Tainan proposes platform to expand historic site preservation

台南提議建立建築經理平台，以擴大歷史遺址保護

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan City Government on Tuesday unveiled a proposal to establish a management platform to support the preservation and reuse of historic buildings.

CNA reported that the platform would introduce private investment and professional expertise more systematically. Officials said it aims to improve restoration efficiency while promoting the sustainable use of historic spaces.

“Tainan has spent more than a decade revitalizing historic districts,” Deputy Mayor Yeh Tse-shan (葉澤山) said. “The city has restored more than 250 old buildings and developed 17 historic areas, including popular attractions such as Snail Alley and Zhengxing Street.”

Yeh said the city’s restoration capacity is nearing its limits under current policies. He said the new platform would connect property owners, businesses, and restoration professionals to expand preservation efforts and strengthen long-term management.

Officials said the initiative could also align with growing corporate focus on environmental, social, and governance goals. Companies could help fund restoration projects, while restored buildings could be repurposed for community services such as elderly care, per CTEE.

The city government said the platform would operate as a semi-independent organization working alongside the public sector. It would not directly provide subsidies, but instead focus on coordinating resources, with funding continuing to come from existing government programs.

City councilors reviewed the proposal and called for stronger safeguards. They urged better protection of property rights, clearer oversight mechanisms, and greater local participation in decision-making, per UDN.

Liberty Times reported that officials will incorporate the council’s feedback into revisions of the proposal. The city aims to finalize the plan and use it to guide the next stage of Tainan’s development as a cultural center.