1. BEST PRACTICES:
A GLOBAL GUIDEBOOK FOR
LINGANG CITY DEVELOPMENT
Diego Benitez, Gauri Jumde, LeMel Lindsey, Luxi Hong
NYU CAPSTONE CONSULTING TEAM
2. In November 2014, the NYU Capstone team was commissioned by the
China Center for Urban Development (CCUD) to conduct an extensive
research assignment examining Lingang’s development pattern as an
emerging satellite city within Shanghai’s Pudong District.
The goal of this research was to carry out an analysis of current
conditions and offer a compendium of case studies that identify
common trends and best practices suited to resolving challenges
identified by the NYU Capstone Team.
Introduction
3. Lingang, a city born within China’s recent wave of rapid urbanization,
enjoys many development advantages, including a well-established
road infrastructure, close proximity to Shanghai, improved air quality,
expansive green land, open space, and access to the Yangshan Deep
Water Port and Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone. However, after nearly
10 years of development, the city struggles to attract permanent
residents and remains largely void of inhabitants.
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4. Lingang’s Dishui Lake (a man-made circular lake forming the city
center) radiates into three concentric bands with residential, commercial
and business districts located in each respective band. A network of
roads and residential clusters separates these bands.
The lake functions as a gathering point and a central geographical
location forming the identity of the city and offering residents,
and tourists alike, an environmental reprieve from the urban haste
of central Shanghai.
The city is easily accessible by road, water, rail and air. All of which plays
an important role in attracting future investment. In addition, Lingang’s
newly built infrastructure adds significant value to potential residents.
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5. Surrounded by Dishui Lake, vast areas of public green spaces, well-
paved avenues and streets, and modern architecture, future residents
of Lingang will find the city an appealing alternative to the overcrowded
nature of neighboring Shanghai. The unique design of Dishui Lake, the
Lotus Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel) and the China Maritime Museum add
a distinct characteristic to the Lingang experience.
A look into other cities and how they have solved urban issues in
Livability, Sustainability, Tourism and Branding will help Lingang gain
insight for its future development.
Case Studies: Global Lessons for Lingang in
LIVABILITY TOURISMSUSTAINABILITY BRANDING
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6. LIVABILITY
“There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city;
people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must
fit our plans.”
-Jane Jacobs
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Livability refers to an urban area’s quality of life and its living
conditions. This may include a diverse number of community
aspects such as but not limited to increased economic
development, accessibility, diversity, education, cultural
amenities, sustainable infrastructure and the facilitation of
environments where residents can centrally work, play and eat.
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7. During its inception, the Navy Pier
was envisioned by its architect, Daniel
Burnham, as one of several projects
aimed to increase the recreation and
public engagement of the city’s natural
resources. Situated on Chicago’s Lake
Michigan shoreline, the Navy Pier’s
function has gone through several
iterations including commercial use,
naval training, an education forum, an
entertainment space and a location for
public gatherings. Today the Navy Pier
continues to serve the city as one of the
most successful public infrastructure
projects in the United States, drawing
over 8 million annual visitors.
Establishing a public works infrastructure
could efficiently utilize Lingang’s existing
resources as a platform for development
and civic engagement. As the case
study highlights, a waterfront project
along Lingang’s Dishui Lake would
provide numerous activities for tourist
and residents and establish a venue for
community engagement and interaction.
Chicago, USA: Navy Pier
8. SUSTAINABILITY
“Planned Densification is a process for implementation
of locally-appropriate levels of density over time, in key
locations, allowing market supply and demand to coevolve.
Indeed, density in these key locations can sustain lower
density elsewhere in a municipality.”
-planneddensification.com
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9. Reykjavik, Iceland: City Densification Initiative
During the economic boom of 2005-2007
Reykjavik initiated widespread suburban
development projects, however these
low rise and spread-out developments
became unpopular with local residents
and remained largely unfinished during
the subsequent 2008 economic crisis.
Currently, Reykjavik’s Municipal Plan
proposes progressive initiatives to
increase density in the capital city while
reducing its overall carbon footprint. The
densification strategy provides an option to
accommodate growing populations without
encouraging urban sprawl and promotes
efficient, transit oriented and sustainable
urban development.
Reykjavik’s densification plan can
be viewed as a guideline to promote
the Lingang’s long-term sustainable
development. Cities across China are
facing considerable strains on their
infrastructure as migration patterns see
rural dwellers drive growth in large and
medium sized urban centers.
Reykjavik’s Municipal Plan promotes
upward development as opposed to
traditional fragmented and dispersed
development patterns, thereby conserving
arable land and concentrating consumption
of local resources.
10. TOURISM
In many places of the world, good tourism planning triggers
a series of overlapping changes within a city, promoting
sustainable and balanced local development. The goal for
tourism planning varies according to a given location. In the
case of Lingang, the aim of tourism planning is to drive local
economic development, increase livability and attract visitors
with the prospect of encouraging future residents.
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11. Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France: Street Arts
Through a municipality initiative, Sotteville has
incorporated street art as a key strategy for
tourism and cultural development. Started in
1998, the Atelier 231 has been established as
one of the first production sites for street art
in France. Motivated by the vision of providing
access to art and culture to everyone, Atelier
231 was created to fulfill artists and local
residents’ desire for art and performance,
promote urban heritage and preservation, and
generate people’s interest in local culture. The
objective has been to make the street arts
initiative a participatory project where citizens
are involved in its planning and implementation.
The art experiment in Scottville successfully
drives local tourism and increases resident’s
social bonds to each other, and to the city, by
participating in community art projects that
celebrate urban culture. The strategy is highly
applicable to a new city like Lingang, with
a wealth of city youth seeking for outlets of
expression. As Lingang’s population grows, a
community project of this scope can help to
reinforce a collective identity and strengthen
the social fabric of the city. An open and
accessible artistic site has the potential to
encourage regional visitors and promote
tourism that engages in the creation of art as
well as setting the stage for future forums,
festivals and attractions.
12. BRANDING
“Unless you’ve lived in a particular city or have a good reason
to know a lot about it, the chances are that you think about
it in terms of a handful of qualities or attributes, a promise,
some kind of story. That simple brand narrative can have
a major impact on your decision to visit the city, to buy
its products or services, to do business there or even to
relocate there”.
-Simon Anholt
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13. In the 1980s, Medellín was known as the
world capital of cocaine under the influence
of Pablo Escobar. During the period known
as La Violencia (The Violence) the city was
one of the most dangerous places in the
world. All of this came to an end with his
death Escobar in 1993. Today Medellín is a
thriving city that is fast becoming a tourist
destination with innovative architecture and
a thriving art and cultural scene.
The Festival of Flowers gathers national
and international visitors to witness a
parade of flower arrangements showcased
by local and regional residents competing
for a grand prize in bouquet design. During
the Festival of Lights, churches, buildings,
parks and the Medellin River are adorned
with a dazzling display of Christmas designs
attracting millions of tourists throughout
the Christmas season. Among Medellin’s
international festivals and fairs include a
Film Festival, Poetry Festival, Jazz Festival
and Horse Fair providing the city with a
multitude of forums to raise awareness of its
brand among a growing audience. Indeed,
the city’s urban transformation is bringing
new attention to a once ignored region.
Medellin, Colombia
15. Authored by NYU Capstone Consulting Group:
Diego Benitez
Candidate for Master of Public Administration
International Specialization
Robert F. Wagner Schol of Public Service
Class of 2015
Gauri Jumde
Candidate for Master of Urban Planning
International Specialization
Robert F. Wagner Schol of Public Service
Class of 2015
LeMel Lindsey
Candidate for Master of Urban Planning
International Specialization
Robert F. Wagner Schol of Public Service
Class of 2015
Luxi Hong
Candidate for Master of Public Administration
International Specialization
Robert F. Wagner Schol of Public Service
Class of 2015
