Proactively Repurposing Public Assets

In aging rural cities, the population aging rate is higher in the city center, and therefore it is important to make the city center more elderly-friendly. This means making the area safe, habitable and accessible to the elderly. Toyama City demolished and integrated several schools due to the shrinking and aging demographic context and utilized one of them for the site of the Prevention Care Center. The location in the downtown area is highly accessible by public transportation such as bus, light rail transit, and community bus from the central station.

  • Governments’ initiative to utilize unused land and facilities due to the shrinking and aging demographic context
  • Availability of a large land lot easily accessible by public transportations

In the context of an aging downtown area, unused sites or old facilities (e.g., abandoned schools) can be utilized for projects that enhance the quality of life of the elderly, like the Kadokawa Preventive Care Center. Proactive repurposing of unused land and old facilities can reduce the initial cost of such projects.