Establishing Living Infrastructure Such as Parking Lots and Care Centers
Plan to Build Multipurpose Cultural Facility with 8.7 Billion Won Investment
Vacant House Renovation and Installation of Smart Crosswalks Also Included
The area of Usan-dong in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, which is densely populated with old houses, will be transformed through a village-based redevelopment project. This comes as the 'Usan District New Village' project, which aims to improve residents' living conditions and promote urban regeneration at the same time, is set to begin in earnest.
On May 5, Gwangsan-gu announced that it had recently launched the 'Usan District New Village Project' near Gwangsan Middle School in Usan-dong. A total of 19.6 billion won will be invested in the project, with the core focus on building community facilities and living infrastructure for residents within the aging residential area.
Concept Plan for New Village Project in Usan District, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Provided by Gwangsan-gu
Nearly half of the project budget, or 8.7 billion won, will be allocated to the construction of a four-story multi-purpose cultural and care facility. This space, which will include a multipurpose hall, library, vocational training room, and areas for resident programs, will serve as a community hub for low-income residents and those in need of care. The existing senior center will also be remodeled into a 'Silver Community Platform' with an investment of 580 million won.
Mudol Children's Park will be newly renovated, and a public parking lot with 50 spaces will be built underground. This area has suffered from a parking shortage since residential land development in the 1980s, and 7.2 billion won will be invested to help alleviate the parking problem.
The school routes to Songwoo Elementary School and Gwangsan Middle School are also included in the improvement plans. The existing pedestrian paths, which are narrow and have steep level differences, will be widened or replaced with new roads, and smart crosswalks will be installed at crossings. Twelve old or vacant houses will be improved through individual renovation methods.
However, some have raised concerns about the project's focus on new building construction, arguing that urban regeneration should instead prioritize making use of existing spaces wherever possible.
An official from the district said, "This is an attempt at a resident demand-based redevelopment project in a low-rise residential area where full-scale demolition and reconstruction is difficult," adding, "We expect this to serve as an opportunity to improve the living environment and restore the foundation of the local community."
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