From this month, the old Gangnam-gu Senior Center building, abandoned for over 10 years, will be remodeled into a youth cafe... Construction to be completed by April next year... Youth cafe, Hangang view deck, small performance stage, etc. to be created... Youth operators selected through a public contest
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) has begun remodeling work on a youth cafe as a catalyst for the Bondong Urban Regeneration New Deal project.
This project is part of the urban regeneration initiative in the Bondong area, which was selected last year as a target site for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Urban Regeneration New Deal.
The youth cafe site is the former Gangnam-gu Senior Citizens' Center (29-6 Noryangjin-ro 32-gil), which has been abandoned for over 10 years after being decommissioned.
Located midway on the access road from the Yongyangbongjeojeong historical and cultural space at the southern end of Hangang Bridge to the Yongyangbongjeojeong Family Park above, it offers an optimal view where visitors can enjoy a panoramic sight of the Hangang River and Namsan Mountain looking northward from the south side of the Hangang River.
The facility covers a total floor area of 227㎡, with one basement level and two above-ground floors. The first floor will house a cafe and a Hangang viewing deck, while the second floor will feature a cafe and a stage suitable for small-scale performances.
Additionally, to enhance visitor convenience, the access road around the youth cafe will be improved, and a pedestrian path connecting to Yongyangbongjeojeong Family Park will be created.
Furthermore, to operate a distinctive cafe led by youth, the operator will be selected through a public contest in the first half of next year.
The candidates include local universities, youth organizations, and non-profit youth institutions.
The remodeling work for the youth cafe is scheduled to be completed by April next year.
For more details, inquiries can be made to the Dongjak-gu Strategic Projects Division.
The district is investing a total of 13 billion KRW over three years until 2022 in the Bondong Urban Regeneration New Deal project, pursuing various initiatives under the vision of ‘River Hill Bondong, a village embracing the Hangang River and history.’
Main projects include ▲crime prevention safety alley creation ▲alley playgrounds and resting areas ▲self-housing maintenance projects ▲support for repair and remodeling of old houses ▲public parking lot construction ▲village enterprise (CRC) development ▲installation of resident community and urban regeneration anchor facilities.
In particular, the district is promoting the Bondong urban regeneration project in conjunction with the development of Yongyangbongjeojeong area as a tourist attraction to revitalize the local economy through synergy effects.
Mayor Changwoo Lee of Dongjak-gu said, “The Bondong youth cafe will be reborn as a local landmark where anyone can enjoy the beautiful night view of the Hangang River,” adding, “We will do our best to create a city where residents want to stay and live through the successful implementation of the Bondong Urban Regeneration New Deal project, Seoul’s first urban regeneration model on a Hangang riverside hilly terrain.”
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