Urban renewal is here, cultural heritage decays - Xinzhuang County Government Building faces demolition crisis

In October 2012, New Taipei City Government began promoting the development of Xinzhuang’s (新莊) old street, and put the urban renewal project out to tender. In February of this year, after Huang Hiang Construction Corporation (皇翔公司) won the tender, it convened a public information meeting, where the company unveiled its multistoried residential construction plan – two buildings, of 25 and 33 stories respectively.

However, in light of the current urban renewal plan, a number of historic buildings in the area, including Xinzhuang District Government Building and a Japanese-style residential building, are set to be demolished. In a meeting at the start of September, Xinzhuang residents concerned about the area’s architectural heritage complained that the urban renewal project lacks transparency and is being carried out without the full knowledge of local residents. In addition, residents feel that the current planning lacks foresight and will result in a great deal of destruction, benefitting only a small percentage of people in the local district.

Chen Jian-yi (健一表), from Xinzhuang Old Street Sustainable Tourism Alliance (新莊老街永續觀光產業發展聯盟) said that the Japanese-style red brick district government building has strong developmental potential, and as such should be preserved; he added that through proper planning, such buildings could attract even more tourists.

Xinzhuang University raised “Walking Story Map Workshop” which invited everyone to take a crayon and draw memories of Xinzhuang. Looking back at local history, and sharing each other’s memories, stroke by stroke, participants left a lasting record of past memories and current impressions of the district.

Urban renewal is here, cultural heritage decays
- Xinzhuang County Government Building faces demolition crisis
URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/222295

(以下是中文對照)
都更來 古蹟倒 新莊郡役所面臨拆除危機

照片

民國101年10月，新北市政府希望藉由都更，促進新莊老街發展，在老街進行公辦都更招商。今年2月，獲選為最優申請人的皇翔公司召開說明會，計畫在武德殿兩側，興建25層和33層樓的景觀住宅。但武德殿附近的古蹟，如新莊郡役所、日式宿舍群等，都可能被拆毀。9月初，在都更說明會上，關心新莊文史的民眾表示，公辦都更案不夠透明，老街將在新莊居民們不知情的狀況下進行都更，且在這樣的規畫下，看不到新莊的遠景，只有破壞，以及部分人士的獲利。

新莊老街永續觀光產業發展聯盟的陳健一表示，仍保有日治建物磚石的郡役所，是一個具發展性的節點，應該被保留，如果能妥善規畫，可以吸引更多的遊客。而新莊社區大學舉辦了「走繪故事地圖工作坊」，邀請大家拿起蠟筆，畫出記憶中的新莊，重新檢視在地歷史，分享彼此的回憶。一筆一畫，為過去的美好，或是當下的精彩，留下紀錄。