Construction of Nanhyang Public Parking Lot in Gwanak-gu... Jungnang-gu Adds Road Heating Systems on Hill Roads and Slopes

[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu Resolves Parking Shortage at Nanhyang-dong National Assembly Complex with 22 Spaces on 2 Floors · Completion of Nanggok Smart Public Parking and Haengun-dong 1st Public Parking Expansion Next Year · 2024 Construction of Sangdo Neighborhood Park and Moraenae Park Parking Lots ... Jungnang-gu Completes Road Heating Installation to Prevent Winter Snow and Ice Accidents · Secures 1.5 Billion Won to Install in 10 Locations Considering Traffic Volume, Pedestrian Flow, and Steep Roads ... Guro-gu Completes Environmental Improvement of 2nd Public Open Space Following August Completion of Rest Area at 1st Public Open Space G-Ple Tower ...

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has completed the construction of the ‘Nanhyang Public Parking Lot’ to alleviate parking difficulties in the densely residential area of Nanhyang-dong.

The densely populated residential area of the National Assembly complex in Nanhyang-dong is mainly composed of general multi-family and multi-household residences. Unlike apartment complexes with underground parking lots, parking spaces are severely insufficient, leading to chronic illegal parking, which has caused many pedestrian safety issues and conflicts among residents.

In response, the district actively promoted the expansion of public parking lots to resolve local parking difficulties, improve residents’ safe walking environment, and enhance their quality of life.

Although Nanhyang-dong is a densely populated residential area and faced many difficulties in acquiring land for the project, the district persuaded the landowners of the targeted plots about the necessity and justification of the project. As a result, three out of four plots were purchased in March 2021, and the remaining plot was acquired in April. Construction began in November 2021 and was completed in September 2022, about 10 months later.

The parking lot covers an area of 519㎡ and includes a total of 22 parking spaces, including spaces exclusively for the disabled. The total budget invested was 3.56 billion KRW, including 2.13 billion KRW from city funds.

Furthermore, the name of the parking lot was selected as ‘Nanhyang Public Parking Lot’ after gathering opinions from local residents, as it is a facility intended to provide convenience to the community.

Additionally, the ‘Namhyun Small Park Public Parking Lot’ is under construction with a target completion date in December. In February 2023, the Nanggok Smart Public Parking Lot will open, followed by the expansion of the Haengun-dong No.1 Public Parking Lot in June. By December 2024, public parking lots will be established at Sangdo Neighborhood Park in Euncheon-dong and Nakseongdae Moraenae Park, securing a total of 524 additional parking spaces.

Mayor Park Jun-hee stated, “Through the public parking lot construction project, which is a facility that residents feel most directly, we plan to gradually resolve the long-standing parking difficulties of residents.” He added, “We will continue to actively promote the expansion of public parking lots and do our best to create ‘Top Transportation Gwanak’ that guarantees residents’ convenience and basic quality of life.”

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) has completed the installation of road heating cables to prevent safety accidents caused by winter snowfall and ice formation.

Road heating cables are installed 7cm below the road surface and use electricity to generate heat. When it snows or ice forms on the road surface, the system automatically detects temperature and humidity to melt the snow on the road.

The district invested 1.5 billion KRW to install road heating cables over 780 meters at 10 locations, considering traffic volume, pedestrian flow, and steep roads in the area.

The sections with installed road heating cables include ▲ Myeonmok 1-dong (near Yongmasan Hometown, Seoul True Church) ▲ Myeonmok 4-dong (near Bang Pharmacy, Yongmasan Station, Ssangyong The Platinum Yongmasan Apartments, Yongmasan Haneulchae Apartments) ▲ Myeonmok 3 and 8-dong (Saga-jeong Station bus stop) ▲ Mangwoo 3-dong (near Hyewon Girls’ High School).

The district expects that the installation of road heating cables will reduce the use of calcium chloride, preventing corrosion of road facilities, alleviating traffic inconvenience, and proactively responding to snow removal to prevent safety accidents.

Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “Following the installation at two locations last year, we were able to install road heating cables at 10 locations this year, making initial snow removal easier, minimizing residents’ inconvenience, and preventing safety accidents.” He added, “We will spare no effort to prepare thorough snow removal measures with residents’ safety as the top priority this winter as well.”

Last year, the district installed road heating cables over a 225-meter section around Yongma Park Road and Dalgongsan Park. In addition, the district plans to continue efforts to prevent safety accidents through automatic brine spraying devices, free snow removal toolboxes accessible to everyone, and operation of snow removal machines for sidewalks.

Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) will carry out construction to improve the environment of the 2nd public open space of G-Valley Town Management.

Guro-gu announced on the 1st, “As part of the ‘Seoul-type Town Management’ project, we have been conducting the ‘G-Valley Town Management’ project since 2020, which reflects the local characteristics of the area. Following the completion of the 1st public open space rest area in August, we will begin full-scale construction this month to renovate the 2nd public open space.”

The ‘Town Management’ project is designed for local stakeholders such as company members, merchants, and residents to form governance and establish a private-sector-centered management system. The goal is to realize sustainable regional development by fostering self-sustaining private governance and increasing the utilization of public spaces.

In 2020, the Seoul Metropolitan Government selected the G-Valley area (123 Digital-ro 26-gil) as the target site for the ‘Seoul-type Town Management’ project. The project leverages G-Valley’s local characteristics, including human resources from various companies and physical resources such as plazas and underutilized public spaces.

Accordingly, the district signed a business agreement last year with the G-Valley Town Management and the G-Plus Tower Tenants’ Association, and from April to August this year, created a rest area in the 1st public open space at G-Plus Tower.

On the 27th of last month, a signing ceremony was held at the district office’s communication hall for the environmental improvement construction of the 2nd public open spaces at Kolon Science Valley 2nd and JNK Digital Tower. The ceremony was attended by Mayor Moon Heon-il and representatives of each operating committee, including Chairman Yoon Sung-hyun of Kolon Science Valley 2nd and Chairman Song Seok-won of JNK Digital Tower.

According to the agreement, the district will renovate a total of 5,282㎡ of public space. This includes replacing old stairs, fences, and sitting walls, and installing parasols, sunshades, and benches to improve the walking environment and create rest areas. Kolon Science Valley 2nd and JNK Digital Tower will manage the created rest areas and provide shared spaces during cultural events in the district.

A Guro-gu official said, “G-Valley Town Management is a meaningful project where residents take the lead in raising the value of the area.” He added, “We hope this project will help G-Valley become a place where work and culture coexist.”

Meetings of private consultative bodies to establish G-Valley Town Management governance are also ongoing. Organizations such as G-Valley tenant companies and business associations participate to discuss effective joint task formulation and execution, pursuit of public interest and social value, and preparation of profit-making projects, aiming for G-Valley’s growth and sustainable operation.

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will conduct safety inspections of small-scale aging buildings in areas where redevelopment projects have been canceled by the end of November.

To eliminate safety blind spots in residential environments, the district conducts inspections of small-scale private buildings not subject to regular inspections under individual laws such as the Facility Safety Act, Apartment Management Act, and Building Management Act every year in the first and second halves. From 2019 to the first half of this year, a total of 453 buildings have been inspected.

This second-half inspection will focus on areas where redevelopment projects have been canceled within the Singil New Town. Since canceled redevelopment zones have buildings that are damaged or aging and left unattended, posing a threat to residents’ safety, focused management is deemed necessary.

The inspection targets buildings over 30 years old since approval for use, which are not subject to mandatory safety inspections, with 10 floors or fewer and a total floor area of 1,000㎡ or less (voluntary management private buildings). The district prioritized 20 safety-vulnerable buildings requiring urgent inspection based on the number of floors, total floor area, and year of completion.

Inspections are conducted by external experts such as architects and top-level construction technicians in the architectural field who visit the sites directly. They check the safety status by examining major structural cracks, deformations, subsidence, fireproof structures, and smoke ventilation system performance, rating them on five levels: excellent, good, average, insufficient, and poor.

For buildings rated insufficient or poor, the district will guide the management entities to carry out repairs and reinforcements and request detailed safety inspections from building management inspection agencies. If serious defects are found based on detailed inspections, the buildings may be designated and managed as Type 3 facilities.

Additionally, the district operates a ‘Visiting Safety Inspection’ service for aging private buildings to prevent safety accidents and alleviate residents’ anxiety. The inspection targets buildings over 30 years old since completion, with 10 floors or fewer and a total floor area under 1,000㎡. Type 3 facilities, collective buildings, apartments, and multiplex housing above a certain scale, and buildings under regular inspection are excluded.

Owners or managers of buildings wishing to receive the ‘Visiting Safety Inspection’ can apply by visiting the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Architecture Division. Application forms can be downloaded from the district office website under Civil Service Guide - Civil Service Forms. The inspection is completely free of charge.

Mayor Choi Ho-kwon of Yeongdeungpo-gu said, “We expect this safety inspection to greatly help alleviate residents’ anxiety about aging buildings.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to create a safe and pleasant residential environment through ongoing inspections.”