"Chang3-dong Urban Regeneration on Track"… Activation Plan Approved

A Total of 15 Priming Projects... "Creating a Bright Village in Chang3-dong Where History and Culture Coexist"
"Achieving Sustainable Urban Regeneration by 2022 Through Securing Resident Self-Reliance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Seoul City is set to fully launch an urban regeneration project aimed at revitalizing community participation, improving residential environments, and fostering cultural and economic regeneration in the Chang 3-dong area of Dobong-gu.

On the 20th, Seoul City held the 1st Urban Regeneration Committee meeting and announced that the Chang 3-dong Urban Regeneration Activation Plan in Dobong-gu was "approved with modifications." The Urban Regeneration Activation Plan refers to a comprehensive implementation plan that links various urban regeneration projects aimed at residential area revitalization and community activation.

The Chang 3-dong Urban Regeneration Activation Area covers approximately 346,000㎡ and developed its current residential form through housing development in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2015, three planned reconstruction zones were lifted, accelerating population decline, industrial decline, and building aging. After residents interested in urban regeneration participated in Seoul City's Hope Site Project in 2016 and underwent capacity-building processes, the area was finally selected as an Urban Regeneration Activation Area in February 2017.

Accordingly, targeting about 340,000㎡ in Chang 3-dong, the urban regeneration project will utilize the area's unique characteristics where history and culture coexist to revitalize community, living environment, and cultural economy. After project selection, the Chang 3-dong Urban Regeneration Support Center was opened, experts including a general coordinator were appointed, and initiatives such as operating an urban regeneration school, conducting resident public contests, and forming resident councils were promoted to establish a foundation for community activation and resident-centered project implementation.

The city explained that the Urban Regeneration Activation Plan was prepared through a process of collecting residents' opinions via consultations with resident councils, surveys, workshops, and public hearings, as well as expert advice and consultations with related organizations, under the vision of "A livable Choaansan Village where the Uicheon Stream flows."

The Chang 3-dong urban regeneration project consists of four areas and 15 projects, including creating a gathering place for diverse people, making a safe and bright place for the elderly, creating healthy living spaces, and fostering coexistence spaces for ages 0 to 100 (such as establishing resident shared-use facilities, designing the Choaansan Safe Village, and activating village communities). From 2018 to 2022, a total of 10 billion KRW in seed funding (9 billion KRW from Seoul City and 1 billion KRW from Dobong-gu) will be invested over five years. In addition to the seed funding, an additional budget of 31.5 billion KRW will be invested through urban regeneration cooperation projects, including the construction of an open multi-purpose gymnasium at Sinchang Elementary School in Chang 3-dong, the creation of an underground public parking lot, alleyway regeneration projects, and rainwater village creation projects. Once the approved activation plan is officially announced, the urban regeneration project will commence in earnest.

Kang Maeng-hoon, Director of Seoul City's Urban Regeneration Office, said, "We will do our best to continuously cooperate with autonomous districts to establish a sustainable urban regeneration leading model by securing residents' self-sustaining capabilities."