The first half of 2025 brought intense activity within the “ReInd BBG: Re-Industrialization following the Brownfield is Better than Greenfield Principle” project, marked by significant progress in its implementation.

In the beginning of March, our colleagues Ana and Edi participated in a project partners’ meeting in the city of Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Municipality of Zenica, the Department for Development and International Projects of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and Eko-Forum Zenica. The main purpose of the meeting was for each partner to present their vision for the transformation of the brownfield sites they manage, and then to discuss different ways in which they can ensure the financial sustainability of the revitalization processes of these sites.

To demonstrate such methods used in Reșița, Sorin Dumitru, representative of the real estate development company Nhood, presented the approach implemented on the pilot site Mociur-Valea Țerovei-Triaj in Reșița. Nhood is the developer that answered the joint Reșița Municipality x MKBT call to attract investors for the redevelopment of a significant part of the Mociur-Triaj-Țerova Valley pilot site, and also an associate partner in the ReInd BBG project.

Sorin emphasized that former industrial zones—once symbols of urban decline—can be successfully transformed into dynamic, multifunctional spaces through a coherent vision and coordinated action by local authorities and investors. Some of the key lessons were:

• Confidence is key for investors: a compelling vision is important, but investors need more: clear timelines, mitigated risks and good local governance are key to attracting investment;
• Brownfield sites can be key-resources for urban regeneration:: With the right strategic approach, even seemingly unusable brownfield sites can be transformed into drivers of economic growth;
• Dedicated municipal leadership is key: The proactive stance of the Mayor of Reșița has been instrumental in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and accelerating the development process;
• Adaptability equals survival: Responsiveness to macroeconomic changes is vital to ensure the long-term viability of development projects.

In May, partners came together in an online session facilitated by our colleague Marina, that was dedicated to exploring various governance models for revitalizing brownfield sites. The discussion ultimately aimed to support each partner city in developing their own materials for attracting investment. Next, the MKBT team will work on updating the promotional materials developed in partnership with the Municipality of Reșița in 2017, available on www.investinresita.ro. We are also preparing a series of strategic planning meetings with key stakeholders involved in the future of the Triaj-Mociur-Valea Țerovei industrial area.

For more details on the actionsalready carried out in the area, see this article. And for updates on the ReIND project, we invite you to follow the official project page, check our post here or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.