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.

Uenoshita was completed in 1929, and is now over 83 years old. The 4-storey reinforced concrete structure has a total of 71 units ranging in size from 10 to 39 sqm (107 to 419 sqft).  A total of 16 dojunkai apartments were built between 1925 and 1934 in Tokyo and Yokohama to meet a need for collective housing following the 1923 Kanto earthquake

In a sign of its age, the building has communal squat toilets, which are not particularly desired by the current generation. In recent years, units could be rented from 25,000 to 65,000 Yen/month. The decision to rebuild was made due to concerns about the building’s deterioration, safety of the structure, it’s small apartments, and its old facilities which have been degrading over the years. An older structure like this can pose a threat to the neighborhood in the event it catches fire or collapses.

In March 2011, the building’s management committee (or condo association) decided to engage the services of a consultant to help the process of rebuilding. In October, Mitsubishi Jisho Residence was chosen to head the redevelopment. By April 2012, residents voted in unison to rebuild the apartments.

The stock of condominiums surpassed 5,790,000 units by the end of 2011. Of those, almost 1 million units were in buildings that were over 30 years old (1982 and earlier).

The new building will be 14 stories and contain 128 apartments and 4 retail spaces. It will be built using a seishin (vibration control) earthquake-resistant construction. In the event of a disaster, there will be a stockpile of emergency rations as well as cooking facilities built into outdoor benches. The new building is scheduled to be completed by March 2015.

Redevelopment Schedule:

  • 2012/04: Decision to rebuild
  • 2012/10: Establishment of reconstruction committee
  • 2013/05: Demolition work begins
  • 2015/03: Completion of new building

Details on the new building:

  • Name: TBA
  • Completion: March 2015
  • Location: 5-4-3 Higashi Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
  • Transport: Inaricho Sta. – 1 min walk
  • Land: 1,147.82 sqm
  • Construction: 14 stories
  • Units: 128
  • Size range: 25.00 ~ 74.00 sqm
  • Carparking: 27 spaces
Sources:
Mitsubishi Jisho Residence Press Release, October 9, 2012
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