Seongbuk District in Seoul plans a high-density mixed-use development to turn the aging Jongam-dong area into a support facility for bio and medical research and development (R&D). To enable faster, more efficient redevelopment, the core is to split some sections and change them to a "semiresidential area," while easing regulations to allow buildings up to 120 meters. Mixed-use residential and commercial towers up to 40 stories are expected.
On the 11th, Seongbuk District released the "Jongam district center district unit plan change and decision (draft) on detailed development plans for special planning zones" and will hold a public viewing for residents through the 26th of this month. Ahead of Seoul City's review, the district is unveiling a blueprint for the project and listening to residents' opinions.
Near Korea University Station, the area around 10-258 Jongam-dong, Seongbuk District, designated as a district unit planning zone, is home to the Goryeo Market shopping center, an eight-building, two-story complex that includes small sewing factories and workshops, while along Jongam-ro, an arterial road, there are aging small and mid-sized neighborhood facilities. The site area is 105,359 square meters (about 31,873 pyeong), and the special planning zones are split into two areas: around the Goryeo Market shopping center and around the KB Kookmin Bank data center.
The detailed development plan includes splitting the special planning zone around the Goryeo Market shopping center again into zones 1 and 2. It also includes changing part of zone 1 (9,509.4 square meters) from type 2 and 3 general residential to semiresidential. Designation as semiresidential allows an upzoning of the use class, easing the floor area ratio cap to up to 400%. If public rental housing or public rental dormitories are secured within the semiresidential area, it can go up to 500%. Building heights can also be raised from the current 80 meters to up to 120 meters.
Through the contemplated mixed-use development, Seongbuk District plans to expand support facilities for bio and medical research and development (R&D) specialized projects in the Hongneung and Anam areas and to spur activation of the new station area following the opening of the Dongbuk Line light rail. A construction industry official said, "At the beginning of this year, Seoul City said it would actively push upzoning to semiresidential for station area renewal zones with low profitability," adding, "It also decided to ease public contributions so that profitability can be secured, with the goal of enabling fast redevelopment."