Those people who refuse to move from their homes to make way for large-scale urban developments have earned themselves the name dingzihu, which literally means nailed households.
Behind this phenomenon is the conflict between the pursuit of interests by real estate developers and residents' struggles for fair compensation for the loss of their properties.
It is only natural that real estate developers aim to get maximum profits. It is also only natural that the government should protect the interests and rights of residents.
The latest scheme announced by the Beijing municipal government which encourages residents in the inner-city areas of the capital to move to the suburbs best represents the people-centered principle reiterated time again by the central authorities to map out fair policies concerning urban residents' livelihoods.
Preferential policies including financial aid is offered to those residents who want to move out of the inner-city area, so they can buy affordable housing. They too can also be given government subsidies for rent. People who choose to stay will also be assisted by the government to renovate their old courtyard houses.
Rather than forcing residents to move out of their old homes for real estate developments, the new scheme grants residents the right to make their own choice. This is where the scheme is different from other large-scale real estate development projects of the past.
Such a scheme kills two birds with one stone. Without the involvement of real estate developers, residents will get real benefits, the choice to move to the suburbs or not.
Also, when some residents move out of the inner-city areas, it would be much easier to better protect the old traditional style courtyards known as siheyuan.
What is even more significant is the long-term effect such a scheme will have on the model of urban renovations. Old city areas will be protected and low-income residents will have the opportunity to improve their living conditions.
There is no denying that the questionable role real estate developers have played in urban renovations in the past decades.
There has also been a lack of due attention from relevant government departments on the well-being of evacuated low-income residents and on the random and sometimes brutal demolition of housing by developers.
This has not only intensified conflict between residents and developers, but also resulted in the damage of cultural relics.
(China Daily January 8, 2008)
