Gwangjin-gu Develops ‘Jatuli Land Parking Lot’ on KEPCO Hwayang Substation Development Site

[Seoul District News] Gwangjin-gu Signs Parking Lot Development Agreement with Landowner Korea Electric Power Corporation Seoul Headquarters; Installing 232 Spaces on 7,290㎡ of 9,497㎡ to Improve Poor Parking and Aesthetics in Junggok-dong... Gwangjin-gu Promotes Construction Site Environmental Cleanup to Minimize Resident Inconvenience... Guro-gu Creates 767㎡ Natural Rest Area by Renovating Vacant Houses at 8-35 Buil-ro 1da-gil

Site Layout Plan for Construction

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is creating a ‘Jaturi Land Parking Lot’ on the development site of the Korea Electric Power Corporation Hwayang Substation in Junggok-dong.

Junggok-dong consists of multi-family houses and villas lined up in alleys, resulting in a lower parking lot acquisition rate compared to other areas. When one car occupies an alley, not only cars but also people cannot pass through properly due to severe parking difficulties. Resident-priority parking lots are also insufficient, with waiting applicants accounting for 35% of the entire Gwangjin-gu, and illegal parking problems are serious.

Accordingly, on the 15th of last month, the district signed an agreement with the landowner, Korea Electric Power Corporation Seoul Headquarters, to create a large-scale public parking space utilizing idle land. It is expected to greatly help improve the poor parking environment and aesthetics of Junggok-dong.

The agreement involves creating an ‘open parking lot on leftover land (self-parking off-street parking lot)’, installing 232 spaces on a total area of 7,290㎡ out of the entire 9,497㎡ site. The period is one year starting from December this year, but the agreement will be extended annually until the start of the development construction.

The district will provide the parking lot to residents in the form of a resident-priority parking system and will entrust the management of user allocation and fee collection to the Gwangjin-gu Facilities Management Corporation.

The parking lot will also be equipped with safety facilities such as security CCTV and security lights, using government-supplied materials that can be reused as much as possible to minimize buried assets and reduce the budget. After the operation of the open parking lot ends, these materials will be recovered.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “I am pleased to be able to create an open parking lot by utilizing the development site in Junggok-dong, where parking difficulties are severe due to the dense concentration of detached houses,” and added, “We will continue to strive to create public parking lots through various methods.”

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is promoting improvements in environmental maintenance at construction sites to create safe and pollution-free construction sites and minimize inconvenience to residents.

The district will focus on issues that frequently cause complaints related to construction, implementing measures such as ▲expanding the installation of noise meters within construction sites ▲improving the installation and management of construction permit signboards ▲improving management of the lower part of temporary fences to prevent soil runoff.

First, the target for noise meter installation will be expanded from new construction sites exceeding a total floor area of 2,000㎡ to all new construction sites.

The district will require noise meters to be installed in highly visible locations such as main entrances. From January 1, 2023, conditions for installing noise meters will be imposed during building permits and project plan approvals, with installation plans submitted at the start of construction and compliance confirmations at the time of use approval. Monthly site inspections will also be conducted during construction.

This measure aims to raise awareness of noise generation at construction sites and alleviate residents’ inconvenience through noise reduction efforts. Complaints about noise damage have been increasing over the past two years, most of which originate from construction sites.

Additionally, to provide residents with the right to know, the installation and management of construction permit signboards will be improved.

According to building regulations, contractors must install construction permit signboards in locations easily visible to residents. However, signboards are often damaged or moved during construction, preventing residents from accessing information and causing numerous complaints.

Therefore, the district will require construction permit signboards to be installed in visually confirmable locations along main (side) roads. If the site borders two or more roads, it is recommended to install signboards on at least two temporary fences.

Finally, sandbags or concrete structures will be installed at the bottom of temporary fences adjacent to sidewalks to prevent soil runoff during construction.

Soil flowing through gaps at the bottom of temporary fences obstructs residents’ walking environment and causes significant inconvenience.

To address this, the district will impose conditions during building permits and project plan approvals to install sandbags or concrete structures at the bottom of temporary fences. Installation confirmation will be required at the start of construction, and site inspections will be conducted during construction.

In particular, the use of sandbags or concrete structures in colors that are easily identifiable at night will further enhance safety.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We have considered various ways to create safe and pollution-free construction sites and decided to implement improvements,” adding, “We hope residents near construction sites can enjoy a pleasant living environment.”

A living garden created in the area of 8-35 Builro 1-da-gil

Guro-gu (Mayor Moon Heon-il) has created a living garden in a space where vacant houses were demolished.

Guro-gu stated on the 1st, “We signed an agreement with SH Corporation in February this year to transform the previously neglected residential area into a communal space for residents,” adding, “Following detailed design and review procedures, construction was carried out and recently completed.”

A ‘living garden’ is an open garden created and operated by the national government, local governments, or public institutions in idle spaces for residents to use as a resting place.

Before starting full-scale construction, a residents’ briefing session was held in April to reflect their opinions. From July to November, vacant houses in the area of 8-35, Buil-ro 1-da-gil were demolished and the environment was improved, creating a 767㎡ living garden. (Photo)

Strobe pine, cornelian cherry, Japanese snowbell, mountain azalea, royal azalea, and Kerria japonica were planted, and a walking path was created along the planted trees. Four types of fitness facilities, a pergola, benches, and chairs were installed for light exercise and rest, and park lights were installed for security.

This project not only improves the aesthetics of nearby residential areas and provides a resting space close to home but is also expected to secure green space lacking in urban living areas, helping reduce fine dust.

A Guro-gu official said, “The transformed space through this project will become a place where residents can enjoy greenery and rest near their homes,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to provide natural resting places easily accessible in daily life.”

Previously, Guro-gu had improved neglected spaces in 2020 at 9-3, Gocheok-ro 18-gil (Gaebong-dong) and in 2021 at 19-2, Gocheok-ro 27-da-gil (Gocheok-dong).