Parking is a persistent challenge in older residential neighborhoods, and the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association has proposed building underground parking garages in communities where conditions permit.
In recent years, as the number of privately owned cars per household has steadily increased, parking shortages in older residential neighborhoods have become a widespread issue in Shanghai. Under the current constraints on scarce resources, how can we overcome this challenge?
At the upcoming 2020 Shanghai Two Sessions, the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association plans to submit a joint proposal recommending that Shanghai pilot the planning and construction of underground parking garages in eligible older residential neighborhoods, thereby enabling these communities to separate pedestrians from vehicles, reclaim public space for residents, and restore green spaces to the community.
The proposal points out that, in some older residential communities in Shanghai, inadequate supporting infrastructure has led to an increasingly severe parking shortage. Issues such as encroachment on green spaces, obstruction of roadways, and indiscriminate parking are particularly acute, with instances even arising where pedestrians vie for space with vehicles and vehicles compete with the community’s public green areas and communal exercise facilities for limited land. These problems directly undermine residents’ quality of life.
The proposal notes that, in recent years, as China has vigorously advanced new technologies and innovative construction methods for underground space development, significant progress has been made in underground parking garage construction, including the adoption of precast underground wall construction techniques, the cut-and-cover method, and precast prefabricated underground mechanical parking systems.
“These construction techniques are adaptable to various site conditions, have reached a high degree of maturity, and are cost‑controlled.”
“From the perspective of specific construction techniques, the proposal outlines two approaches.”
First, in older residential communities with sufficient construction space, underground parking garages can be built using precast underground walls as the enclosure structure, combined with the cut-and-cover method for constructing the garage superstructure.
That is:
First, the diaphragm wall panels are prefabricated at the factory and then assembled on site. Subsequently, the roof slab of the underground parking structure is constructed using the cut-and-cover method, followed by the placement of the base slab, thereby completing the construction of the underground parking garage.
This method offers several advantages, including minimal site occupation, resource conservation, environmental friendliness, reduced construction costs, and limited impact on the surrounding area.
Second, in older residential neighborhoods where adequate construction space is lacking, small, underutilized parcels of land on the periphery—such as public green spaces—can be repurposed to construct prefabricated, modular underground mechanical parking garages.
The underground mechanical parking structure is constructed using precast, modular components, and its installation is carried out using the caisson sinking method.
The parking system employs an intelligent mechanical device that integrates vehicle lateral movement, vertical lifting, and 360-degree rotation, enabling fully automated vehicle storage and retrieval without requiring personnel to enter the facility—ensuring safety and convenience.
“This demonstrates that the technology for constructing underground parking garages in older residential neighborhoods is already viable; the next step is to refine relevant policies and planning.”
In response, the proposal puts forward three specific recommendations.
First, strengthen the comprehensive planning for underground space development.
It is recommended that the development of underground parking facilities in aging residential neighborhoods be promptly integrated into the city’s overall urban planning, and coordinated with the planning of other underground infrastructure, such as underground pedestrian malls, subway stations, and civil defense structures.
For large public‑building projects that are under construction, approved but not yet built, or in the planning stage, parking garages shall be provided in strict compliance with applicable regulations. In new residential areas, underground parking facilities should make full use of plazas and green spaces to develop subterranean parking; for eligible older residential neighborhoods, pilot projects to construct underground parking garages should be undertaken.
Second, establish and improve the coordination and management mechanisms and systems for underground space development.
Drawing on the experience of developed countries, establish dedicated agencies at all levels of government responsible for the development and utilization of underground space, tasked with overall planning and coordination of major issues related to its development and use.
At the same time, efforts should be accelerated to refine the institutional framework for managing underground space, establish a comprehensive coordination mechanism, and develop norms, methods, and procedures for balancing competing interests. Management responsibilities must be clearly defined, with public interest given priority, thereby fostering a governance system characterized by market-driven dynamics, expert advisory input, departmental oversight, and government decision-making.
Third, accelerate the establishment of a property rights system for the development and utilization of underground space, and encourage diversified investment in its development and use.
Improve the property rights system for the development and utilization of underground space, fully integrate urban underground space into the land and resources management framework, establish a supply mechanism for underground space, and bring it under the unified registration regime for real estate.
At the same time, we will innovate the management system and investment incentive policies, adhere to the principle of “who invests reaps the benefits,” and foster a favorable environment for market‑based operations. Encourage diversified investment in the development and utilization of underground space to further alleviate parking difficulties in residential communities. While maximizing economic, social, and environmental benefits, we will actively encourage and guide private capital to invest in the construction of underground parking facilities, particularly in aging residential neighborhoods.
