Moa Town in Hyeonjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Resumes Redevelopment After 20 Years
Wolgye-dong Moa Town in Nowon-gu to Feature Nature-Friendly Development Plans
A total of 2,215 Moa Housing units will be supplied across four locations, including Seodaemun-gu and Nowon-gu in Seoul.
On May 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the 8th Small-Scale Housing Redevelopment Integrated Review Subcommittee had approved the integrated review for four items, including the management plan (draft) for Moa Town in the 1-5 Hyeonjeo-dong area of Seodaemun-gu.
The agenda items approved in this review include: ▲Moa Town in the 1-5 Hyeonjeo-dong area of Seodaemun-gu ▲Moa Town in the 534 Wolgye-dong area of Nowon-gu ▲Moa Housing at Myeonmok Station Zone 1 in the 86-3 Myeonmok-dong area of Jungnang-gu ▲Moa Housing at Myeonmok Station Zone 2 in the 86-3 Myeonmok-dong area of Jungnang-gu. A total of 2,215 Moa Housing units (including 453 rental units) will be supplied as these projects move forward.
The 1-5 Hyeonjeo-dong area of Seodaemun-gu is a region with a 100% rate of aging buildings and an 85% rate of unauthorized housing, resulting in a concentration of abandoned and vacant houses and a severely deteriorated residential environment.
Bird's-eye view after redevelopment of Moa Town in the area of 1-5 Hyeonjeo-dong, Seodaemun-gu. Seoul City
The 1 Hyeonjeo-dong area was once known as "Ddonggol Village." While nearby areas have been redeveloped with apartment complexes, unauthorized buildings within the village remained densely packed, preventing development. In 2005, the area was designated for a residential environment improvement project, but due to a lack of resident consensus, development was effectively halted and the area was left neglected for 20 years. More than half of the households remain vacant, raising concerns about slumification due to issues such as homelessness and solitary deaths, as well as fears of collapse accidents involving aging houses.
After residents applied for Moa Town last year, a management plan was established and the proposal was submitted for review following expert pre-consultation and public inspection by residents. One Moa Housing site will be developed, supplying a total of 366 housing units (including 80 rental units).
The management plan (draft) for Moa Town approved this time includes: ▲Upgrading the zoning for the project area (from Type 1 and Type 2 residential zones (up to 7 stories) to Type 2 general residential zone) ▲Expansion of maintenance infrastructure (roads) and shared facilities ▲Creation of public pedestrian pathways ▲Moa Housing project implementation plan and design guidelines.
In particular, the plan calls for the removal of internal roads and the integration of 13 housing plots into a single project zone, making it possible to construct mid- and high-rise apartment buildings. A 5-meter-wide public pedestrian pathway connecting to walking trails within the housing complex has been planned, creating a convenient pedestrian environment for citizens visiting Ansan Urban Nature Park and Seodaemun Independence Park.
In the 534 Wolgye-dong area of Nowon-gu, two Moa Housing sites will be developed, supplying a total of 890 housing units (including 151 rental units).
This area requires residential environment improvement, as aging buildings account for 79.7% of all structures, and semi-basement homes make up 83.6%. The average elevation exceeds 40 meters, and the sloped terrain has made it difficult to improve the residential environment and expand infrastructure such as roads.
The management plan (draft) for Moa Town in this area includes: ▲Upgrading the zoning for the project area (from Type 1 general residential zone to Type 2 general residential zone, and from Type 2 general residential zone (up to 7 stories) to Type 3 general residential zone) ▲Maintenance and expansion of infrastructure (roads, parks) ▲Moa Housing project implementation plan and design guidelines ▲Plans for community facilities for residents.
The city has planned the building heights and layout to harmonize with natural resources such as the nearby Ui Stream and Yeongchuksan, which surrounds the area, and to suit the sloped terrain, as part of the Moa Town management plan.
In addition, an amendment to the project implementation plan to ease the ratio of rental housing in response to tenant loss compensation for Moa Housing Zones 1 and 2 within the 86-3 Myeonmok-dong Moa Town area of Jungnang-gu was approved as originally proposed.
Previously, in October 2022, the city revised the Seoul Vacant House and Small-Scale Housing Redevelopment Ordinance to apply land compensation law provisions to Moa Housing projects within Moa Town, allowing for tenant loss compensation to resolve relocation conflicts and protect tenants.
Accordingly, for Zones 1 and 2 of Moa Town in 86-3 Myeonmok-dong, Jungnang-gu, the plan was changed to allow payment of approximately 6.9 billion won in loss compensation to 390 tenants who qualify for business loss compensation?out of a total of 483 tenants?either as residential tenants living there three months before the cooperative establishment approval date or as business tenants present from before the cooperative establishment approval date until the business implementation plan approval date. In addition, the number of required rental housing units will be reduced by 27, allowing for more general sales.
Currently, Moa Town in the 86-3 Myeonmok-dong area of Jungnang-gu is proceeding with the project after easing the floor area ratio in exchange for tenant loss compensation, with the goal of obtaining business implementation plan approval and beginning relocation and construction within the year.
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