A look at the demolition of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka
The demolition of the 140m tall Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka is underway with the building now standing at three-quarters of its original height.
The work is being carried out by a joint venture between Taisei Corporation and Seibu Construction using the 'Taisei Ecological Reproduction System' (Teco-Rep System). Assistant Director of Taisei's Construction Engineering Development Department, Mr. Hideki Ichihara, explains the process:Read more
Chiyoda-ku office bldg sold for 50 billion Yen
Tokyu Land, the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Kenedix have purchased the former head office of the Shinsei Bank in Chiyoda-ku from a Morgan Stanley fund for 50 billion Yen (605 million USD) - less than half what Morgan Stanley paid for it in 2008.
The new owners plan to demolish the 19-year old building and replace it with a new one. The total cost of the project, including purchasing the existing building, is estimated at 80 billion Yen (970 million USD).
Demolition will commence in 2013 and the new 20-storey building will be completed in 2017. The new building will have a total floor area of 57,500 sqm, and will be almost the same scale as the current building, which is 60,000 sqm. However, the new building will have more leasable floor space.Read more
Office building to be torn down after 2 years
This would set a record for one of the shortest lived office buildings in Japan. Only two years after completion, a high-rise office building near Osaka's Umeda area is now facing a threat of demolition.
Midosuji Front Tower is located in alongside Midosuji Avenue in Sonezakishinchi 1 Chome in Kita-ku. The 20 story building was completed in June 2010 and has a total floor area of 18,000 sqm (193,680 sqft). It was intended to be let out to tenants but the construction barricades around the building have never been removed and it has never been occupied.
In 2003, Toyo Real Estate bought the 1700 sqm site. After approaching Mitsubishi Jisho, the two companies set up a special purpose company in 2007 to develop the site. Both parties would contribute funds to the project while the remaining majority was to be financed. The SPC entered into an agreement with Kajima Corporation to construct the building at a cost of 5 billion Yen. When completed, the building was expected to bring in an annual rent of between 800 million ~ 1 billion Yen.Read more
Changes underway that will no longer require 100% of condo owners to agree on demolition
The Ministry of Justice announced plans on November 5 that would affect the the number of condo owners that need to agree before a building can be demolished, or its land sold.
Currently, if a condominium is severely damaged in a disaster and needs to be demolished, 100% of apartment owners must agree to the plan. If one person was against demolition, they could not proceed. However, for restoration or emergency repair work, the ratio of agreement required is 3:4, and for tearing down and rebuilding, the ratio is 4:5.Read more
Uenoshita Dojunkai Apartments to be demolished
The last remaining 'dojunkai' apartment building, Uenoshita Apartments, will be demolished next year to make way for a new 14 storey condominium developed by Mitsubishi Jisho Residence.
The head of Taito-ku gave approval on October 9 for the formation of the reconstruction committee.Read more
Rare 90 year old house in Chiyoda-ku to be demolished
The 90 year old Kashiwayama Residence in Kanda-Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, is going to be demolished soon due to deterioration and redevelopment. The sheet copper house dates from the Taisho era. It survived the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 and the air raids during WWII.
The 3-storey wooden-frame house has a sheet copper facade and a European-style mansard roof. The 1st floor was a small shop, while the owner lived on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The 85 year old owner, Kazuko Kashiwayama, began living here in 1949. In those days, a 3-storey home was rare, and coupled with its modern exterior, it stood out in the neighborhood. When the war had ended, times were very difficult for many residents and quite often people would pinch a copper tile or two from the facade.Read more