Resident Participation Mechanism for Sustainable Improvement of Old Urban Communities in China

The purposes of this paper are to analyze sustainable improvement processes for old urban communities and to establish a resident participation mechanism for community improvement. In China, particularly in cities with a long history, there exist many old urban communities with environmental, social and economical problems against the background of rapid urbanization. Although the policies endeavored to improve such communities in decades past, full success will probably not be achieved unless residents can take action to voice their needs, defend their benefits and affect change on their own. Therefore, it is important to study sustainable improvement processes for old urban communities in China and to promote resident participation. In this paper, sustainable improvement of old urban communities is defined, resident needs are discussed, stages and features of the sustainable improvement process are analyzed, and powers for advanced improvement processes are put forward. What is more, a resident participation mechanism is established with four subsystems including resident needs, time, objectives and approach.