Before Havanna-lakótelep existed there were factories. Dr Liptak Pal’s factories stood here. They produced war materials from 1916. A munitions factory was built nearby. This was the Magyar Lőszergyár Rt. After the fall of the Tanácsköztársaság the factory was dismantled. The buildings became small houses. Many Transylvanian refugees and war veterans lived here. These homes were simple but met the needs of the time. This area became known as the Állami lakótelep. By the late 1930s early 1940s almost 9000 people lived here. Conditions were not ideal. In 1944 a Jewish ghetto was established here. About 1500 people lived in the ghetto.
Havanna-lakótelep’s history is complex. It’s a story of change and resilience. The Állami lakótelep was planned for reconstruction in the 1960s. This didn’t happen until much later. The old Állami lakótelep was demolished in the mid-1970s. Construction of Havanna-lakótelep began in 1977. The architect was Virágh Csaba. The Budapest City Council invested five billion forints. This funded 5600 apartments. The first houses were built incredibly quickly. In just one year the first residents moved in during 1978.
Havanna-lakótelep’s name is interesting. Budapest’s City Council decided on the name in 1978. There was no street with this name in Budapest. There was an initiative by the radio’s youth department. They wanted to name a street after Havana Cuba. This was to honor the 1978 World Youth and Students’ Festival. Havana had a Budapest street.
The construction of Havanna-lakótelep was typical of the late 1970s in Hungary. The technology was the Soviet-style large-panel system. The goal was fast and cheap construction. The development took place in two phases 1977-1981 and 1983-1985. On 60 hectares 6020 apartments were created. More than 20000 people found homes here. The apartments were 34-72 square meters. They had all amenities. The buildings were 10 and 11 stories tall. Locals called them straight or zigzag shaped.
Havanna-lakótelep had a negative reputation in the 1970s and 1980s. The problems were high population density age education and ethnicity. The demographics differed significantly from the city average. Crime was higher. Apartment prices were low. By the late 1980s early 1990s Budapest and the district leadership realized they needed to invest. They needed to improve the environment. They wanted to make Havanna-lakótelep a pleasant place to live. A CCTV system was installed to improve public safety.
Havanna-lakótelep changed a lot in the last 20-30 years. Many who grew up here moved away. Those who stayed are raising their children. They are more involved in their community. There are many nurseries kindergartens and schools. There is a local medical center a community center and more. Improvements are happening slowly. Renovations are visible. The panel program individual heating systems and the 2002 CCTV system revitalized the area. Crime has decreased. It’s no different than other Budapest housing estates.