zones and eventually whole streets are threatened with neglect regardless of the character or even the heritage value of the buildings. For too long, the equation downtown equals stationary retail and the B-plans with use restrictions have been aligned with this. Now there is a growing realization that the monotony of the same retail zones is proving resistant to the crisis. New ideas and new concepts for mixed uses and more quality of stay in the city centers are being discussed. What role can the architectural heritage play in this context as a carrier of identification, so that inner cities once again become a meeting place for people? If the inner cities are to retain their face, the existing must be used in a new way.