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APA in China Project APA has the ability to create an experienced team to serve as advisory board to any project. Each project reaches beyond a physical plan: It helps the city with long- and short-term strategic development analysis, implementation plan, and a system of planning management with tools and policies. In the course of these projects, APA provides training education for Chinese planners. APA's goal is to help create plans that:
Since 1996, APA has collaborated on demonstration projects. The first project was a thorough investigation and study of the management of China's arable lands and the use of land and water, done in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Land and Natural Resources and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
APA also co-drafted, with the China Academy of Urban Planning, check-up systems to examine the proficiency of certified planners in China. In 1999, APA and the Regional Planning Association created a plan for the Shanghai Pudong Huamu Area. In 2000, APA and the Chinese Mayors Association started the Mayors Forum to promote exchange between mayors. In 2002, with the assistance of the Nanjing Planning Bureau, APA conducted research on the historic preservation of ancient capitals. APA also invited Professor Grover Mouton III to collaborate with the Nanjing Planning Bureau on the Master plan for Menxi, Nanjing. Completed demonstration projects include the Plan of Huamu District in Pudong, Shanghai (completed in 2000), the Menxi Historical Preservation and Revitalization Plan, Nanjing (completed in 2002), and Zhenjiang Nanxu New Town Development (completed in 2004). Ongoing projects include Comparative Research on Historical Cities in the World (for Nanjing Urban Planning Bureau); Coastline Plan of Tianjin Municipality; General Land Use Plan, Tianjin Municipality; Xiazhazhen Master Plan and Urban Design Guidelines, and Strategic Plan for Nantong Regional and Port District in Inner Yangtze River.
The Haibin Road project is one of the key infrastructure projects in the "Chinese Tenth Five Year Development Plan." It is located at the coastal area in Tianjin and serves as the major transportation corridor between north and south, intersecting with many east-west roads. Haibin Road will connect with the coastline road from Hebei province, allowing interconnection of several ports. This will benefit Tianjin port and coastal area development. American experts described the ways in which American coastal cities take advantage of their special geographic features to aid economic development. Experts created a design proposal for the Tianjin coastline development after an onsite visit to study its characteristics. Image: APA experts and Chinese planners meet during the study tour.
The 14-day trip included visits to Chicago, Boston, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, and New Orleans. Lectures and tours given by American colleagues gave Chinese the delegates experience and understanding of American cities: what American planners do, what challenges they face, and how they solve problems. In addition, many U.S planning agencies have established communication with Chinese delegations, laying the foundation for future cooperation and exchange programs. City Introduction Nanjing is located approximately 200 miles west of Shanghai. The city was built mainly during the same time as the capitals of Ancient China: Six Dynasty Period, Tang Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, and Republic of China. Parts of the city are clearly connected with each historic period. Menxi District Menxi District is a historically sensitive area because it includes the Ming Dynasty Wall, the old city gate and old style street system, "Li Fang." This area faces problems from homeowner additions to houses and high population density that affects historic preservation.
Analysis Menxi district is a rectangular area inside the Nanjing central urbanized area, west of Xinhua Gate, along the inner Qinhuai River. There are currently 48 buildings and 25,000 residents in this district. Potential open space is mainly concentrated outside Hujia garden. There are gardens and old wells dispersed around this area that function as open space. This neighborhood has an urgent need for a better-defined open space, living area, and preservation of historic streets. Menxi district is similar to the French Quarter in New Orleans. It relies on tourism as the main part of the local and city economy, and weather conditions are hot and humid. Large-scale development occurred north of Menxi district in a bag shaped area, which destroyed some of the historic sites. Large scale development is defined as buildings that have at least five floors, made from concrete with ceramic tile cover, and having no special treatment between the buildings and the streets. Historic sites are concentrated in Menxi district's east side. Three symbols are used to mark the different levels of conditions. Purple indicates historic treasures that cannot be altered except for proper repairs. Orange indicates sites in fair condition that may be listed as historical treasures after proper repair. Yellow marks sites in poor condition and needing massive repair. Final Master Plan
Three areas represent three development opportunities. The city will preserve and protect historic street systems, walls, and architecture styles in the east cultural area. The middle open space area functions as green space and entertainment and functions as a transition zone. The west is a mixed-use area composed of industrial sites no longer in use and commercial and residential buildings still being used.
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In
December 2002, five APA experts specializing in coastal planning projects in
New Orleans and other cities visited Tianjin to discuss that city's coastline
plan.
The
Nanjing Planning Bureau has a long cooperative relationship with APA. In November
1999, APA Policy Director Jeffrey Soule invited the Nanjing Planning Bureau
to visit six American cities to do onsite studies of American planning process,
zoning, historic preservation, infill development, transportation planning
as well as planning implementation.)
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Grover
Mouton, Director of the Tulane University Regional Urban Design Center, used
the zoning concept in the final design. The Menxi district is zoned based on
different functions, the cultural area in the east (in purple), the open space
area in the middle (in green), commercial and residential area in the west
(in orange). Each of the three areas serves its own purposes and together compose
the Menxi district area.