Shanghai’s Industrial Waterfronts! History and Redevelopment

Abstract

Projects to redevelop waterfront areas have emerged in many cities
around the world over the last three decades. Many of those cities
expected such urban interventions to create higher land-value with
the change of use from industrial to commercial or residential.
However, attempts to revitalise urban waterfronts have encountered
various challenges. Historically, most waterfronts were inaccessible
to the public, and besides the spatial, environmental and social challenges,
fragmented and complex structures of jurisdictional involvement
in waterfront projects have led to long periods of implementation,
high investment and high risks to all involved stakeholders.
These are the same challenges Chinese cities like Shanghai encounter
in the waterfront redevelopment process.