**2. Conceptual Strategic Planning and Management Model for the Regeneration and Protection of the Historic City Centers**

With the purpose of developing the conceptual strategic planning and management model for the regeneration and protection of the historic city centers in this paper, we will use and adapt the theoretical model of urban management in the implementation of strategic projects in Serbia—developed and tested by Radosavljevi´c [16], as shown in Figure 1. The model was tested on several case studies of urban regeneration through large-scale strategic projects and transformative actions in urban management, planning, and governance. Thus, urban management of sustainable urban projects in the model [16] is formulated in a threefold way:


The purpose of adapting the model of urban management in the implementation of strategic projects [16] to heritage aspects is to make it relevant for the regeneration and protection of the historic city centers. The conceptual strategic planning and management model for the regeneration and protection of the historic city centers proposed in this paper (shown in Figure 2) consists of structural elements based on the aforementioned concepts of urban governance, strategic planning and participatory planning, and the protection and development of cultural heritage and historical urban landscapes.

The structural elements of the conceptual strategic planning and management model for the regeneration and protection of the historic city centers proposed in this paper (shown in the Figure 2) are as follows:


We argue that a specific—tailor-made—integrated strategic urban planning approach could be a useful model for the development and urban regeneration and the preservation of the protected valuable historic urban landscapes. Consequently, creating synergies between development and protection could contribute to the sustainable urban revival of wider surrounding territories, including the cultural, social and economic development of both the historic city center and the city as a whole. In the remainder of this chapter, we will present the structural elements of the conceptual strategic planning and management model for the regeneration and protection of historic city centers.

### *2.1. Spatial, Social, and Economic Context and the Level of Obsolescence and Dynamics of Historic City Centers*

Fundamental changes in society in general, such as globalization and a transformation towards an information and network society and economy [17], as well as economic changes in western countries with the decline of traditional manufacturing industries, caused cities to shift their role from centers of production to centers of consumption [18]. Under those circumstances, historic city centers, regarding their spatial, functional, and physical structure, could not respond anymore to their new, contemporary needs and development dynamics.

Thus, regarding the protection and the development of cultural heritage and historic urban landscapes, Doratli [19] highlights that the proper diagnosis of two contextual characteristics during analyses plays a crucial role, even before deciding on the most appropriate strategic approach for the revitalization of historic urban quarters:


**Figure 2.** Conceptual Strategic Planning and Management Model for the Regeneration and Protection of Historic City Centers.

The level of obsolescence of historic city centers is directly related to the deterioration of the whole quarter, which usually has narrow streets and buildings used for less suitable purposes, in relation to the contemporary needs of standardization, traffic and energy efficiency and socio-economic, cultural, and political conditions. Thus, an investigation should be made to enlist the buildings in poor overall and sanitary conditions; scarce parking spaces; land uses in general, incompatible land uses, and which of the uses have left for more favorable city districts; changes in the ownership patterns; and surveys on tenure, property values and rent [19].

More specifically, according to Tiesdell, Oc, and Heath [18], the different aspects of obsolescence that have to be considered are:


The level of obsolescence of historic city centers can be in a close relationship with the economic development dynamics of the area itself and external dynamics of a whole city. These development dynamics, as argued by Doratli [19], can be in a:

