Job and Public-Private Complex Development Connecting Wondang Station and Goyang Eunpyeong Line Station Areas
'Creative Innovation & R&D Campus' to be Established in Jugyo-dong, Current Government Office to Become Second Office
Opposition from Citizens and Democratic Party City Councilors Expected to Grow Around Old Downtown
[Asia Economy Reporter La Youngcheol] Goyang City announced plans to develop the Jugyo-dong public parking lot and the existing new city hall site into a "Creative R&D Campus job hub."
On the 9th, Lee Jeong-hyung, Goyang City's 2nd Deputy Mayor, held a press conference stating, "The development-restricted area released for the existing Jugyo-dong new city hall site covers 80,615㎡ and cannot be developed as a complex. Due to the cancellation of the new city hall construction, it will temporarily be restored as a greenbelt," emphasizing this point.
He reiterated the position that "the original plan to build the new city hall would have cost about 300 billion KRW, placing a heavy burden on the city’s finances. Therefore, to reduce the budget and use resources efficiently, the decision was made to relocate the city hall to the Baekseok-dong office building."
The core plan is to lift the greenbelt designation and promote complex development involving private capital around the station area by establishing a development plan of over 200,000㎡?larger than the existing area and suitable for mixed-use development?creating a 'Creative R&D Campus' linked with the soon-to-open Goyang-Eunpyeong Line station.
Regarding the tentative Wondang Re-Creation Project, Deputy Mayor Lee explained, "Following the court’s final ruling last October to transfer ownership of the Baekseok-dong office building to Goyang City, a path has opened to save costs related to the new city hall construction and to utilize funds for building self-sustaining facilities and growth resources."
He added, "To address the gap caused by relocating the city hall, we will promote redevelopment in the Wondang area, expand job infrastructure, and pursue complex development using private funds to enhance the value of Wondang beyond the original effects of building the new city hall."
The Baekseok-dong office building, the planned new city hall site, has a total floor area of 65,874㎡ (approximately 20,000 pyeong) and consists of two towers with 20 and 13 floors. It is scheduled for completion in March this year. The first three floors above ground house office facilities, a hall, lobby, and air conditioning rooms, while from the fourth floor upward, the two towers are separated and entirely used as office space.
The basement levels 1 through 4 are designed as underground parking and mechanical rooms. The 44,403㎡ (approximately 13,000 pyeong) of above-ground office space is nearly the same size as the new city hall area originally planned for Wondang.
The city plans to form a tentative City Hall Relocation Preparation Committee centered on the new city hall construction team, including employee representatives (including labor unions), city council members, citizen representatives, and experts to promote the relocation.
The current city hall will continue to function as the 2nd city hall and will be used for Goyang City’s affiliated agency offices, cultural centers, and gymnasiums. Through the expansion of the Seongsa Innovation District office space and public parking lot currently being developed in the Wondang station area, it will be established as a venture hub for youth startups.
The new city hall fund will be considered for use in nurturing talent (foundation), attracting businesses, supporting small merchants, youth policy support, promoting small and medium enterprises, and addressing livelihood issues.
Opposition from Democratic Party politicians in the Goyang area and residents of Deogyang-gu regarding the Baekseok-dong relocation plan is expected to continue.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
