News Kobe banning downtown high-rise buildings

[thomas]

Sumitomo Realty & Development's twin 27-story towers, soon to grace Kobe's Sannomiya district, will be the final high-rise residential buildings to adorn the city's skyline. The developer's luxury units, many priced upwards of ¥200 million, boast panoramic views of Kobe's famed "10-million-dollar nightscape" and are selling fast. However, it's not just the apartments themselves driving demand. In 2020, Kobe City imposed strict regulations on new residential developments within a 22.6-hectare area surrounding JR Sannomiya Station, halting high-rise apartment construction in the city's heart. Construction on the Twin Towers began in 2019, and their completion will mark the end of an era for Kobe's urban landscape.

Photo credit: Sumitomo Realty and Development Co.​

Kobe was one of the first among government ordinance-designated cities to experience a population decline. However, Kobe also worries that if these buildings attract residents to the city centre, urban overcrowding and suburban depopulation will worsen.

Similar regulations were approved in Yokohama. Since 2006, the city has limited residential floor area ratios around Yokohama Station and effectively banned the construction of high-rise apartments without commercial facilities. The city acknowledges that easing height restrictions on complexes contributed to the revitalization of the city center. However, no municipalities have followed suit, with many instead viewing high-rise apartments as catalysts for population growth. In Osaka, the construction of these buildings is booming. "There is no need for policies that restrict or regulate residences," a city official said. The official dismissed concerns about potential abandonment or suburban depopulation. According to demographics data released by the internal affairs ministry in July, Osaka's population increased by 16,055 last year, while Kobe's fell by 10,492. Osaka ranked as the top city for population growth among all municipalities, while Kobe ranked the worst for decline; it is aware that the rush to kick off high-rise apartment construction projects in surrounding areas accelerates population outflow.

Kobe opts out of ‘tower mansion’ apartments as population falls | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis