Department of Urban Development, Taipei City Government

On July 19th, the Department of Urban Development (UDD) of Taipei City Government celebrated its 20th Anniversary at 10am on the 1st Floor of Shen Pao-Cheng Hall. Mayor Hau, many of the past UDD commissioners and retired UDD staffs all came for the celebration, and the event ended successfully at 11am.
Mayor Hau said that UDD is definitely one of the most important contributors to the current progress of Taipei City. He is also grateful towards the Urban Plan for Xinyi District in 1981 and the legislation for urban design. Due to these factors, Xinyi District was able to transform from farmlands to the current thriving Xinyi District.
Wei-Jen Chen, a past UDD staff and current Secretary-General, said UDD is the first department that used value measurement and Geographic Information System (GIS), and that it is the first department that created the systems for urban design, community planners and pedestrian areas. Although UDD is constantly challenged with complicated tasks, the staffs’ commitment and patience had enabled Taipei City to develop into its current state. Many past UDD commissioners were touched by the hardworking and never giving up spirits of all the UDD staffs.
Besides playing the videos that show the history of past 20 years of UDD, milestones and many important events, such as China Mall demolition, community planners, Neihu Technology Park projects, etc, were also presented during the 20th Anniversary.
Tai-Ming Ben, the current commissioner of UDD, reminisced the formation of UDD with the audiences. The Urban Planning and Surveying Team was established in 1973, and it’s the former of UDD. The Urban Planning and Surveying Team was expanded to form the Office of Urban Planning in 1976. In 1993, the Office of Urban Planning was elevated to the status of the UDD and was the very first municipality unit in Taiwan dedicated to urban planning, and it has been 20 years since the formation of UDD. In retrospect of the past 20 years, due to the efforts of all the current and former mayors and UDD commissioners, Taipei City has become a more visionary, livable, ecological city. UDD will continue to put efforts in urban development, urban housing, urban regeneration and construction management, and make Taipei City into an even better city.