Taipei (The China Post/ANN) - Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin announced yesterday that the largest ever low-cost public housing expansion and renovation scheme in Ankang has been contracted out, adding that the scheme will hopefully ease pressure on young renters in Taipei.
Following the renovation and expansion, the Ankang Public Housing Complex will consist of 3,303 apartments owned by the city government, Hau said.
The complex, originally built in 1971, currently has 1,024 apartments, all of which are set to be renovated.
Department of Urban Development official Kao Wen-ting said that the original apartments are now considered relatively old.
Taipei's public housing policy states that properties owned by the city government are open to citizens who meet certain conditions and will be offered at a rental price 30 per cent below the market price, Kao said.
Applicants must be aged between 20 and 46, and their close relatives or spouse must not own residential land for self-use.
Once the works are completed, 70 per cent of the apartments will be open to young people, with the remainder offered to original residents.
Kao said that after the construction and renovation scheme is completed, some of the apartments will be opened to those in the lower socioeconomic bracket in accordance with the city government's social policy.
Hau added that one of Ankang's new blocks will consist of three types of flats, including 128 one-room, 104 two-room, and 24 three-room apartments.
The first phase of the scheme will see two blocks being constructed, including the D block, Hau said. Once the D block is completed, 256 apartments will be added to the complex.
Ruentex Group Chairman Samuel Yin, contractor for D block, promised that construction work will be completed before June next year.
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