Seoul City Designates 3 Moa Town Sites... 6,000 Households to be Supplied by 2027

Passed Integrated Review for Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu and Siheung 3·5-dong, Geumcheon-gu on the 17th
Two General Area Moa Housing Projects Also Passed Under Moa Housing Review Standards

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] Seoul City is expected to supply about 6,000 households by 2027 as it additionally approved management plans for three sites designated as Moa Towns. Although not designated as Moa Towns, two cases of street housing maintenance projects applying the 'Moa Housing Review Standards' also emerged.

On the 18th, the city announced that a total of three management plans passed integrated review at the Small-scale Housing Authorization Subcommittee held the previous day. The three approved sites include the 'Jungnang-gu Myeonmok-dong pilot project site' and the 'Geumcheon-gu Siheung 3·5-dong area.' In Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts, two general area street housing maintenance projects applying the Moa Housing review standards also passed integrated review, one in each district.

'Moa Town' is a small-scale housing maintenance management area that groups together old low-rise residential areas under 100,000㎡ where large-scale redevelopment is difficult, establishes management plans, and promotes maintenance projects. When designated as a Moa Town, owners of multi-family and multi-unit housing lots can combine individual lots to jointly develop apartments on a block basis (over 1,500㎡) through 'Moa Housing (small-scale housing maintenance projects).'

Three Sites Designated as Moa Towns... Management Plans Include Zoning Upgrades and Other Details

Basic Concept Plan for Moa Town Area, 86-3 Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu / Photo by Seoul City Hall

With three sites designated as Moa Towns, about 6,000 households will be supplied by 2027. The area around 86-3 Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, is scheduled for completion in 2026 with approximately 1,850 households, and Siheung 3·5-dong in Geumcheon-gu aims for completion in 2027 with about 4,177 households expected. Including Beondong, Gangbuk-gu (1,240 households) announced in April, more than 7,000 households will be supplied from projects designated this year alone.

The three sites that passed review are examples of Moa Town designations actively promoted since the introduction of the 'Moa Housing·Moa Town' system, with effective management plans prepared through expert consultation and public viewing in September and October.

In January this year, the city selected the Myeonmok-dong area in Jungnang-gu as a pilot project site and proactively supported the establishment of management plans. Currently, seven sites are preparing street housing-type Moa Housing projects. Five sites have received approval for association establishment, and two are in the process of association formation.

Concept Plan for Infrastructure of Moa Housing in Siheung 3-dong and Siheung 5-dong, Geumcheon-gu
Photo by Seoul City Hall

Siheung 3·5-dong in Geumcheon-gu was selected as a candidate for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's pilot project in April last year following the establishment of the 'Small-scale Housing Maintenance Management Area' system, and preparations for Moa Housing projects are underway at four sites in Siheung 3-dong and eight sites in Siheung 5-dong.

The Moa Town management plans include guidelines such as ▲creating pedestrian-centered residential communities ▲widening main roads for smooth traffic flow ▲upgrading zoning to induce integrated maintenance ▲community streets and street activation ▲creating necessary and hub facilities within the area through overlapping and complex urban planning facilities (parks, parking lots, etc.).

The three designated sites can now pursue more flexible maintenance projects due to the possibility of zoning upgrades. Zoning upgrades will be decided through integrated review once project implementation plans for each project area are prepared.

To prepare for cases where mediation is needed due to difficulties in project promotion during the resident-led Moa Housing·Moa Town process, each autonomous district plans to organize and operate a 'Moa Town Support Team.' Jungnang-gu will dispatch a support team composed of at least two maintenance project experts, and Geumcheon-gu will assist individual projects using existing maintenance project consulting.

Two General Area Moa Housing Projects Applying 'Moa Town Review Standards' Also Passed

Aerial view of the area around 439-5, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu / Photo by Seoul City Hall

Although not Moa Towns, two general area sites applying the 'Moa Town Review Standards'?the area around 439-5 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, and 84 Yangpyeong-dong 6-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu?also passed this integrated review. The 'Moa Town Review Standards' specify detailed facility creation and installation criteria such as ▲underground parking installation standards ▲street-responsive layout ▲use of open spaces within lots ▲inducing street activation.

Accordingly, the project implementation plans for the street housing maintenance projects at '439-5 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu' and '84 Yangpyeong-dong 6-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu' were conditionally approved, allowing the existing aging multi-family housing to be reborn as mid-rise apartments.

The area around 439-5 Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, which previously had 108 households, will have a 133-household apartment complex (including 22 rental units) along with shared facilities such as a children's library and reading room. Since it meets the 'Moa Housing·Moa Town Review Standards' enacted in June, it will receive floor height relaxation from a type 2, 7-story zone to a maximum of 15 stories (average 11.46 stories). In general residential areas under type 2, 7 stories, if seven conditions are met when building apartments, floor height can be relaxed up to an average of 13 stories (maximum 15 stories) without public contributions.

Aerial view of 84, Yangpyeong-dong 6-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu / Photo by Seoul City Hall

The area at 84 Yangpyeong-dong 6-ga, Yeongdeungpo-gu, which previously had 54 households, will have an 81-household apartment complex (including 17 rental units) due to floor area ratio relaxation. Under the relevant laws, the 'street housing maintenance project' can receive floor area ratio relaxation up to the limit if it constructs at least 10% public rental housing and creates maintenance infrastructure or shared facilities.

Yoo Chang-su, Director of Seoul City's Housing Policy Office, said, "Including this review result, a total of four Moa Towns have been designated this year, and from next year, Moa Housing projects are expected to be promoted more actively. We will establish effective project management and support measures such as deploying experts and efficient association operation to revitalize Moa Housing, drastically improve the residential environment of low-rise residential areas, and quickly supply quality housing."