The current outlook of the 77-year-old Jing'an Villa. It is the largest new-type longtang neighborhood in the city, featuring Shanghai's typical shikumen buildings. [Shanghai Daily]

Jing'an Villa, a 77-year-old neighborhood in downtown Jing'an District, will be restored to its original condition by the end of this year, the district government has said.

The district will restore facades, overhaul the plumbing, and earmark areas for parking bikes and scooters on 183 complexes in the neighborhood, providing a better living environment for nearly 3,000 residents in 949 households.

Work will begin from later this month and is scheduled to be completed by this year.

Built in 1932 on 1025 Nanjing Road W., the area is the city's largest new-type longtang, or lane, neighborhood, according to the district government.

It is named after the former badge of Nanjing Road W. - Jing'an Temple Road - and was once used as horse breeding area by the English.

Many domestic notables, including educator Cai Yuanpei, banker and politician Kong Xiangxi and politician and calligrapher Yu Youren, lived in the neighborhood between 1930s and 1940s.

Jing'an Property Group, a local company in charge of the restoration, said it had tried its best to seek historical material about the neighborhood, including a blueprint of its former iron gate.

(Shanghai Daily July 3, 2009)