Promotion of a District Unit Plan for a 337,000㎡ General Commercial Area
Large-Scale Redevelopment to Revitalize Hwanghak-dong
Relaxation of Regulations and Infrastructure Improvements Planned
Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) is establishing a district unit plan for a 337,980㎡ general commercial area in the undeveloped Hwanghak-dong area and is promoting a large-scale redevelopment project.
The Hwanghak district unit plan focuses on easing development regulations. The plan includes extensive designation of special planning (possible) zones, relaxation of building height restrictions to revitalize redevelopment, as well as measures to improve outdated infrastructure such as securing parking and green spaces and reorganizing the road network.
The district office will reannounce the ‘Hwanghak District Unit Plan Area and Plan Decision (Draft)’ for public review until the 31st of this month and will hold a ‘Visiting Residents Briefing Session’ at Sindang Nuri Center at 7 p.m. on the 19th.
The target area is located at the eastern end of Jung-gu, bordering Seongdong-gu. It is bounded north-south by Toegye-ro and Cheonggyecheon, east-west by Nangye-ro and Dasan-ro, with Majang-ro running east-west through the center of the area. The area includes Jungang Market, the kitchen furniture street, and Sindang Station (Lines 2 and 6) of the subway. The western part of the area is a traditional market, while the eastern part is residential.
Although this area is designated as a general commercial zone, 90% of the buildings are over 30 years old, and 74% of the buildings are five stories or less. In particular, small parcels under 150㎡, which account for 84% of the total area, along with complex layouts and party-wall buildings (buildings constructed attached to each other without space in between) have hindered individual redevelopment and accelerated regional decline. Additionally, overall commercial stagnation and polarization, poor residential environments, and insufficient infrastructure have intensified the hollowing-out phenomenon.
Jung-gu has taken steps to address local issues through the Hwanghak-dong district unit plan. First, 37% (125,000㎡) of the target area, including traditional markets, will be designated as three special planning zones and one special planning possible zone. The south side of Majang-ro, which is a station area, will be developed as a large-scale strategic development with mixed commercial, business, cultural, and residential functions, while the north side will focus on residential functions with added cultural and commercial functions to support daily life. The district office also included a plan to utilize public spaces secured through this large-scale development as open green spaces and pedestrian pathways.
Building heights are strictly limited to 20?80 meters according to Seoul’s street zone building height plan, but the draft plan significantly relaxes this to 50?120 meters. Furthermore, outside the special planning zones, systematic development to protect the residential environment will be implemented with dense application of joint development and maximum development scale (1,000?3,000㎡).
The Hwanghak district unit plan draft was first announced for public review in October 2022. However, at that time, the plan was considered insufficient to support development as it remained at a passive management level.
Based on Mayor Kim Gil-seong’s policy direction to revitalize redevelopment projects and invigorate the city center, after two years of review and coordination, the plan has been refined into a more effective one and is now being reannounced for public review. Jung-gu plans to complete the remaining procedures after the review and officially announce the decision within this year.
Mayor Kim Gil-seong said, “Despite Hwanghak-dong’s excellent location and potential, it has been stagnant for a long time. We will ease regulations through the district unit plan so that the land can realize its value, improve aging residential areas, and breathe new life into the stagnant commercial district.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
