The idea behind bringing ‘Projekt Łódź’ into existence was conceptual and organizational work for our city of Łódź. Since quite a long time among our main interests is an issue of revitalization of the city, especially the post-industrial area of Księży Młyn. We have co-organised the Revitalisation Festival, which took place in September last year, among other initiatives. We have also actively participated in creation of coalition of organisations and environments interested in the topic of areas of Łódź in question, which lead to creation of the Council of Księży Młyn.
‘Projekt Łódź’ cooperates with Manhattan Institute on a daily basis, also when the above issue is concerned. The Institute is the biggest American research centre dealing with problems connected with big cities’ reform.
During past 18 months we have carried out an extensive informative project targeted at decisive environments, especially those in Warsaw, which could possibly help Łódź in gaining a deeper interest in the problem, which equals to gaining governmental subsidies and grants from the European Union.
In connection to the project we have drawn the First Lady’s, Mrs Maria Kaczyńska attention, who expressed her interest in finding out more about the ‘Księży Młyn’ issue and in visiting Łódź in her response to our letter, in January. She also asked for basic information about the problem of revitalisation, in writing, prior to her visit.
In response to the request, our friend and a member of ‘Projekt Łódż’ Council, Sebastian Rybarczyk, who is updated with the topic, addressed a letter to the President’s wife, in which he elucidates the whole topic. In the end of May the correspondence between ‘Projekt Łódź’ and the First Lady leaked out to Łódź City Hall and triggered off unusual panic and hysteria. Presidents Kropiwnicki and Tomaszewski made phone calls to each and every member of the Księży Młyn Program Council asking if they had known anything about the initiative and if they had signed the letter. Such behaviour of the officials can be interpreted as inadmissible effort towards interference in activity of non-governmental organisations, which may not necessarily be in accordance with the ideas of current authorities.
In connection to the above we have decided to publish the letter to Mrs Maria Kaczyńska in its original version so as to dispel any doubts concerning its content and intentions.
Mrs Maria Kaczyńska, Łódź 10.04.2007
Pałac Prezydencki
Warsaw
Thank you for your interest in the problem of revitalisation of the area of Księży Młyn in Łódź. In connection to your letter from January this year we wish to inform you about actions that have been undertaken, in the meantime, by environments focused around potential solutions to the problem.
In December last year the Council of Księży Młyn was brought into existence within Łódzka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna S.A. (the Łódź Special Economic Zone). Its mission was to coordinate all initiatives launched by various groups of people aimed at revitalisation of this historic, and unique on a global scale, post-industrial area. The Council’s task is also to elaborate and take a position on the future of Księży Młyn together with remitting its magnificence. The following people form the Council:
Marek Cieślak – President of Łódzka Specjalna strefa Ekonomiczna S.A. (the Łódż Special Economic Zone)
Ditta Tomaszewska – the President’s of ŁSSE S.A. revitalisation issues adviser
Ireneusz Jabłoński – Chairman of the Program Council of ‘Projekt Łódż’
Jadwiga Tryzno – Director of Muzeum Książki Artystycznej
Adam Radoń – Director in Łódzki Dom Kultury
Krzysztof Candrowicz – President of Łódź Art Center
Krzysztof Apostolidis – a representative of entrepreneurs involved in revitalisation projects
Prof. Tomasz Domański – a representative of the University of Łódź
Carrying out a large social initiative aimed at informing public opinion about threats the area of Księży Młyn is facing, together with inclining the city authorities to a deeper interest in the problem and undertaking activities targeted at a complex regulation of the issue are the main tasks on the agenda of environments focused around Księży Młyn at the moment.
We presume that the current situation of Księży Młyn, which consists in rudimentary sale of the area’s fragments, is inevitably leading to its degeneration and, in the same time, to a loss of one of the most important relics that prove the magnificence of Łódź and Polad.
In connection to the above we will be a pleasure to have you as a guest in Łódź so that you will have an opportunity to acquaint yourself with the problem on the spot, as well as to listen to the opinions of people involved in the project of revitalisation of Księży Młyn.
On behalf of the Program Council of ‘Projekt Łódź’
Sebastian Rybarczyk
