The Tao of Urban Rejuvenation: Lessons from Lowertown

Editor’s Note: Weiming Lu has earned international recognition for his work in American cities; for his consulting work in cities around the world; and for his writings and lectures on city design, urban conservation and development. Lu was born and raised in China, where his father practiced and taught architecture and planning, and he studied engineering there. Lu continued his education in the United States, studying engineering at the University of Minnesota, then earning a master’s degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.

Lu’s career took him to planning positions in Minneapolis, Dallas and Saint Paul. As chief urban designer for Minneapolis in the 1960s, at the height of “urban renewal,” he helped develop Minnesota’s Heritage Preservation Act and establish the city’s preservation program. His activities as director of urban design for the City of Dallas in the 1970s helped revive urban neighborhoods and save the Texas School Book Depository. In Saint Paul, he served as president (1981–2006) of the Lowertown Redevelopment Corporation. Under his leadership, this became a national model of successful central city revitalization through public-private partnerships, recognized nationally with a Presidential Award for Design Excellence (1985) and a National Trust Honor Award (1995).

Lu is known for his expertise in blending old and new design. He has served as a consultant and advisor on numerous public and private projects in the United States and abroad, including the Beijing Olympics, Taiwan’s Planning Program, Singapore’s Chinatown and the reconstruction of south central Los Angeles after the 1992 riots.

In his recent book, The Tao of Urban Rejuvenation: Building a Livable Creative Urban Village (2013), Lu draws on his long career to present both visionary and practical guidance on how to revitalize and enhance urban areas.

Some perceive preservationists as people who merely hold back change and say, “No, you can’t do that.” I believe preservationists can be the ones who advocate for change, say “yes,” find appropriate ways to adapt and reuse historic buildings, attract new development that complements the old, and give new life to cities.

For many years, I have been privileged to participate as a planning and development professional in rejuvenation projects making use of public-private partnerships in cities in America and Asia. While preserving the old and attracting the new, I make certain they complement each other. While every community (and country) is unique, and there is no one process or solution for all, I have witnessed what works—and what doesn’t—in many scenarios.

Approaching each new city and project with an open mind, I have found new opportunities and challenges. I draw from past experience and envision the future. What I learned in Minneapolis informed my work in Dallas, and what I learned in Minneapolis and Dallas and elsewhere informed my work in Saint Paul. What I have learned in America has informed my work in cities across the sea and vice versa.

I’ve learned through experience that it is possible for visionary and dedicated public and private partners to turn disinvested and deteriorated urban areas into vibrant urban villages—as our work in Lowertown in Saint Paul has shown.

THE REJUVENATION OF LOWERTOWN

An Ambitious Start

In 1978 Saint Paul Mayor George Latimer sought the McKnight Foundation’s support to create a partnership to rejuvenate Lower-town, which covers 16 blocks of historic buildings, abandoned rail yards and riverfront, making up one-third of downtown Saint Paul. He asked for $10 million and promised to generate $100 million in investment, adding housing and creating jobs—which were ambitious goals, as the area had attracted only $22 million in investment in the 10 previous years. Nevertheless, the foundation generously set aside $10 million of program-related investments (PRI) as loans to support these social and economic development goals and wisely asked for the creation of an independent corporation to lead this effort. Thus, Lowertown Redevelopment Corporation (LRC) was established, and in 1979 I was asked to join.

Thanks to the LRC...