PRINCIPAL POLICIES OF THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

Revitalizing Tokyo

Project Profile

The TMG has utilized the vitality of the private sector to promote progressive urban development programs. This has included adopting architectural plans that are designed to secure open spaces, create the level of public facilities required by specific communities, introduce development plans matched to local needs and pursue other creative ideas by mobilizing urban development systems that relax controls on the ground-area-to-building-size ratio, the height/line building restrictions and other building-related controls. Relying on this approach alone, however, has produced difficulties in eliminating districts with a high concentration of wooden residences, improving the level of dwellings in central areas and making other significant progress in the quest for an optimum urban environment for living and working alike.

The Urban Renewal Project is designed to improve this situation, with land owned by the TMG to be used for the TMG itself to become more actively involved in promoting positive and productive solutions for urban development. Forecasts are for a considerable increase in the scale of TMG-owned land to be made available for this type of plan, which will be achieved by rebuilding metropolitan housing, consolidating metropolitan schools and various other proactive measures.

The development of this land will be the key to creating more housing in the central area, eliminating concentrations of wooden residences and setting other benchmark goals for raising the appeal and vitality of communities. The idea is to achieve all this through private sector projects. This approach will be used to promote urban development in conjunction with maximum use of private capital and know-how, thus keeping TMG expenditures to a minimum.

The overall plan is for this scheme to cover all metropolitan districts, thereby facilitating the renewal of Tokyo as a community that people will be glad to choose as their place of work and residence.

Target Districts

The basic working policy for this project has been established and a certain degree of coordination completed with local communities and other involved parties. Based on this progress, the areas in which specific work will be launched in the drive for urban renewal will be designated as "target districts."

For the first phase of this undertaking, the following two areas were designated as target districts in October 2003:

Kami-Osaki, 3-Chome, Shinagawa Ward

Utilization of land freed up by reducing the size of the Toei bus offices in this district in order to create a joint project with the adjacent site.

TMG-owned land to be utilized
Bureau of Transportation, Shinagawa Vehicle Office, Meguro Branch

Location
3-1-2 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa Ward

Area
Approx. 1.0 ha

Urban Development Benchmark Goal (Urban Development Concept)
"Community development to support active urban programs"

	Supply good quality housing and establish shops that support daily life.
	Establish a station-front daycare center and other handy facilities that improve the environment for raising children.
	Supply entrepreneurial support facilities and housing compatible with SOHO (small office, home office) enterprises.
	Build commercial facilities that generate, or have, useful applications; strive to maintain scenic urban landscapes and improve pedestrian space.
	Improve infrastructure to allow optimum pedestrian traffic flow between the station area and downtown area; adopt barrier-free access measures
	Address the urban "heat island" effect and other urban environment problems.

Honcho District, Higashi-Murayama City

Utilize land freed up through reorganization and improvement of the Toei housing complex in this district to promote an urban development project.

TMG-owned land to be utilized
Toei Higashi-Murayama Honcho Housing Complex

Locations
3-3-1 Honcho, Higashi-Murayama City, and others.

Area
Approx. 9.5 ha

Urban Development Benchmark Goal (Urban Development Concept)
"Create a relaxed and attractive urban residential district that appeals to residents of all generations."

	Use of fixed-term lease system and other schemes to supply housing that is spacious, of a high quality and reasonably priced.
	Establish stores that support everyday life and a plaza where residents and visitors can get together.
	Create an urban residential district with a rich green environment and pleasing appearance.
	Establish a daycare center, senior citizens care support center and other facilities that enhance the child-raising environment, senior welfare functions and other amenities.