Residents of Xiaohuangzhuang Qianjie No. 2 Courtyard face mixed emotions. While some improvements were made after media attention in 2024—such as waterproofing rooftops and renovating stairwells—the aging community still grapples with fundamental issues: deteriorating infrastructure, frequent pipe bursts, and poor management. The root obstacle? The compound sits in Chaoyang District but is owned by Dongcheng District authorities, creating bureaucratic gridlock that stalls both property management reforms and urban renewal applications.

Key challenges persist: 1. **Infrastructure decay**: Recurring water outages plague residents, with repair notices from July and October 2025 still visible. Elderly occupants struggle to carry water from temporary supply points up stairwells. 2. **Sanitation crises**: Basement-level units battle chronic flooding in equipment rooms, causing mold, pests, and safety hazards from rusted utility pipes. 3. **Management vacuum**: The nominal property manager—Dongcheng-owned Donghe Housing Management—only handles fee-based indoor repairs, leaving public areas neglected. Unregulated parking chokes the compound.

Administrative deadlock: - Dongcheng’s property owners insist Chaoyang should lead renewal efforts as the host district. - Chaoyang’s local government counters that Dongcheng, as the titleholder, must initiate proposals. - This "cross-district limbo" also blocks professional property management adoption, a prerequisite for renewal funding.

Expert recommendations: Urban sociologist Zhao Xiaoping proposes: 1. Establishing municipal-level coordination teams to clarify cross-district responsibilities. 2. Creating digital platforms for inter-district data sharing to streamline processes. 3. Prioritizing resident needs over bureaucratic boundaries, noting: "Administrative complexity tests governance capability—it shouldn’t justify inaction."

The standoff highlights systemic gaps in Beijing’s urban renewal framework, where jurisdictional divides override community welfare. Without higher-level intervention, residents remain trapped between districts’ shifting blame.