Beijing Exchange Conference on Urban Renewal Policy, entitled “Planning and Renewal”, also as the 2^nd Fengtai Urban Renewal Cooperation and Development Forum, took place on 27 September at the Dingye Future Health Industrial Park in Fengtai District.

At the event, industry experts presented new concepts, directions, policies and practices for urban renewal to the public, with the aim of satisfying and enhancing urban renewal’s outcome through policy.

“Fengtai has established an operational and sustainable urban renewal working system and has identified the optimal direction for development, creating a scenario for urban renewal projects that leverage strengths and circumvent weaknesses.” At the event, CHU Junwei, deputy secretary of the Fengtai District Party Committee and head of the district, stated that the partnership of urban renewal in Fengtai District is expanding. We should adhere to the win-win concept to attract broader and more diverse partners based on the “Multiplication Plan” and “Development Partner Plan”.

Strengthening Urban Block Control and Regulations

To Integrate with Urban Renewal Special Planning

The relevant heads of departments from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Construction and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources delivered a comprehensive interpretation of policies related to urban renewal land planning and implementation. In response, Fengtai District has introduced corresponding supporting policies to provide guidance on addressing the practical issues associated with urban renewal. It has established the “Opinions on the Implementation of Project Management for Urban Renewal in Fengtai District (Trial)”, which delineates each unit’s responsibilities and outlines the procedures for implementation. In March 2023, the “Regulations on Urban Renewal in Beijing” were officially enacted, and Fengtai District has devised and implemented a streamlined working mechanism for urban renewal, with “one office” (Fengtai District Urban and Rural Construction Office), “one institute” (Urban Renewal Research Institute), “one platform” (Fengtai Urban Renewal Platform Company), and “A Network of Strategic Partners”. In alignment with the municipal master plan, the district serves as the primary hub for construction activities. Fengtai District adheres to the urban renewal work approach of “taking the block as the unit, the stock buildings as the main body, and the improvement of the functional environment as the guidance”. It focuses on strengthening the connection between block control and regulations and urban renewal special planning, which gives rise to the city’s first street-level urban renewal plan in Fangzhuang Street.

In regard to policy research, Fengtai District has established the “Urban Renewal Research Institute”. It is comprised of universities and institutes, industry associations, financial enterprises, and units in planning, design, construction, and operation, which serve as the “brain trust” of the government to provide dynamic, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive intellectual support for urban renewal. The first batch currently consists of 12 member units, including China Construction First Group Corporation Limited, China Construction Bank Beijing Branch, Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design, and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

Exploring the Implementation of “Urban Renewal + Industrial Revitalization”

Fengtai District has developed a comprehensive and systematic block control and regulation for in existing areas. According to LI Guolong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Fengtai District Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Fengtai District has enhanced its systematic planning by consolidating “points”, integrating “lines”, and reinforcing “areas”.

Consolidating “points”: Under the guidance of integrating stations with cities, Fengtai District is pursuing a joint development of the super TOD demonstration zone with surrounding urban renewal projects with a focus on the “three stations and one terminal” strategy: Beijingxi Railway Station, Beijingnan Railway Station, Beijing Fengtai Railway Station, and Lize Urban Terminal.

Integrating “lines”: Fengtai District is leveraging the “three lines” project, comprising the greenway, ecological belt, and scenic way, as the urban framework to drive urban renewal. Reinforcing “surfaces”: By systematically exploring the city’s historical heritage and characteristics of the times, Fengtai District can build a city impression of strong appeal and identity by cultivating an urban cultural image. “Controlling growth, promoting reduction, and optimizing stocks” has become the key direction for Beijing urban renewal at this stage.

Exploring New Paths for Urban Renewal

In 2024, Fengtai will promote 82 urban renewal projects with a total investment of RMB 10.45 billion. In recent years, Fengtai District has implemented a number of urban renewal projects, forming a model development path for urban renewal that aligns with the strategic positioning of the capital city and reflects the unique characteristics of Fengtai. It will enhance the functions of the capital and reinforce its image through the renewal of the southern central axis area, bringing the integrated urban renewal of Fengtai Station and the surrounding areas through the construction of rail transit stations.

Fengtai District has established a “street-enterprise partnership” model to guide streets in exploring regional characteristics and encourages enterprises to actively cooperate with the streets to reach a consensus on development. They adopt “meager-profit but sustainable” investment concept to cooperate in urban renewal and successfully pair three streets and enterprises.

As Beijing’s first reconstruction project of “in-situ demolition and reconstruction + upgrading from single-story houses to multi-story buildings”, the reconstruction project of the dangerous and old buildings in Majiabao Courtyard 68 has ensured the win-win outcome of “government support and guidance, resident-led promotion, and active corporate participation”. It engages residents in urban renewal and aligns project needs with their expectations to facilitate seamless progress, which has accomplished structural capping.