Omotesando public housing site to be redeveloped
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced plans to redevelop the Aoyama Kitamachi Apaato, a city-operated public housing complex located near Omotesando Station and just behind Aoyama Dori Street.
The four hectare site currently contains 25 residential blocks built between 1957 and 1968. This project was said to be the first post-war city housing in Tokyo. Apartments ranged in size from 32 ~ 52 sqm. The 4 and 5 storey buildings have no elevators and some of the buildings did not have bathrooms (bathroom units were added to the balconies later).Read more
Revision to voting ratios to make it easier to sell apartment building and land
On December 24, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced a revision to the Facilitation of Reconstruction of Condominiums Act which is intended to make it easier to sell off an older apartment building and land in order to speed up redevelopment.
Under the revision, the voting ratio to sell off the building and land will be reduced to 80% for kyu-taishin apartments that do not meet earthquake-resistant codes (the ratio was originally 100%). It is important to note that this revision does not apply to all apartments built before 1981. It only applies to those that failed an earthquake-resistant inspection.
At the end of 2013, there were 6,010,000 apartments across Japan. Of those, approximately 17% are in buildings built to the older earthquake codes (called kyu-taishin). The figures are higher for condominiums, with a third of condominium apartment buildings across Japan built to the older codes.
By April 2014, there were only 196 cases where kyu-taishin apartment buildings were redeveloped, accounting for just 1.4% of the total number of kyu-taishin apartments.Read more
High-rise plans for northern side of Toranomon Hills
On December 12, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Urban Development announced details for the Toranomon Station South District Plan. There are plans for this project to be certified under the National Strategic Special Zone, which could provide an allowance to increase the floor space for the site.
District A
District A (Toranomon 1-17~20), which is a 1.5 hectare site directly across the street on the northern side of Toranomon Hills, currently contains several smaller buildings including the Toranomon 10 Mori Building (1966) and the Nishimatsu Building (1962). Current plans are for a 36-storey, 185m tall office building with a total floor area of 175,000 sqm. Development approval is expected to be announced in June 2015. If approved, construction will start in February 2017 with completion expected by December 2019.Read more
First apartment building to be redeveloped in Saitama
Residents of a 34-year old condominium apartment building in Saitama City have decided to rebuild after an earthquake-resistant diagnosis showed the building was at risk of collapse in a major earthquake.
This will be the very first case of a resident-led condominium redevelopment in Saitama Prefecture. To date, Saitama only has two cases of apartment redevelopments - both were carried out for urban development and road widening, rather than building age.
The 7-storey building in Omiya-ku was built in 1980. The average age of a resident is over 60, yet the building was lacking in barrier-free facilities. Equipment was ageing and the elevator needed replacing. In 2009, a building inspection found that the structure was not earthquake-proof and posed a danger of collapse in a major earthquake.
Tokyu Plaza Shibuya to be redeveloped
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
Tokyu Fudosan Holdings redeveloping Dogenzaka HQ
On November 7, Tokyu Fudosan Holdings announced that they are redeveloping their head office building and neighbouring buildings in Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku.
The Shibuya Nanpeidai District Redevelopment Plan covers a 4,100 sqm site alongside the 246 Expressway and 500 meters from Shibuya Station. It is expected that redevelopment will begin once Tokyu have relocated their office to Minami Aoyama in 2015.
The following buildings will be redeveloped:
- Shin Nanpeidai Tokyu Building (1974)
- Nanpeidai Tokyu Building / Tokyu Skyline Apartments (1958)
- Shibuya TOD Building (1989)
Mitsui starts work on Nihonbashi 2 Chome Redevelopment
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