Wojska Polskiego Avenue
Native nameAleja Wojska Polskiego (Polish)
Former name(s)Falkenwalder Straße
NamesakePolish Army
TypeAvenue
Maintained bySzczecin Roads and Public Transport Authority
Length6.9 km (4.3 mi)
Addresses248
LocationSzczecin, Poland
Coordinates53°27′01″N 14°30′54″E / 53.45025°N 14.515°E / 53.45025; 14.515
South-eastern endZwycięstwa Square
Major
junctions		Jagiellońska Street
North-western endEmila Zegadłowicza Street
Other
Known forsecond longest street of Szczecin
Websitewojskapolskiego.szczecin.eu

The Wojska Polskiego Avenue (literally Army of Poland Avenue; German before 1945: Falkenwalder Straße) is one of the main streets of the Polish city of Szczecin[1] (length 6.9 km), running from the south-east to the north-west. It lies on the territory of eight municipal neighbourhoods: Centrum, Śródmieście-Zachód, Śródmieście-Północ, Łękno, Pogodno, Arkońskie-Niemierzyn, Zawadzkiego-Klonowica, and Głębokie-Pilchowo. It constitutes a section of voivodeship road 115.

Some press articles,[2] tourist brochures, websites[3] and even the official website of Szczecin City Hall claim that Wojska Polskiego is the longest street in Szczecin.[4] However, the longest street is Floriana Krygiera Street (formerly Autostrada Poznańska), which is approximately 8.5 kilometres long.[5]

History

Before 1945

Today's Wojska Polskiego Avenue was originally a route leading from the Harbour Gate to the towns north-west of Szczecin.[1] In 1858 a complex of Stoewer factory buildings was built at the intersection with Unii Lubelskiej Street. In 1870s by the section of the avenue between its intersection with Piotra Skargi Street and Szarych Szeregów Square villas of the Westend housing estate were erected. In 1879, at the junction with Piotra Skargi Street, a complex of buildings of a horse tram depot was built.[6] From that depot the first horse trams left on 23 August 1879 on the route leading from Wojska Polskiego Avenue to Stanisława Staszica Street.[7] In the 1890s the tram line was electrified, and the northern part of the avenue was partly developed with villas belonging to the Neu Westend housing estate. At the same time, plots on both sides of the avenue were developed from Szarych Szeregów Square to Zgody Square by erecting multi-storey tenement houses.[1] Further construction investments along the avenue were carried out after the end of World War I, when blocks of flats were built north of Piotra Skargi Street.[1] In 1938 the old tram depot at the junction with Piotra Skargi Street was closed and the new tram depot Straßenbahnhof West (today Pogodno depot) was opened.[7]

1945–1973

As a result of the bombing of Szczecin during World War II, part of the buildings within the area of Zgody Square were destroyed.[1] In 1959 on the plot at the intersection with Małkowskiego Street a building for the Kosmos Cinema was constructed according to the design of Andrzej Korzeniowski.[8] In 1962 one of the corners with Jagiellońska Street was filled with a block of flats designed by J. Karwowski.[9] In 1963 a competition was announced for developing the plots created after removing the ruins of destroyed tenement houses.[10] The competition was decided in favour of Szczecin architects Wacław Furmańczyk and Witold Jarzynka,[11] who designed four identical 10-storey blocks of flats. Two of them were built near the intersection with Edmunda Bałuki Street, the third near the intersection with Bohaterów Getta Warszawskiego Street, and the fourth in the frontage between Zgody Square and Jagiellońska Street.

1973–2015

On 1 December 1973, by decision of Mayor Jan Stopyra, tram traffic was withdrawn from the section of the avenue between Szarych Szeregów and Zwycięstwa Square. A year later, the section was modernised by renovating the pavements and roadways, installing traffic lights, planting trees and renovating the façades of buildings.[1] At the junction with Piotra Ściegiennego and Królowej Jadwigi Streets a fountain in the form of a mosaic wall was erected, commonly referred to as the "Wailing Wall".[12] From the early 1980s to 1994, the avenue was also repaired, along with the tram tracks, in the section from Szarych Szeregów Square to Bogumiły Street and further towards Głębokie Lake.[1] In 1994, the depot at the junction with Piotra Skargi Street was cut off from the tram line.[13]

In the 1990s, vacant plots between Zwycięstwa and Zgody Squares were filled with new houses.[1] On 25 November 2001 the "Wailing Wall" was demolished and replaced by a fountain in the form of a pitcher pouring water, which after less than three years was devastated and finally dismantled.[12]

After 2015

In July and August 2015, the Szczecin Sociological Society (Polish Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Socjologiczne) and the Centre for Social and Economic Development (Polish Centrum Rozwoju Społeczno-Gospodarczego) held public consultations on the future appearance of the section of Wojska Polskiego Avenue between Szarych Szeregów Square and Zwycięstwa Square. In the public consultation, residents rejected the possibility of reconstructing the tram track or turning the avenue into a pedestrian zone.[14][15] In January 2017, the city held a second public consultation in which members of the neighbourhood councils and residents were able to choose between four concepts for the reconstruction of the avenue:[16]

  • 1st concept: two carriageways with one traffic lane each, separated by parking spaces and greenery, 30 km/h speed limit zone;
  • 2nd concept: two carriageways with two traffic lanes each, with the central lanes shared with the tramway track, limiting passenger car traffic, allowing access to the avenue only for taxis, resident cars and buses,
  • 3rd concept: maintaining the current solution, i.e. two carriageways with two lanes each, limiting parking spaces by introducing greenery,
  • 4rd concept: return to the pre-1973 traffic model, i.e. two carriageways with two traffic lanes each, tram tracks in the two central lanes, restriction of parking spaces by introducing greenery.

Eventually, 1st concept won.[17] In response to the abandonment of the restoration of the tram line, the Association of the Aesthetic and Modern Szczecin (Polish Stowarzyszenie Estetycznego i Nowoczesnego Szczecina) demanded that the city re-run the public consultation. In May 2017, city activists started collecting signatures for a civic resolution project on the restoration of tram traffic on Wojska Polskiego Avenue.[18] A vote in favour of restoring the tram line was cast by 1,554 people, after which the resolution was put to a vote at a city council session.[19] Ultimately, with 9 votes in favour, 9 against and 2 abstentions, the resolution was not adopted.[20]

In June 2017, the city, in cooperation with the Association of Polish Architects, announced a competition for the design of the reconstruction of Wojska Polskiego Avenue from Zwycięstwa Square to Szarych Szeregów Square.[21] The winning project was prepared by the Archaid design studio.[22] At the end of 2020, the city announced a tender for renovation of the said section of the avenue in accordance with the winning design.[23] The tender was settled in March 2021 in favour of the MTM company.[24] The selected contractor shall be obliged to carry out the modernisation works within 24 months from the date of entering into the agreement for the realisation of each of the two investment stages.[25]

Notable objects

No. Name Image Construction year Heritage register Description
Sculpture "Labyrinth" bezramki 1997 no A fountain of clinker mouldings designed by Ryszard Wilk and built with funds from the Szczecin City Hall and the Pomeranian Credit Bank.[26][27] Currently vandalised.
2 Kino Pionier 1907 1907 yes One of the oldest continuously operating cinemas in the world.[28]
8 "Kosmos" Cinema 1959 yes The cinema building was erected in 1959. The cinema was closed in 2003.[29]
63 no The tenement house where Wilhelm Meyer-Schwartau lived from 1891 to 1935.[30]
64 Villa of Heinrich Stolting 187x yes A villa built after 1870 for Heinrich Stolting. Nowadays it is the seat of Szczecin Artistic Agency.[31]
65 1882 yes Villa built in 1882.[32]
66 Villa of Quodbach 1882 yes A villa designed in 1876 by C.J. Decker for the entrepreneur Quodbach.[33] Nowadays it is the seat of, among others, the Poland-East Cooperation Association.
70 Villa of August Horn 1871–1872 yes The villa was built for August Horn, an entrepreneur.[34] It is one of three wooden dwelling houses preserved in the Śródmieście district.
72 Villa of Simon 1910–1911 yes The villa was built in 1910–1911 for a merchant named Simon. Nowadays it houses a medical clinic.[35]
73 yes The villa was the headquarters of the Polskie Radio Szczecin for many years.
76 Villa of Fritz Hoerder 1896–1897 yes The villa was built in 1896–1897 according to a design by Nulin Widman for Fritz Hoerder, an entrepreneur. Today it is the seat of the Catholic High School.[36]
84 Villa of August Lentz 1888–1889 yes Built between 1888 and 1889 in eclectic style to a design by Max Drechsler for August Lentz, an entrepreneur.[37]
92 Villa of Quistorps 1871–1872 yes A villa built between 1871 and 1872 for Johannes Quistorp.[38] Since 1950 it has been the seat of the Voivodship Ambulance Service.[39]
97 Villa of Carl Gerloff 1871–1872 yes The villa was built between 1871 and 1872 for the carpenter Carl Gerloff.[40] Nowadays it houses a medical clinic.[41]
115 Villa of Georg Grawitz 1897–1898 yes The villa was built between 1897 and 1898 for the town councillor Georg Grawitz.[42] It is the seat of the Tadeusz Szeligowski State Music School of the 1st Grade.
186 Car Mechanisms Factory "Polmo" 1899 no The factory was established in Szczecin in 1946 on the premises of the former German factory Stoewer Werke AG. Today the office building is owned by the developer Modehpolmo.
200 Pogodno tram depot 1938 no A tram depot located in the Zawadzkiego-Klonowica neighbourhood, Zachód city district. It was opened on 22 September 1938.
211 Villa of Otton Lindner 1925 yes A villa built in 1925 for the merchant Otto Lindner. At present, it houses the Public Kindergarten No. 2.[43]

Public transport

Tatra KT4DtM tram on line no. 1 near crossing with Piotra Skargi Street

Nowadays

As of 24 May 2021, the following public transport lines were running along Wojska Polskiego Avenue in the permanent traffic organisation:

In the past

  • tram lines:
    • normal day lines: 5 (1905–1945, 1948–1973), 7 (1934–1945, 1945–1973), 10 (1967–1973), 12 (1985–1988)[45]
    • night lines: 1N (1960–1996), 5N (1960–1973), 7N (1969–1973), 9N (1969–1996)[45]

Numbering

  • Zawadzkiego-Klonowica: 184–202 even, 235 – 248
  • Centrum: 1–63 odd
  • Łękno: 105–121 odd, 122–142, 143–171 odd, 185
  • Pogodno: 150–182 even, 189–231c odd
  • Arkońskie-Niemierzyn: 187
  • Śródmieście-Zachód: 2–62 odd
  • Głębokie-Pilchowo: 245–254
  • Śródmieście-Północ: 64–106

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Białecki, Tadeusz, ed. (2015). Encyklopedia Szczecina : wydanie jubileuszowe z okazji 70-lecia polskiego Szczecina [Encyclopedia of Szczecin: jubilee edition on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Polish Szczecin] (in Polish). Szczecin: Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Kultury. pp. 1200–1202. ISBN 978-83-942725-0-0. OCLC 924941684.
  2. ↑ "Ruszył projekt "Słynna Aleja". Jak ożywić Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie?" [The 'Famous Alley' project has been launched. How to revive Wojska Polskiego in Szczecin?]. 24kurier.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Pucowali najdłuższą ulicę Szczecina [wideo]". wszczecinie.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Al. Wojska Polskiego | Szczecin.EU". www.szczecin.eu (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Najdłuższe ulice w Szczecinie [TOP 15]". szczecin.se.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "EDD: Dawna zajezdnia tramwajów konnych « sedina.pl". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 Grochowiak, Remigiusz; Janiak, Mirosław (2019). Tramwaje w Szczecinie: 1879–1945 [Trams in Szczecin: 1879-1945] (in Polish) (1 ed.). Poznań: Kolpress. pp. 352–353. ISBN 978-83-943075-7-8. OCLC 1241629964.
  8. ↑ "Legendarne kino Kosmos wraca. Na początek koncert legendarnej kapeli" [The legendary Kosmos cinema returns. At the beginning the concert of the legendary band]. szczecin.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Bal, Wojciech (2017). "Architektura modernistyczna Szczecina lat 60. i 70. w idei i realizacji" [Modernist architecture of Szczecin in the 1960s and 1970s in concept and execution]. Wiadomości Konserwatorskie (in Polish). 47: 148.
  10. ↑ Kraśnicki jr, Andrzej. "Plac Zgody". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Szneider, Marcin (13 September 2020). "Plac Zgody w Szczecinie: konkurs z 1964 r." [Zgody Square in Szczecin: 1964 competition]. Marcin Szneider (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Żal "ściany płaczu", żal mozaiki" [Sorrow for the "Wailing Wall", sorrow for the mosaic]. 24kurier.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Encyklopedia: Historyczna zajezdnia przy ulicy Piotra Skargi" [Encyclopedia: Historic depot on Piotr Skargi Street]. Serwis KOMIS (in Polish). 18 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Winconek, Mieczysław (2 December 2016). "Bez tramwajów? Dlaczego?" [No trams? Why?]. Kurier Szczeciński. No. 233. Kurier Szczeciński sp. z o.o.
  15. ↑ Jaszczyński, Marek (3 March 2016). "Tramwaj nie pojedzie aleją. Mieszkańcy go nie chcą". Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  16. ↑ Jaszczyński, Mieczysław (22 January 2017). "Jaka będzie przyszłość al. Wojska Polskiego? Trwa dyskusja" [What will be the future of Wojska Polskiego Avenue? The discussion continues]. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Polska Press Sp. z o.o.
  17. ↑ Jaszczyński, Marek (20 April 2017). "Jak będzie wyglądała aleja Wojska Polskiego po przebudowie?" [What will Wojska Polskiego Avenue look like after reconstruction?]. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Jaszczyński, Marek (17 March 2016). "Walczą o tramwaj na al. Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie" [They are fighting for trams on Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin]. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Jaszczyński, Marek (18 May 2017). "Tramwaje na al. Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie? Zbierają podpisy "za" [WIDEO]" [Trams on Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin? They are collecting signatures 'for']. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Jaszczyński, Marek (5 July 2017). "Radni nie poparli odbudowy tramwaju na Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie" [Councillors not in favour of reintroducing tramway on Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin]. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  21. ↑ Wincorek, Mirosław. "Ledwie pięć wizji i... dywan" [Barely five visions and... a carpet]. 24kurier.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  22. ↑ Wincorek, Mirosław (30 November 2017). "Zwycięska wizja alei" [The winning vision for the avenue]. 24kurier.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  23. ↑ Gigiel, Marcin (26 December 2020). "O tym, kto przebuduje al. Wojska Polskiego dowiemy się później, niż zapowiadano" [We will find out who will rebuild Wojska Polskiego Avenue later than announced]. wszczecinie.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  24. ↑ "Wykonawca przebudowy al. Wojska Polskiego został wybrany" [The contractor for the reconstruction of Wojska Polskiego Avenue has been selected]. infoludek.pl (in Polish). 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  25. ↑ Polachowska, Sylwia (31 March 2021). "Przebudowa al. Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie. Znamy wykonawcę! Zmiany będą ogromne. Zobacz WIZUALIZACJE" [Redevelopment of Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin. We know the contractor! Changes will be enormous. See VISUALIZATIONS]. Głos Szczeciński (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  26. ↑ ""Labirynt" :: Zakład Usług Komunalnych w Szczecinie". zuk.szczecin.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  27. ↑ Podgajna, Ewa. "A jednak. Jedyna taka fontanna w Szczecinie zostanie rozebrana i zbudowana od nowa" [And yet. The only such fountain in Szczecin will be demolished and built anew]. szczecin.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Agora S.A. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  28. ↑ "Nasze kino | Kino Pionier". www.kino-pionier.com.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  29. ↑ "Legendarne kino Kosmos wraca. Na początek koncert legendarnej kapeli" [The legendary Kosmos cinema returns. At the beginning the concert of the legendary band]. szczecin.wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Agora S.A. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  30. ↑ "Niezwykli szczecinianie i ich kamienice | Visit Szczecin". visitszczecin.eu (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  31. ↑ "Kontakt". Szczecińska Agencja Artystyczna (in Polish). 30 January 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  32. ↑ "Willa przy alei Wojska Polskiego 65 – Encyklopedia Pomorza Zachodniego – pomeranica.pl". encyklopedia.szczecin.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  33. ↑ admin. "EDD: Willa Quodbacha – al. Wojska Polskiego 66 « sedina.pl". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  34. ↑ Łuczak, Marek (2009). Szczecin: Pogodno, Łękno = Braunsfelde, Westend (1 ed.). Szczecin: Zapol. ISBN 978-83-7518-176-0. OCLC 711833975.
  35. ↑ "Zabytkowa willa przy al. Wojska Polskiego w Szczecinie odzyska dawny blask" [Historic villa on Wojska Polskiego Avenue in Szczecin will regain its former glory]. Infoludek (in Polish). 3 June 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  36. ↑ "Liceum Katolickie Szczecin – Katolickie Liceum Ogólnokształcące". sk.edu.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  37. ↑ Słomiński, Maciej (1998). Pałac Młodzieży dawna willa Augusta Lentza = Villa August Lentz in Szczecin (1 ed.). Szczecin. ISBN 83-909632-1-3. OCLC 76611090.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  38. ↑ "EDD: Willa Quistorpa – al. Wojska Polskiego 92 « sedina.pl". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  39. ↑ "Willa Quistorpa (Pogotowie Ratunkowe)". Pomorze Zachodnie Travel. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  40. ↑ Łuczak, Marek (2009). Szczecin: Pogodno, Łękno = Braunsfelde, Westend (1 ed.). Szczecin: Zapol. pp. 160–161. ISBN 978-83-7518-176-0. OCLC 711833975.
  41. ↑ "Willa Gerloffa (Przychodnia dla Szkół Wyższych)". Pomorze Zachodnie Travel. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  42. ↑ "EDD: Willa Grawitza – al. Wojska Polskiego 115 « sedina.pl". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  43. ↑ "EDD: Willa Lindnera – al. Wojska Polskiego 211 « sedina.pl". sedina.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  44. 1 2 3 "Schemat sieci komunikacji dziennej" (PDF). zditm.szczecin.pl. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  45. 1 2 Szmuciński, Kajetan (2017). "Tramwaje w Szczecinie (1945–2014)" [Trams in Szczecin (1945–2014)]. Trams in Szczecin. History of a street omnibus in 13 books in prose (in Polish). Szczecin, Pasewalk.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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