź? Do we have reasons to be optimistic, or is there still a lot we can improve upon?
The real estate market in Poland is currently undergoing immense changes – we are witnessing both high demand for new developments and growing challenges related to construction costs, land availability and demographic shifts. In Łódź, these processes have taken on a special dimension. We are a city with significant growth potential, but also a unique spatial structure – with a large stock of post-industrial land, a historic urban fabric and an ambitious revitalisation programme. There are definitely reasons to be optimistic – investor interest remains high, and new residential estates, office developments as well as logistics and industrial projects are emerging. What we are particularly proud of is the activation of sites in the city centre and the development of the New Centre of Łódź, which is becoming a symbol of urban transformation. At the same time, we recognise that there are areas that still need strengthening – such as improving housing availability, streamlining planning procedures, enhancing social infrastructure, and integrating new investments with the needs of local communities more successfully. As a city, we take a balanced approach to real estate development – we want it to go hand in hand with the quality of the public space, climate awareness and accessibility for all groups of residents. This is a process that requires consistency and cooperation from many stakeholders, but I believe Łódź has the potential to be a leader in such areas.
Cooperation between local authorities and the private sector is often difficult and demanding. How do you manage it to ensure it proceeds so smoothly?
Cooperation between the local authorities and the business sector is a process which, although complex, can deliver very concrete and long-lasting results. It is true that we are dealing with different perspectives: local authorities operate according to procedures, long-term planning and the public interest, while business focuses on efficiency, timing and profitability. The key to successful partnership is mutual understanding of these realities and openness to dialogue. In Łódź, we focus on transparency, the early involvement of investors in planning processes and communication based on partnership. We seek solutions that benefit both the residents and the investors. We know that a well-prepared investment – aligned with the city’s development strategy – is an asset to all the parties involved. Our experience shows that trust and predictability are essential. We strive to be a partner that clearly defines rules and expectations, while also actively supporting initiatives in line with the city’s policy. Only when such a model is effective and sustainable is urban development possible.
