Urban renewal brings new vitality to old factory complexes in eastern Chinese cities

China's urban renewal projects are breathing new life into its abandoned factory areas, as the authorities move away from large-scale demolition toward incremental change, which emphasizes the preservation of industrial heritage and small-scale adjustments.

In Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province, the 579 Baigongji area -- once the city's largest used goods and building materials market -- has been transformed into a popular cultural and tourism hub.

This pilot project exemplifies Jinan's efforts to reuse existing structures of urban renewal objects through minor renovations.

"Our minor renovations aren't just about bricks. It's about making small changes to bring about self-changes and achieving more by doing less. Of the 100,000-square-meter complex, only 27,000 square meters underwent renovation. The remaining 73,000 square meters were just simply decorated, basically retaining their original appearances, yet the outcomes are amazing," said Wang Qun, head of the 579 Baigongji.

The complex is now home to more than 50 companies. Its success has inspired replications elsewhere.

"Since last year, we have launched over 100 urban renewal projects using the approach of small-scale, incremental, and minor changes to simultaneously improve supporting facilities, preserve historical and cultural heritage, and elevate people's living standards," said Zhao Xin, director of urban renewal of the Jinan Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Bureau.

A parallel case is the Donghu Yiku Park in the old city of Nanchang, capital city of east China's Jiangxi Province.

The former largest foreign trade storage base of Jiangxi has retained 90 percent of its old structures during renewal and restored its historical Suzhou-style buildings.

"It has greatly increased our foot traffic. We estimate about 300 visitors come here daily on Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- often beyond our capacity to handle," said Yang Wen, a shop owner at the park.

The renewal and transformation of old blocks, old factory areas, and urban villages are not only reshaping the looks of Chinese cities, but also unleashing domestic demand for the cities' high-quality development, according to experts.

"The renewal of old blocks and old factory areas is a key means to make spatial and quality improvements and to add vitality and new economic growth momentum to cities. By shifting functions, upgrading business forms, and creating consumption scenarios, cities can forge new consumption spaces that are more appealing, and attract emerging industries such as cultural creation and sci-tech innovation, ultimately cultivating new economic growth drivers," said Wang Kai, president of China Academy of Urban Planning Design.

Urban renewal brings new vitality to old factory complexes in eastern Chinese cities

Chicago policymakers have introduced measures to increase housing supply, in a move that local activists and construction industry stakeholders have hailed as key to easing affordability pressures on residents.

According to the city's 2025 annual report on homelessness, Chicago is facing its largest gap in affordable and available housing in a decade, with the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count estimating that 7,452 people were experiencing homelessness, either in shelters or unsheltered locations, on January 23, 2025.

Steven Vance, a social worker in Chicago, said policies that previously curbed the city's housing supply have pushed up rent costs amid demographic changes.

"Households are declining in size, and that means we need more homes, and I thought it was strange that we would artificially restrict how many homes could get built in Chicago. Right now in Chicago, we have one of the highest rent growths, compared year to year in the country, and so now is a pivotal time to allow more housing," he said.

To address the challenge, Chicago has introduced zoning and land-use reforms, including the Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Ordinance, aimed at increasing residential density and expanding housing supply.

The ordinance effectively expands housing access across the city by allowing ADUs in attics, basements, and accessory buildings, easing the rent burden and creating more budget-friendly housing options.

"In December 2020, City Council adopted an ordinance that would legalize ADUs in five pilot areas. (With ADU,) rents will maybe not always come down, but they will not climb as quickly as they are now if we have more housing options," he said.

The construction sector in the city has welcomed the policy change, with builders jumping on the opportunity to create new structures. For many in the industry, boosting housing supply is not just about doing business, but about addressing the issue of affordability as Chicago residents themselves.

"The housing market in Chicago has been impacted by the ADU program, to me, in a really big way. It's enabled a lot more rental projects to be constructed. I want there to be more housing in Chicago. I think there is a need for that, and I think there's also a need for responsible development that maintains the character of the neighborhood. Affordable housing to me is a really important issue, and to me, the biggest denominator in affordable housing is the lack of supply. The best route to affordable housing is to have an influx of housing," said Nick Serra, a construction professional.

Chicago expands housing supply to ease affordability pressure