Proposed law to reduce minimum voting rights for reconstruction

The number of aging apartment buildings in Japan that need to be rebuilt in the near future is growing at a rapid pace, yet actual reconstruction projects are seriously lagging.

These projects are frequently stalled as the body-corporate meetings can take up to 10 years before any agreement is reached. This is due in part to the laws which require over 80% of apartment owners to agree to reconstruction. Older buildings tend to have older residents who are happy to stay where they are and don't want to relocate to temporary accommodation for 3 years while awaiting their new home. Other setbacks include a lack of funds for the project and owners with low incomes who cannot afford to take on any additional financial burdens.Read more

by Zoe Ward

100 condominiums in Sendai City need rebuilding

In Sendai City, a condominium that was seriously damaged by the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake is scheduled to be demolished. Sunny Heights Takasago is a 14-storey apartment building with 189 units. The earthquake damaged the foundations and the building began to lean at a dangerous angle, threatening neighboring buildings. Demolition is scheduled to begin by the end of December and should be completed within 6 months. This is the first case in Sendai City of an apartment building of this size being demolished due to the effects of the Tohoku earthquake, but it won't be the last.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Japan's very first high-rise public housing condominium

Miyamasuzaka Building Shibuya 1

Miyamasuzaka Building / Apartment

  • Built in 1953 (58 years old)
  • As seen in 2002 horror film "Dark Water"
  • Apartments sold for between 600,000 ~ 1,000,000 Yen when brand newRead more

by Zoe Ward

Harajuku Danchi Reconstruction Plans

Nippon Steel City Produce and Mitsui are redeveloping the Harajuku Danchi apartments alongside Gaien Nishidori in Shibuya-ku's Jingumae 3 Chome neighborhood.

The original 6 buildings were completed in 1957. The buildings were considered modern for their time and were a landmark for the area. Due to aging and deterioration, reconstruction plans were made and the apartments were vacated in 2010.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Miyashita-cho Apartment site redevelopment tenders open to public

miyashita-cho-apartment-site

Tokyo City announced plans to redevelop 3 sites with a total size of 2.6 hectares just minutes from Shibuya Station. The 3 city-owned blocks of land include the 0.5 hectare site of the former Miyashita-cho Apartment block (Shibuya 1-23), a former school hall site of 0.4 hectares next to Mitake Park (Shibuya 1-18) and the 1.7 hectare site of the former Aoyama Hospital behind the UN University Bldg (Jingumae 5-53). Tenders will be open to the public from Summer, 2011.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Reconstruction vs. long-life maintenance. What is the fate of your apartment?

The condominium market is facing a dilemma - to rebuild or to maintain.

The Japanese Government has enacted laws promoting both long-life construction methods and reconstruction. While there is the Basic Act for Housing and the Law on Promoting the Spread of Long-term Housing to ensure and improve stable housing and to promote the construction long-lasting buildings, there are also laws such as the Apartment Reconstruction Facilitation Law to enable and support building reconstruction.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Nomura to rebuild two apartments in Shirokanedai

Nomura Real Estate Development announced that they have the tender to re-build two adjacent condominium apartments in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku.Read more

by Zoe Ward