Tokyu Plaza Shibuya to be redeveloped

Tokyu Plaza Shibuya 1

The Tokyu Plaza Shibuya building to the west of Shibuya Station will be demolished in 2015 and replaced with a larger mixed and retail development.

The 9-storey multi-tenant retail building, which was originally called the Shibuya Tokyu Building, opened in 1965. In celebration of its 50 year history, a number of stores will be holding special sales from January to March 2015, while some of the restaurants which have been in operation since the building opened will prepare special menu items. A temporary gallery with photos of the Shibuya area over the past five decades is also scheduled to open from the end of January.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Same-day sellout in The Parkhouse Higashi Ginza

The Parkhouse Higashi Ginza 1

All 28 apartments offered during the first round of sales in Mitsubishi Jisho Residence’s The Parkhouse Higashi Ginza sold out on the same day.

The 13-storey apartment building is located a 1 minute walk from Shintomicho Station and is 700 meters from Ginza’s Chuo Dori Street. Apartments range in size from 70 ~ 81 sqm (753 ~ 872 sqft) and are all 3-bedrooms. Prices ranged from 74 ~ 108 million Yen (640,000 ~ 920,000 USD), with an average price of around 1,240,000 Yen/sqm.

The sales office received 1,587 inquiries and had 276 groups visit the showroom. Each apartment received an average of 1.9 purchase applications, with the most popular apartment receiving 5 applications. The lucky buyers were selected via a lottery-type system.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Mitsui starts work on Nihonbashi 2 Chome Redevelopment

Nihonbashi redevelopment 3

On November 13, Mitsui Fudosan announced that they have started construction on the Nihonbashi 2 Chome District Redevelopment Project. This redevelopment forms an important part of the second stage of the Nihonbashi Revitalisation Plan.

The 2.6 hectare site includes the historic Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store. The important cultural property was built in 1933 and will be retained as part of the new development. The rooftop terrace and gardens will be upgraded and expanded to cover a 6,000 sqm space with footbridges connecting the rooftop to the neighboring office buildings.Read more

by Zoe Ward

New apartment prices down 10% in Tokyo

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 3,125 brand new apartments were released for sale in greater Tokyo in October, down 6.3% from the previous month and down 10.9% from last year. This is the 9th month in a row to see a year-on-year decline in supply.

The drop in supply is due primarily to an expected drop in demand following the increase in consumption tax in April 2014, as well as rising construction costs which are limiting the viability of many projects for developers. Sales for apartments priced under 40 million Yen have become particularly slow in recent months.

With recent data showing the second consecutive quarter of negative GDP growth in Japan, it seems highly probable that the next planned increase in the consumption tax rate will be delayed. A spokesperson from the Institute believes a delay in the next tax rise will provide a very positive benefit for the market.

1,978 apartments were sold, making the contract rate 63.3%, down 8.3 points from the previous month and down 16.3 points from last year. This is the lowest contract rate seen since February 2009 when it reached 61.7%. This is also the second month in a row where the rate has dropped below the 70% level which is considered to be the line between a positive and negative market conditions.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Shibuya City Office redevelopment under review

Shibuya City OfficeThe redevelopment of the Shibuya City Office and Shibuya Public Hall (C.C. Lemon Hall) is under review due to a potential cost blowout. A shortage of skilled construction labour and rising material costs have caused the estimated construction costs to increase by around 30 ~ 50%.Read more

by Zoe Ward

High-rise office and apartments for Takeshiba

Tokyo Takeshiba Redevelopment 1

On October 29, Tokyo Land and Kajima Corporation announced plans for high-rise office and residential buildings in the waterfront Takeshiba area in Minato-ku. The project will also provide facilities for trade and content promotion and international expansion. JR Hamamatsucho and Takeshiba Station will be connected via a 500 meter long pedestrian bridge.

The project is expected to be completed in 2019.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Pembroke’s latest project in Roppongi

Try Seven Roppongi

Pembroke Real Estate Japan have started the construction of a 14-storey office building in located across the street from Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi 7 Chome. Try-Seven Roppongi is scheduled for completion in 2016. The exterior was designed by Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects.

A shrine and shrine office on an adjoining 876 sqm block of land will also be redeveloped in conjunction with Try-Seven.

This is the fourth development for Pembroke. In 2002 they developed Hikawa Gardens, a rental apartment building in Akasaka, and in 2010 they completed Azabu Gardens, a luxury expat rental building near Roppongi Hills.

Sources:
The Asahi Shimbun, October 28, 2014.
The Daily Engineering & Construction News, October 29, 2014.

by Zoe Ward