Sawolmaeul in Wanggil-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, which had previously been deemed unsuitable for residential living, will be transformed into an eco-friendly residential city.
Commonly known as "Iron Powder Village," Sawolmaeul is located adjacent to a recycled aggregate storage yard and is an area where residential neighborhoods and factories are mixed together. This has resulted in poor living conditions due to heavy metals and airborne dust. In 2019, the Ministry of Environment determined that the area was unfit for residential use, and it has since been cited as a representative example symbolizing the poor housing environment in the Geomdan area.
On May 20, Incheon City announced that it has established an integrated urban development master plan to resolve the longstanding issues in Sawolmaeul and the nearby recycled aggregate storage yard. The city plans to implement this plan in phases to develop the area into an eco-friendly residential city.
Since August 2023, the city has been conducting a feasibility study and preparing a basic plan for the "Eco Metacity Urban Development Project." The plan distinguishes the eastern area (Sawolmaeul) and the western area (recycled aggregate storage yard) based on Jungbong-daero, while also connecting green corridors and community hubs. To ensure smooth project implementation, the city has left open the possibility of various development methods, including private development, public development, and private-public special purpose companies (SPCs).
Additionally, the plan includes designating truck traffic restriction zones within the development area. On Dream-ro, a road leading to the metropolitan landfill site, the operation of waste transport vehicles will be restricted, with a proposal for these vehicles to detour via nearby highways.
The Wondang-daero to Dream-ro connecting road, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to open within this year. The creation of a new Jungbong Tunnel arterial road network and the inclusion of Incheon Urban Railway Line 3 in the second phase of the Incheon urban rail network plan are expected to further improve the development conditions in the surrounding area, giving additional momentum to the Sawolmaeul urban development project.
To establish the master plan, the city held a resident briefing session to facilitate public discussion. Moving forward, the city plans to proceed with related administrative procedures, including designating the development zone, formulating the development plan, and appointing a project operator.
An official from Incheon City stated, "By redeveloping the factories and recycled aggregate storage yard through the urban development project, not only will the residential environment in Sawolmaeul be improved, but there will also be a dramatic improvement in the residential environment of major development projects and surrounding areas, including Handul District, Geomdan 3 District, and Wanggil 1 District." The official added, "We will work in cooperation with Seo-gu and other relevant departments to successfully carry out the project."
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