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
Historic Shimoda Ice Factory to be demolished
The Nanzu Ice Factory in Shimoda City is scheduled to be torn down this month due to deterioration and concerns over its earthquake-resistance.Read more
Nakagin Capsule Tower Demolition Plans
The management association of the 40 year old Nakagin Capsule Tower in Ginza are moving forward with plans to demolish and rebuild the metabolist structure.
Although no final date has been set, demolition and reconstruction plans have been in the pipeline since 2007. Back in 2005, the architect, Kisho Kurokawa, and Taisei Corporation put forward a plan to replace the aging capsules with new ones. This was in line with Kurokawa's initial concept for the building, whereby all capsules were designed to be interchangeable and replaceable. However, it seems more likely that it will be replaced with a nondescript building.Read more
Eviction orders for Gamagori hotel
The Toyohashi branch of the Nagoya District Court has issued an eviction order to the religious organization that is using the former Gamagori Fukinuki Sightseeing Hotel in Miyacho, Gamagori City. The court is ordering the land to be returned to its owner (Miyacho) and the building to be demolished.
The original hotel opened in 1939 and has undergone many alterations and extensions over the years. During its prime, the hotel was Miyacho's leading hot spring resort. However, in 1998 the hotel filed for bankruptcy with debts over 3 billion Yen. It was later put up for public auction with a minimum bid of 956 million Yen. A buddhist organization purchased the building, but not the land, from Miyacho in 2004 and were charged an annual land rent of 3.8 million Yen. They demolished several buildings and refurbished the main hotel which had previously been damaged by fire.Read more