Beijing Hutong Conservation Plan - Tibet Heritage Fund

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5.3 Cooperation between residents, officials and experts
Residential communities are now recognised as being an integral component of any historic area. Many international projects such as the IBA in Berlin, the
Main Street Program in the USA and the rehabilitation of the Zanzibar have demonstrated the succesful use of community-based area rehabilitation. The
Hutong survey confirmed that the present resident community is deep-rooted and is inseparable from the atmosphere of the old city. Beijing already has one
of the world’s largest out-door museums, the Forbidden City. The Hutongs now have a unique vitality, which will be destroyed if they too are made into
museum towns.
In the Ya er Hutong area, an attempt has already been made to re-establish one family courtyards by relocating present residents and redeveloping the
courtyards for wealthy families. So far, this has not been economically successful. One of the problems with this solution has been that the lifestyle of today’s
wealthy owners no longer fits into the Hutong community. The wealthy tend not to use local shops and markets, keep their gates locked and use the private
cars to get around. Thus they contribute little to the local community (and bereaving Beijing of one of its tourist attractions) whilst overstressing the transport
infrastructure - the Yuan Dynasty lanes. Over the past century, a feudalistic system has transformed into a popular social community. To forcefully remove
thousands of residents for the benefit of a few owners would harm this social system and create a feeling of unfairness and inequality.
It the present residents were to be given security of tenure (in varying degrees for private owners and long-term tenants), many of the current problems
would be solved. Much of the maintenance responsibility could be taken on by residents. To facilitate this, Government officials, technical experts, and
investors need to work together closely with the community. In such a network of co-operation, each group would have designated responsibilities, which
might include:
a) Government input
Strong regulations and enforceable laws for the preservation of historic areas and residence rights
for the original long-term inhabitants.
Infrastructure improvement (sewers, drains etc).
Financial support (especially compensation for voluntarily moving out)
Population control (limiting number of new residents moving into the district)
b) Residents’ input
Regular building maintenance, verified and checked annually by the local Neighborhood
Community Office
Infrastructure upgrading (for example paying for sewage connection, new waterlines within the
courtyard area, heating)
c) Local experts input
Technical advice
Feasibility studies
d) Third (outside) party input:
Limited financial support, international experience, additional technical advice
Residents
Government
Hutong
Community
Preserve Beijing Historical quarters
Sustainable development of Hutong
community
Local experts
Third party