News Sekisui to demolish just-finished apartment building in Kunitachi

[thomas]

Saw this on Twitter yesterday and in the Japanese morning news:

Sekisui House (積水ハウス公式) has to tear down an almost finished apartment building in Kunitachi, Tokyo, after complaints that it blocked a view of Mt. Fuji! The building was nearly complete, and apartments would be handed over to owners next month.

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[mdchachi]

Somebody miscalculated somewhere somehow.

 

[thomas]

Somebody miscalculated somewhere somehow.

A costly miscalculation. Construction cost, demolition cost, recompensation, new (temporary) accommodation for prospective tenants...

 

[thomas]

The power of complainers in Japan. Asahi has more details on the building. According to the article, Sekisui and the city council agreed to change the project from 11 to 10 floors, but was then requested to limit it to just four floors. Eventually, Sekisui decided to demolish it.

I have a student working at Sekusui. I will ask him for more details next week.

But it pointed out, "From the standpoint of continuity with the surrounding residential area, a further reduction of the number of stories and other innovations would be desirable." In March and April of that year, the developer held meetings with local residents to discuss the matter. At these gatherings, the residents requested that the height of the condominium be reduced to four stories, and that the building area and total floor space be reduced to about half of the original blueprint. In response, the developer said their proposed changes would "put pressure on the business potential" to generate a profit. The discussion went round in circles. In the end, it was decided that "it would be difficult to reach a compromise between the two parties and there is no prospect of reconciling opinions." The discussions were terminated after two meetings. A 91-year-old woman who lives in the neighborhood said she had been opposed to construction on grounds the condominium would compromise her "view and ability to get plenty of sunlight."

Near-complete condo to be torn down as it blocks views of Mt. Fuji | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis