While the previously noted geographic aspects and the conserving wildlife species are naturalist considerations for land reclamation, economic debates usually rule the game.
Few development authorities can generate the funds to reclaim land. In most U.S. cash-strapped municipalities, private entities with small capital reserves own the majority of land. Conversely, in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Dubai, South Korea, and Hong Kong, each government owns a majority of the land—private property is often held in 99-year land leases. While these well-financed cities draw on national capital reserves for urban projects, the resulting reclaimed land represents a smaller share of the government's total property portfolio. In recent years, land reclamation projects have occurred where low-cost flat land is scarce—Foster + Partners' Hong Kong International Airport (9.4 km2 reclaimed), Renzo Piano's Kansai International Airport (10 km2) in Osaka, most of Tokyo Bay (249 km2) or Bahrain (410 km2!), for that matter, all the Palm developments in Dubai—and the resulting land value would be profitable.
The Nordhavnen peninsula today, with the city center of Copenhagen in the distance
Historically, the United States practiced land reclamation more often than it does today, examples include: the Back Bay and Logan Airport in Boston (1,800 acres reclaimed); much of the San Francisco harbor; the Port of Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island; and the 92-acre Battery Park City in New York; as well as much of Lower Manhattan. The post-war period of suburban sprawl, which greatly spared Copenhagen, has done more to proportionally reduce the value of U.S. waterfront sites, making it unlikely that any reclamation project could generate comparative value. When high-value land does warrant added expense, the common practice is to build up rather than out. Skyscrapers are not common at all in Copenhagen; rather, the Danes developed a high-density mid-rise urbanism.
The soil and fill needed for reclamation projects, depending on their scale, is enormous, and "filling" can only take place where enough "cutting" balances it. This was the case in the 1970s when 1.2 million cubic yards were excavated from the World Trade Center site and 'dumped' at the Battery Park City site in the Hudson River. The Nordhavnen project in Copenhagen can only now be realized as a result of the increased construction activity taking place around the city, most notably the massive highway tunneling under the Oresund harbor.
The next post will offer some historical considerations as I conclude my investigation into land reclamation.
Few development authorities can generate the funds to reclaim land. In most U.S. cash-strapped municipalities, private entities with small capital reserves own the majority of land. Conversely, in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Dubai, South Korea, and Hong Kong, each government owns a majority of the land—private property is often held in 99-year land leases. While these well-financed cities draw on national capital reserves for urban projects, the resulting reclaimed land represents a smaller share of the government's total property portfolio. In recent years, land reclamation projects have occurred where low-cost flat land is scarce—Foster + Partners' Hong Kong International Airport (9.4 km2 reclaimed), Renzo Piano's Kansai International Airport (10 km2) in Osaka, most of Tokyo Bay (249 km2) or Bahrain (410 km2!), for that matter, all the Palm developments in Dubai—and the resulting land value would be profitable.
The Nordhavnen peninsula today, with the city center of Copenhagen in the distanceHistorically, the United States practiced land reclamation more often than it does today, examples include: the Back Bay and Logan Airport in Boston (1,800 acres reclaimed); much of the San Francisco harbor; the Port of Providence and East Providence, Rhode Island; and the 92-acre Battery Park City in New York; as well as much of Lower Manhattan. The post-war period of suburban sprawl, which greatly spared Copenhagen, has done more to proportionally reduce the value of U.S. waterfront sites, making it unlikely that any reclamation project could generate comparative value. When high-value land does warrant added expense, the common practice is to build up rather than out. Skyscrapers are not common at all in Copenhagen; rather, the Danes developed a high-density mid-rise urbanism.
The soil and fill needed for reclamation projects, depending on their scale, is enormous, and "filling" can only take place where enough "cutting" balances it. This was the case in the 1970s when 1.2 million cubic yards were excavated from the World Trade Center site and 'dumped' at the Battery Park City site in the Hudson River. The Nordhavnen project in Copenhagen can only now be realized as a result of the increased construction activity taking place around the city, most notably the massive highway tunneling under the Oresund harbor.
The next post will offer some historical considerations as I conclude my investigation into land reclamation.