Redevelopment voting ratios may be revised down to 2/3rds
The government is considering revising the redevelopment voting ratio downwards for apartment buildings that form part of urban redevelopment projects.
Under the Urban Renewal Act, 100% of apartment owners must agree, in principle, before the building can be redeveloped. The government wants to reduce this ratio to a 2/3rd vote in favour, but only when the redevelopment includes some public component such as a park.
The revision will target the large-scale housing developments that were built during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth following WWII, and which are now in varying stages of deterioration. Residents, too, are ageing and it is hoped that new apartment buildings will attract younger families.Read more
3,200 unit apartment building for Nishi Shinjuku
A large development site situated between Shinjuku Park Tower/Park Hyatt and Opera City in Nishi Shinjuku may finally see some activity as the redevelopment association move forward on construction plans.
Current discussions call for two 65-storey high-rise residential towers containing around 3,200 apartments. A town planning decision will be made in 2016, and if approved, construction could begin in 2019.
A 60-storey condominium tower is currently under construction in Nishi Shinjuku 5 Chome. The Parkhouse Nishi Shinjuku Tower 60 was advertised as being the tallest apartment building in Japan based on the total number of floors, but if the Nishi Shinjuku 3 Chome Project goes ahead as planned, The Parkhouse won’t keep its title for long.Read more
Japan’s first high-rise condominium to be redeveloped
After several years of discussions, redevelopment plans have finally been announced for the 62-year old Miyamasuzaka Building / Miyamasuzaka Apaato in Shibuya. Demolition of the current building is expected to start in February 2016, with the new building to be completed by 2020. The building’s owners association voted in favour of redevelopment in March 2012.
This was Japan’s first high-rise condominium. It was developed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Construction and completed in 1953. The building has 11 storeys above ground and one basement floor.
The typical apartment size in this building ranged from 39 ~ 43 sqm (420 ~ 463 sq.ft). Although the rooms may be small by today’s standards, the building was considered to be the epitome of luxury living at the time. When new, prices ranged from 600,000 ~ 1,000,000 yen, and almost all of the buyers were high-income earners such as bureaucrats, bankers or university professors.Read more
Bigger buildings in Tokyo as zoning regulations relaxed
In 2014, the Japanese government introduced a new rule to zoning codes that meant the space taken up by elevator shafts would no longer count towards the total building area, thereby allowing larger residential and commercial buildings. Since then, several projects have been amended to incorporate extra floorspace.
In some cases, the allowance has provided for an extra floor to be added to a building, which results in extra saleable or rentable area for developers.Read more
Renewal of modernist theatre in Kyoto reaches completion
Construction and refurbishment of the 55-year old Kyoto Kaikan building finished earlier this month. The original hall was designed by leading modernist architect Kunio Maekawa (1905-1986) and built in 1960. However, theatre stages were too small and the building was not equipped for operas or ballet performances. The building’s condition was also starting to deteriorate.
Kyoto City spent 11 billion Yen refurbishing the South Hall which included preserving the Maekawa-designed exterior, while the Main Hall was completely rebuilt into a 6-storey hall with 2,005 seats.Read more
Shibuya Parco to be rebuilt
The Shibuya Parco Store is going to be redeveloped as part of the Udagawacho 15 District Redevelopment Project.
The new building will be 29 storeys and 110 meters tall. It will contain retail space the first 8 floors, with rental office space on floors 9 and above. Construction will start in March 2017 with completion scheduled for late 2019.Read more
Shibuya Ward Office demolition to start in November
Demolition of the 51-year old Shibuya Ward Office and Public Hall buildings will start this November. Discussions to redevelop the government offices began in early 2013 after a building inspection found that the ward office building did not meet minimum earthquake-resistant standards and was at risk of collapse in an earthquake with a shindo level of upper-6.
The Shibuya government office buildings include the 6-storey ward office and the 4-storey Shibuya Public Hall (Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall). They were completed in 1964, and the Hall hosted the weight-lifting events for the ’64 Summer Olympics.
To help cover the costs of rebuilding, part of the government-owned land will be leased to Mitsui Fudosan Residential under a 70-year fixed term. Mitsui will construct a 143m tall, 39-storey residential tower. At the end of the lease, residents will vacate their apartments, the building will be demolished and the land will be returned to the local government.Read more