The installation of elevators in old residential communities is a crucial component of modernizing grassroots governance. Due to its involvement in multiple factors such as resident interest coordination, government support, and community consultation, it has become a typical challenge in urban governance. This paper takes the elevator retrofitting project in a certain old residential area in Yuzhong District, Chongqing, which serves as a demonstration area for the renovation of old residential communities, as the research subject. Utilizing the multi-center governance theory, the theory of consultative democracy, and the concept of co-construction, co-governance, and sharing, this paper constructs an analytical framework of “multi-subject co-discussion, co-governance, and sharing.” It explores the process where policy support, resident consultation, and multi-party governance coordination jointly influence the construction of public infrastructure. It reveals how the elevator retrofitting project is completed through negotiation mechanisms, governance networks, and interest-balancing strategies in grassroots governance. Furthermore, it demonstrates a feasible path for community consultative governance, optimized policy guidance, and improved public infrastructure construction. This case provides practical reference for the renovation of other old residential communities, aiming to offer significant reference value for optimizing public policies in the modernization of grassroots governance.
Brown ME, Baker BL, 2021, People First: Factors that Promote or Inhibit Community Transformation. In 50 Years of Community Development Vol. II (pp. 61–78). Routledge, New York.
Kshetrimayum B, Bardhan R, Kubota T, 2020, Factors Affecting Residential Satisfaction in Slum Rehabilitation Housing in Mumbai. Sustainability, 12(6): 2344.
Dean K, Trillo C, 2019, Assessing Sustainability in Housing Led Urban Regeneration: Insights from a Housing Association in Northern England. Architecture MPS, 15(2): 1–18.
Park EJ, Kang E, Shin YJ, 2025, Urban Regeneration and Community Participation: A Critical Review of Project-based Research. Open House International, 50(5): 834–856.
Wang ZP, Liu L, Yan J, 2020, Research on the Paths and Countermeasures for the Upgrading and Renovation of Old Urban Residential Areas in China. Urban Development Studies, 27(7): 26–32.
Duan XH, Li XH 2023, Realization Path of Urban Old Residential Area Renovation from the Perspective of Resilience Governance: Taking the Community Garden Construction in D Street, S City as an Example. Urban Development Research, 30(6): 37–40.
Xing H, Zhang XE, 2022, How can Social Enterprises Promote Collaborative Production in the Renovation of Old Residential Communities? — Taking the Renovation of the Old Residential Area in Jinsong North Community, Beijing as an Example. Urban Development Studies, 29(9): 63–69.
Cao HL, Zhang Y, 2022, Embedded Governance: Realistic Dilemmas and Path Exploration of Environmental Governance in Old Residential Communities. Journal of Yunnan Minzu University, 39(4): 92–100.
An JM, Guo L, Xu Y, et al., 2022, Discussion on the Sustainable Business Model with Minimal Profit from the Renovation of Old Residential Communities from the Perspective of Micro-updating. Urban Development Research, 29(9): 70–76.
Xu ST, Yuan BF, Chen ML, 2023, The Impact of Perceived Value on Residents’ Willingness to Participate in the Renovation of Old Residential Communities: Based on Survey Data from Residents in Old Residential Communities in Guangzhou. Regional Research and Development, 42(2): 80–85 + 92.
Polanyi M, 2002, The Logic of Liberty (Y. Feng & X. Li, Trans.). Jilin People’s Publishing House, Changchun, 131–188.
Wang ZG, 2009, The Origin, Development, and Evolution of Multi-center Governance Theory. Journal of Southeast University, 11(S2): 35–37.
Li PY, Liu HC, 2014, An Analysis of Ostrom’s Polycentric Governance Theory: From the Perspective of Pluralistic Co-governance by Government, Market, and Society. Gansu Theoretical Journal, 2014(3): 127–130.
Liu JY, 2021, Analysis of the Impact of Blockchain Technology on Social Governance Innovation: From the Perspective of Polycentric Governance Theory. Social Science Frontiers, 2021(6): 209–216.
Chen JG, 2008, The Rise and Development of Deliberative Democracy Research in the East and West. Studies on Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping Theory, 2008(7): 71–78 + 85.
Li HL, 2006, On the Essence and Path Selection of Deliberative Democracy. Journal of Renmin University of China, 2006(4): 94–99.
Wu M, 2011, Community Deliberative Democracy: Theoretical Exposition and Path Selection. Studies on Socialism, 2011(2): 99–101.
Ye JL, 2013, Deliberative Democracy in China: From Theory to Practice. Journal of Wuhan University, 66(2): 11–17 + 127.
Jiang GH, Liu WJ, 2018, Theoretical Interpretation of the Governance Concept of “Co-construction, Co-governance, and Sharing” of the President of the CCP. Qiuse, 2018(1): 32–38.