Public Policies: GreenCity Impact study of the Tivoli GreenCity neighborhood

citydev.brussels is a public economic and urban development operator whose aim is to build the city of tomorrow by adapting to the realities and needs of the economic players and residents of the Brussels region. The institution's mission is threefold: to bring housing and businesses together in the same district, to encourage economic expansion by creating spaces for businesses, and to create housing that is accessible to all. 

In 2023, citydev.brussels asked the Urban School to study the impact of the Tivoli GreenCity district on the various aspects of sustainable development. The impact study is an original undertaking that brings together the issues of public policy evaluation and the ecological transition of European metropolises.

Tivoli GreenCity, an exemplary sustainable district on a European scale

In 2019, the Tivoli GreenCity eco-neighbourhood was inaugurated. This district stands out for its innovative approach to sustainability, technically and in terms of citizen participation. The district is designed to be multifunctional, hosting both housing and entrepreneurial and innovative activities in the field of the sustainable, solidarity-based and circular economy in Brussels.

Tivoli GreenCity comprises 397 homes, of which 271 are subsidised (open-access) and 126 are social housing. The district has 2 eco-crèches and 7 retail outlets to support these residential functions. Tivoli GreenCity has 10,000 m² of public spaces, including a central square (the Jardin des Justes). The district also has an incubator, Greenbizz, which houses young companies involved in environmental, social or circular economy projects. The incubator offers companies workspaces and services. It includes production workshops and a FabLab.

An evaluation conducted by the Urban School 

How do you assess an inhabited neighbourhood? Using what criteria and what data? What is the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods? To grasp these issues and ensure that the social, economic, and environmental dimensions are brought together as effectively as possible, the Urban School has proposed that the eco-district be approached through three 'evaluation bricks': flows and urban metabolism, the link between productive and residential functions, and, lastly, housing and users. 

In concrete terms, students from three different Masters courses worked on this action-research project under the scientific direction of Agnès Bastin: the Master Cycle d'Urbanisme, the Master Stratégies territoriales et Urbaines (STU) and the Master Governing Ecological Transition in Cities (GETIC). From October 2023 to June 2024, 15 students collected a large amount of qualitative and quantitative data. To ensure the coherence of all this work, a scientific committee has been mobilised throughout the project to ensure the robustness of the analyses, the coherence of the approach with other international scientific work and to support the tutors and students over time, with a view to optimising coordination. A   seminar was also organised mid-way through the project in Brussels to discuss the interim results with local stakeholders.

Production of an evaluation matrix for inhabited neighbourhoods

To carry out this study, the students conducted a benchmark of 6 European sustainable neighbourhood reference systems, combined with a literature review and an extensive interview campaign. These elements were used to produce an evaluation of the Tivoli GreenCity neighbourhood and a sustainable neighbourhood evaluation matrix, thus completing the evaluation of the Tivoli GreenCity neighbourhood.

The matrix comprises 36 criteria and 71 indicators. It is designed to be reusable and comes with a user guide to make learning easy. This tool aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the district, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. Its design has been the subject of a lengthy process of reflection, particularly about its form, which can be appropriated and used in a professional context while being sufficiently nuanced and non-normative. The final format is, therefore, the product of a compromise between practicality and academic rigour.