Nangang hosts Taiwan’s 1st smart public housing project

2016/01/19

Taiwan’s first information and communications technology-enabled public housing project was launched by the local government Jan. 15 in Nangang District of Taipei City.

The NT$2.67 billion (US$79.5 million) Dongming Public Housing complex comprises three 21-floor high-rises and a six-floor building on an 8,348-square-meter site in the southeastern district. Construction gets underway next month and is scheduled for completion by year-end 2018.

Leveraging the experience and expertise of collaborators Acer Group, Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. and Fortune Construction Co. Ltd., Dongming features an innovative turnkey ICT solution with pre-installed fiber-optic cables.

Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je said he expects this public-private sector tie-up to serve as model for social housing development nationwide. “The project takes into consideration the disparate needs of housing justice, urban aesthetics and technological advances.

“In addition, it introduces a new standard for social involvement by incorporating a wide range of on-site welfare services.”

According to Ko, the lower levels of the buildings will house public day and long-term care facilities, as well as community centers, employment agencies and organizations for the disabled. “Dongming is to also grow into an activity hotspot for the people of Nangang,” he added.

Up to 700 families are expected to call the complex home, enjoying rents capped at 85 percent of average rates. Taipei City Government sees this as a way of enticing young people back to the city and spurring a new wave of urban growth.

“There is every reason to believe Dongming’s success will bring us closer to our goal of creating 20,000 housing units in the next three years,” Ko said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241377&ctNode=2194&mp=9)