Atrakcyjność Powiśla z perspektywy warszawskich elit

Over the years, Powiśle was not an attractive area for Warsaw's inhabitants, because of regular flooding by Vistula river and was and localization of industrial sites during the 20th century. However, since the 1930s, the situation has been slowly evolving because of the intensive construction of this area. Thus, the social structure of Powiśle started to change step by step and became to be attractive for the upper categories. The slowly change in the perception of Powiśle raises questions about the attractiveness of this area for Warsaw's elites after 1989. Thus, this article presents the change in the perception of Powiśle according to Warsaw's elites after 1989. It uses data from population censuses 1988 and 2000 and the results of the interviews' conducted with Warsaw's elites in 2011. The analysis of the occupational structure of Powiśle between 1988 and 2002 revealed a growth in the number of higher professional categories (directors and high civil servants, and specialists) representing almost half of active population of Powiśle in 2002. Furthermore, in the light of the interviews with elites in 2011 Powiśle is assessed as a "good" area and is placed among ten the most prestigious areas in Warsaw, very often quoted apart from Śródmieście. There is a number of arguments for this growth in attractiveness in Powiśle: localization in the proximity to the city centre, quiet, less densely built-up with several old buildings with architectural value as well as some green places. Moreover, this area has become a popular place among upper categories for spending their free time. However, the majority of the Warsaw's elites interviewed, usually spent their free time in the neighbouring areas in Śródmieście i.e. around Krakowskie Przedmieście street, Nowy Świat street and the Three Cross place.