Two significant projects aimed at revitalizing Sichuan Road N. were inaugurated on March 20 as part of a three-year action plan to enhance the area through innovation.
The projects, Derring Apartments renovation and the urban renewal of Block 176, mark a key step towards revitalizing and integrating the old with the new in Hongkou District.
Derring Apartments, located at the junction of Qipu Road, Chongming Road, and Jiangxi Road N., and built between 1933 and 1935, has been a gathering place for numerous cultural figures.
In 2005, it was designated as a Shanghai outstanding historical conservation building. The renovation project focuses on restoring and protecting history, aiming to create a new cultural landmark in Hongkou featuring creative offices, exhibition spaces, forums, and stylish shops.
It plans to attract quality merchants, emerging businesses, and renowned brands, energizing the North Bund area with 1,000 high-quality creative talents and diverse functions.
Derring Apartments will join other historical buildings to enhance the leisure route along Sichuan Road N. and the north bank of the Suzhou Creek, the district government said.
The Block 176, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters, will be developed by Hongfang Group, with an estimated investment of about 2 billion yuan. The project includes a 26-story tower with a 5-story podium and three underground levels, scheduled for completion in December 2027.
As a crucial part of the commercial circle upgrade on Sichuan Road N., the project aims to drive core functional improvements through urban renewal, blending functions, integrating industry and city, fostering green ecology, and preserving cultural heritage.
This will rejuvenate the Sichuan Road N. and Qiujiang Road area, enhance living environments, optimize public spaces, revive cultural charm, and regenerate commercial vitality, sparking new development momentum for Sichuan Road N.
In 2023, Hongkou launched the "Three-Year Action Plan for Enhancing Sichuan Road N. through Innovation (2023-2025)." This year, the enhancement of Sichuan Road N. is one of the district's top 10 action initiatives.
Hongkou is committed to merging commerce, tourism, culture, and sports, digging deep into the resources of Sichuan Road N. to innovate and develop the south, middle, and north segments as one.
With 38 key projects, the district aims to create immersive experiences, night-time vitality, and quality consumption, driving both commercial development and popularity through "cultural plus" initiatives.
The district plans to push forward with urban renewal, leveraging Sichuan Road N.'s strategic location to rejuvenate the streetscape, upgrade business formats, enhance quality, and improve livelihoods, the district government said.