[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] The semi-basement floors (spaces) of multi-family and multiplex houses owned by Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) will be transformed into 'floors where opportunities arise (Gi-saeng-cheung),' such as youth startup classrooms.
On the 29th, SH Corporation announced plans to relocate residents living in the semi-basement spaces of its multi-family and multiplex houses to above-ground floors, and convert the vacant semi-basement spaces into various welfare facilities such as startup classrooms and living SOC (social overhead capital).
The semi-basement spaces of aging multi-family and multiplex houses are unsuitable for long-term residence due to a complete or insufficient amount of sunlight, high humidity, poor ventilation, and the easy occurrence of leaks, condensation, and mold.
To address the 'quality of housing' issues for residents living in these poor semi-basement environments, SH Corporation plans to demolish aging multi-family and multiplex houses with semi-basements and construct high-quality housing. For semi-basement multi-family and multiplex houses in good condition, tenants living in the semi-basements will first be relocated to above-ground floors, and the semi-basement spaces will be converted into seasonal storage, startup support facilities, community spaces for local residents, and other welfare facilities needed in the area.
Starting this year, SH Corporation plans to actively seek out demanders such as social enterprises, urban regeneration companies (CRC), and local community groups who need space, to utilize the previously unused semi-basement spaces as seasonal storage, mail and parcel storage, offices for youth startups, community meeting rooms, and other spaces where new opportunities arise, expanding the project accordingly.
Among the 18,414 multi-family and multiplex purchased rental housing units owned by SH Corporation, 671 units (3.6%) have semi-basements. The average age is 26 years, indicating severe aging, and among these, 108 units suffer from severe leaks, condensation, and mold, making them unsuitable for rental housing supply, leading to closure of the spaces or suspension of housing supply.
Since February, SH Corporation has conducted on-site inspections of all purchased rental housing over 20 years old that include semi-basements. Through evaluations of structure, safety, finishing, facilities, and living environment, they are selecting aging houses for demolition. SH Corporation is also consulting with regional urban regeneration support centers, social enterprises, and others about welfare facilities to be installed in the semi-basement spaces.
Kim Se-yong, President of SH Corporation, said, "No one will live in the semi-basements of multi-family and multiplex houses owned by SH Corporation anymore." He added, "Last year, we conducted a pilot project transforming six semi-basement spaces owned by SH Corporation into community facilities for local residents, planned and designed by young architects. Going forward, we will cultivate semi-basement floors into open welfare spaces for the community, such as startup support facilities, resident communication rooms, and shared kitchens, creating semi-basements as 'floors where opportunities arise.'"
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