Przemiany funkcji handlowych i usługowych centrum dzielnicy mieszkaniowej na przykładzie Krakowa-Nowej Huty

Nowa Huta, which was founded in 1949 as a separate town, after 2 years was incorporated to Krakow, becoming one of its districts. In the very beginning, as intended by the planners, the centre of Nowa Huta was created around Plac Centralny. Alongside the centre of Cracow, it is the most recognizable centre (district centre) of the city. In the socialist period Nowa Huta, being a component of Cracow, gave its residents the feeling of autonomy, mainly due to the role of a nearby steelworks which played an important part in meeting their needs. In the period of the social-economic transformation the role of the factory was significantly reduced. The district fell into an economic and social crisis. At the same time, spatial and social integration of the district with the rest of the city became stronger. It was observed that Nowa Huta, particularly in its central part, was experiencing a crisis of local commercial and service functions. Previously unique functions of the centre started to devaluate. In spite of the onset of revitalization of the place we are observing a systematic disappearance of the central functions of the area, although, it functions as the centre of Nowa Huta in terms of urban layout and in the awereness of the inhabitants and other users. Discussed phenomena of the declining functions of this part of the district should be of great priority for policy makers undertaking the issues related to the development of the city.