[Nara City] Nara City Designates Its First 'Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporation'

In accordance with the Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Renaissance, Nara City has been operating a designation system for 'Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporations' since August 18, 2025, to support core organizations responsible for local community development.

We are pleased to announce that Kansai Science City Center Co., Ltd. has been designated as the first such corporation in our city. As a business entity with a long history of community development activities rooted in the area around Takanohara Station, this official designation as an 'Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporation' aims to leverage the ongoing 'Takanohara Station Square Renewal Project' to promote sustainable, community-led urban development and enhance the value of the area.

1. Overview of the Designated Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporation

Corporation Name

Kansai Science City Center Co., Ltd. (Location: 1-2 Ukyo, Nara City)

Date of Designation

March 30, 2026

2. Background and Purpose of Designation

In redeveloping the Takanohara Station Square, our city formed a project team involving local residents and businesses from the planning stage to reflect their opinions, engaging in repeated discussions regarding the vision for Takanohara 20 years from now and the specific details of the development.

Through this process, the vision for the town 20 years hence was defined as: 'A town typical of Takanohara, where those who grew up here want to return.' It was recognized that to achieve this, it is crucial for the community to take the lead in flexibly utilizing the station square and public spaces within the area after the redevelopment, thereby generating diverse activities and interactions.

To continuously promote such initiatives throughout Nara City and enhance local appeal and area value, a mechanism to support community and private-sector-led urban development is necessary. Therefore, we established the designation system for Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporations based on the Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Renaissance.

Following an application from Kansai Science City Center Co., Ltd. and a subsequent review, the company was designated as an Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporation due to its long-standing track record of community-rooted development activities in the Takanohara Station area.

Kansai Science City Center Co., Ltd.

Established

December 26, 1974

Representative

Naoki Omori, President and Representative Director

Location

1-2 Ukyo, Nara City

Shareholder

New Urban Life Holdings Co., Ltd. (Wholly-owned parent company)

Capital

1.2 billion yen

Number of Employees

42

Business Description

Operation and management of commercial facilities and a wide range of lifestyle convenience facilities.

Track Record of Community Development Activities

Operation of a local information hub (opened in 2018), management of public planting beds, local cleaning activities, hosting of lively events, crime prevention activities, and serving as the secretariat for the Heijo-Soraku New Town 50th Anniversary Project.

This designation is intended to further advance these activities, which the company has built up over the years, into initiatives that lead to the enhancement of area value with an eye toward the further development of Takanohara. Through this designation, the company will be able to utilize the station square more flexibly and promote community-led urban development.

3. About Urban Renaissance Promotion Corporations

• These are corporations designated by municipalities under the Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Renaissance to serve as the core of urban development in areas where the improvement of public facilities is prioritized.
• The system provides official recognition and support to excellent community development organizations that possess abundant information, know-how, and operational structures.
• They are expected to carry out area management (maintenance/management of public spaces, information dissemination, event implementation, etc.) that municipalities or private developers cannot fully perform alone.
• They can propose drafts for urban renaissance development plans and landscape plans to municipalities.

Benefits for Citizens (Local Residents)

• Events reflecting resident needs and flexible use of public spaces lead to increased local vibrancy.
• Easier access to public spaces for community-led activities.
• Public spaces are maintained beautifully and conveniently through private-sector know-how.

Benefits for Administration (Nara City)

• Mechanisms for reinvesting revenue from public space usage into community development, reducing the fiscal burden on the administration.
• Detailed management and operation reflecting local voices.
• Ensuring continuous urban development with fairness and transparency.

Contact Information

Urban Policy Division, Nara City
TEL: 0742-93-6598