Umikyo Modernisation Project

[Mikochi]

The Umikyo Modernisation Project, was a joint goal shared by the majority SDP and opposition Centralists to modernise the capital city, Umikyo.

There were several reasons prompting the need for change.

1. Outlining The Issue - A newspaper article on the state of Umikyo and Urban Planning

For the Project to be successful, multiple law and policy changes were needed:

1. Brown Site Redevelopment Bill - Brown Site Redevelopment Bill passes in parliament
2. Progressivist Miki Miyahara is elected prime minister - Socialist Democratic Party snatch the election
3. Urban Municipalities Bill - Urban Municipalities Bill passes

The project is broken down into 10 parts:

1. Mishima-Umikyo Airport
   1. Backstory - Celebrating a century of aviation in Umikyo
2. Shiokaze Port
3. Ishiku Downtown Redevelopment
4. Teshiko Brown Site Redevelopment
5. Ginsei Memorial Park
6. Expansion of the Umikyo Metropolitan Transport Network (UMT)
7. Eurth Studios Mikochi ThemePark Construction
8. Umikyo-Megumi Hospital Construction
9. Umikyo Skyline Redevelopment
   1. Atacam Tower - Atacam Tower planning permission granted
10. Fujimoto Shinshiro Plant Construction

 

 

 

[ OOC : This will be added to over time, mostly within this thread but also sometimes not ]

Edited January 9 by Mikochi (see edit history)

[Mikochi]

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A newspaper article on the state of Umikyo and Urban Planning, Feburary 2005

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For anyone living in Umikyo since 2000, the effects of overpopulation in the capital has become abundantly clear. With Mikochi’s economic policies pushing people into cities, Umikyo has not kept up with growth. Infact, Umikyo has one of the highest rates of homelessness out of all of the Wurld’s capital cities.

For Umikyo, there are a few reasons why growth has been impeded.

1. Brown Sites - In Umikyo, a Brown Site is an area of land that cannot be built on for several reasons, however mainly pollution. There are several huge Brown Sites across the city, including Shiokaze Port, the old Umikyo Airport in Mishima and large areas of Teshiko that previously held huge oil refineries. Brown Sites cannot be built on and require special planning permission. Many of these sites would be suitable for redevelopment, however de-pollution costs and restrictive legislation make this incredibly difficult.
2. Land Laws - Eminent Domain is effectively impossible under current laws. Under the Tengoku reign, eminent domain was able to be quickly approved through the courts, however with the judicial system fully under Tengoku control, it was easy for Eminent Domain to be abused, often with little compensation. After the civil war, this was changed, and eminent domain can only be used in cases where there are safety concerns relating to the current use of the land. This means that the government can only acquire land when the seller agrees to the sale at whichever price they wish to ask for. This has allowed for almost no upgrades to infrastructure across the city, making rail lines almost impossible to build.
3. Historical Preservation Bill - Ratified in 1993, the bill gives protections to thousands of historical buildings across the country, as well as historical centres. Whilst this has preserved some beautiful areas of the city, many of these areas are in desperate need of redevelopment. One of these is the Ishiku downtown, one of the busiest population centres in the city. Ishiku desperately needs a new transport hub, and has the potential to become a commercial and touristic area, with demand for housing and businesses here higher than anywhere in the city.

What can be done?

Umikyo needs to not only modernise its housing and infrastructure, but it also needs to modernise its laws, much of which needs to be done at the federal level. However, with more and more people being affected by archaic red tape, politicians are moving to make changes.

Miyahara Miki of the SDP, one of the candidates to become the SDP electoral candidate next year, says that she would introduce a bill to amend the Historical Preservation Bill. Under her revision, buildings would be listed in grades, spanning from A-E. A-graded buildings would be ones of high historical importance and which under no circumstances would be able to be redeveloped, such as Daikaku-Ji and the Gyoen Palace Complex. Grades would lower in importance, with grade-E buildings allowed redevelopment/demolition with no need for preservation, should the building pose a health and safety risk or be a major disturbance to works.

On the other side of government, the Centralist opposition are currently drafting the Urban Municipalities Bill, which seeks to tackle urban development issues by creating a new county-level sub division called municipalities. Certain counties would become municipalities, particularly ones consisting of mostly urban populations. Municipalities would have special privileges which normal counties do not, including looser rules on zoning and eminent domain.

Also outlined in the bill is the creation of a new government agency, the BSRA (Brown Site Redevelopment Agency), which seeks to survey Brown Sites and assign grants to developers to streamline the process of developing these areas. There are several outlined Brown Sites in Umikyo that have been outlined as desperately needing development:

1. Umikyo Airport - Located in Mishima, the Umikyo Airport was the primary airport for the city and country until it’s destruction in the Mikochinese Civil War. The site is completely off limits, and likely still contains thousands of live ammunition left by the loyalist forces in underground tunnels. Likely, the site also contains unexploded bombs from the revolutionary forces’ shelling.
2. Shiokaze Port - Located in… Shiokaze, the port was once the primary shipbuilding yard for the Mikochinese Navy for over 200 years. Today, the site is abandoned, however hundreds, or possibly thousands of homeless have made the area their home, turning it into a small hub of activity. The people taking shelter in the area are at significant risk of asbestosis, which is prevalent across many buildings in the port. Additionally, the shipyard’s docks are too small to facilitate the construction of modern ships, meaning that the area needs significant investment to once again become operational. However with the current government planning on going back to manufacturing it’s own ships again, Shiokaze remains the obvious choice for the revitalisation of Mikochi’s shipbuilding industry,
3. Teshiko Port - Teshiko Port occupies several semi-artificial islands in Umikyo Bay, and is the primary cargo and passenger port for the city. However, just north lies many acres of ex-industrial land which lays mostly abandoned and dormant. Much of this was occupied by Mikochi’s oil industry, which took in Crude Oil from off shore sources to refine into fuel. With the oil industry moved to Seinan, the area is perfect for a new series of waterfront high density housing developments and commercial industry.

Whilst the Socialist Party is encouraging its party members to oppose the bill, many have broken rank and voiced the need for urbanising reforms, something that the SDP are currently yet to offer a solution.

With the 2006 election just over a year away, despite looks that the SDP will still win the majority, it’s likely that the Centralists will gain several seats across the nation, with many claiming that the SDP is ‘too scared’ to make changes where change is due. Centralist leader Kurogane Kenshin said “The SDP deserve credit for their role in the Mikochinese Civil War, and many of their changes have benefited citizens of the country, myself included.” he continues, “However, that doesn’t mean the SDP should not be held accountable for their mistakes, and the current government is too afraid to admit where it has previously been wrong. Until this happens, the huge growth we have seen post-war will begin to stagnate, and living conditions will get worse for everyone.”

Edited December 23, 2024 by Mikochi (see edit history)

[Mikochi]

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Brown Site Redevelopment Bill passes in parliament, November 2005

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Today, members of the Mikochinese parliament voted on the Brown Site Redevelopment Bill, which seeks to effectively deal with many of the brown sites blocking construction around the country, specifically within the capital city, Umikyo. Currently, just under 4% of land in Umikyo is classified as a brown site, land which would offer huge opportunity for development and growth within the city.

The bill outlines the creation of the Brown-Site Redevelopment Agency, or BSRA. THe BSRA’s mission would be the surveying of Brown-Sites across the country, and formulating plans for the land to be treated and then redeveloped, either by the government or by the private sector.

Currently, the main blocker for most Brown-Sites is ground pollution, however asbestos, live ammunition and disrepaired buildings are also common blockers. Part of the BSRA’s job will be ranking these Brown-Sites based on potential for development, size and disruption. This will be to ensure that the BSRA can prioritise dealing with some of the countries worst Brown-Sites.

The bill, created by the Centralist party, the current opposition government, has generally been well received by most in parliament. However, the Green Movement activists have strongly protested the bill. Many claim that even with detoxification efforts, the land will pose a risk to those that would live there. The leader of the Green Movement argued against the bill, claiming that it would be better to ‘leave the sites to nature’ so that they can be ‘naturally purified’ and provide homes for animals displaced by urbanisation.

Another criticism comes from rural politicians, who are concerned that whilst overall positive, under the BSRA’s ranking system, Brown-Sites in rural areas will be pushed towards the bottom of the list. Whilst the majority of Brown-Sites are around urban areas, there are many Brown-Sites in the countryside, many of these being the place of civil war battles, old factories and old munitions stores. Centralist leader Kurogane Kenshin replied to these comments strongly, claiming that ‘The Ruralists need to keep their selfishness in check’ and ‘realise that the bill will lead to economic benefits for the whole country in time’.

The passing of the bill is a huge success for the Centralisits, and for many, is further proof that the party has the capacity to govern and should be taken seriously as an alternative to the SDP, which has ruled for almost 3 decades since the civil war. For the SDP, it’s likely that the rise of the Centralists will contribute to a general shift towards the political centre, in an attempt to attract those wo have begun to identify more as a centralist.

Edited December 23, 2024 by Mikochi (see edit history)

[Mikochi]

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Atacam Tower planning permission granted, January 2006

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Following the relaxation of redevelopment rules in Umikyo, Atacam Group's new headquarters, Atacam Tower, has been approved for construction by the Umikyo Planning Authority. The tower, which will become the country's 2nd tallest at 300 metres, will house Atacam Group and many of its subsidiaries.

The tower will be mixed-use, containing 60 floors above ground and four underground levels. The building will include underground parking, a four-storey department store, a rooftop garden, offices, and several hotel floors.

Atacam was founded in 1959 and was one of the first domestic electrical companies in Mikochi. Atacam, short for Atarashī Kamara (New Camera), initially manufactured cameras and related equipment. Its success domestically and glubally allowed the company to expand into more products over the years, including printers, fax machines, and telephones.

Atacam managed to stay afloat during the civil war but suffered a massive blow when the country split, losing its largest manufacturing plant to Mikochi's breakaway state, Nanshima. To keep it alive post-war, the new Mikochinese government invested heavily in Atacam to help rebuild the nation's broken telecommunications network.

Over time, Atacam Group acquired and created many subsidiaries and now holds interests in much of Mikochi's electrical devices market.

Atacam Group has six subsidiaries:

1. Atacam – The 'legacy' part of the company, Atacam continues to produce a wide range of cameras, from cheap disposable models to high-end digital cameras. Atacam also manufactures a range of printers, including both home-use models and professional photographic printers. Various photographic equipment, such as tripods, lenses, and bags, are also produced by Atacam.
2. Atacam Mobile – One of its newest, but most successful ventures, Atacam Mobile designs and creates mobile phones and PDAs. Atacam Mobile accounts for 40% of mobiles purchased in Mikochi, and has a presence in phone markets around the wurld.
3. Atasoft – Atasoft creates the OS and apps used by Atacam mobile devices. It also publishes all software created by other Atacam subsidiaries, such as printer drivers.
4. Atacom – Atacom specialises in the production of network hardware, such as cables, switches, and routers.
5. Atanet – Atanet is one of Mikochi’s largest telecom providers, which offers nationwide network coverage for Mikochi.
6. Atacam for Business – Atacam’s newest subsidiary, Atacam for Business, offers IT consulting services and dedicated support for businesses.

The approval of the new Atacam Tower isn’t just big news for the company; it’s big news for the future of Umikyo. This landmark project is expected to trigger an influx of high-density building proposals for the city centre, which could transform the Umikyo skyline over the next two decades.

However, the Umikyo City Council must consider whether the city has the capacity for such large projects. Not only will the construction of the tower present huge logistical challenges, but the city's already at-capacity metro network may struggle to cope if more high-density developments emerge.

The Centralists' Urban Municipalities Bill, which seeks to transform planning, construction, and eminent domain laws, has yet to pass in Parliament. However, support is growing, with many members of the SDP breaking rank to back the bill, including the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism.

Following the civil war, the new SDP government sold land around Umikyo en masse to citizens at low prices, expecting the new owners to rebuild. While this policy helped end the post-war homelessness crisis and rapidly reconstructed the city, it has created challenges. Many citizens now fiercely resist the idea of their land and homes being seized for large infrastructure projects.

The contentious bill remains a pivotal factor in the city’s—and the nation’s—future potential for development.

[Mikochi]

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Socialist Democratic Party snatch the election, April 2006

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For the 5th time in a row, the SDP have won the Mikochi general elections, coming away with 58% of the total vote. The Centralists, coming in second with 34% of the vote, marks the highest share of the vote held by the opposition in Mikochinese history. The remaining 8% of the vote was made up of independent candidates, mostly representing rural communities that feel unrepresented by either party.

The new Prime Minister, Miki Miyahara, represents a more progressive faction within the SDP, seeking to push through several radical changes to the constitution. One such change, outlined within the Urban Municipalities Bill, created by the Centralists and backed by Miyahara, aims to reform Mikochi's urban districts by introuducing new freedoms for urban areas with regards to zoning and planning.

Miyahara has also voiced support for a report into the nation's armed forces, and aims to push towards expansion and reform.

[Mikochi]

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Urban Municipalities Bill passes, July 2006

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Following months of negotiations between the Centralists and SDP, the Urban Municipalities Bill has passed in the Mikochinese House of Juniors. It remains to be approved by the House of Seniors, however it is likely to pass after a few rounds of debate and edits.

Currently, cities in Mikochi aren't legal entities, and are part of counties. All counties in Mikochi are identical in terms of laws, policy and governance. This means that the relatively small Megumi County in the Umikyo Prefecture with over 100,000 population follows the same regulations as Takarayama County in , with around 10,000 population. This has led to a situation where laws that benefit Takarayama hurt Megumi, and vice versa.

The new bill will aim to identify counties that fit the description of an 'urban municipality' and give them city status. Cities will be subject to a different set of laws than counties, which should allow for less growth stagnation in Mikochi's urban areas. The bill will also allow for, where needed, splitting and redrawing counties where needed to ensure that urban zones that cross different countries may be united into one municipality.

Whilst backed by SDP Prime Minister Miki Miyahara, the passing of the bill is a huge boost to the Centralists, who continue to prove more and more that they could be a valid and sensible alternative for many Mikochinese in the 2012 elections. Whilst polls continue to remain high for the SDP, the steady growth of the Centralists cannot be denied, and will likely pose a solid threat to the SDP in 2012.