TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an visited Shezidao, a flood-prone sandbar in Taipei, for the first time on Saturday (Sept. 23) to monitor the progress of the expropriation zone and urged the Ministry of the Interior to expedite the approval process.
Chiang was warmly received by residents in favor of development at the scene, with some even hailing him as a future president. However, residents opposed to the zone expropriation accused the visit of being a mere publicity stunt, with protest signs lining the route.
Situated at the confluence of the Sindian and Keelung rivers, Shezidao is a flood-prone district with a 53-year-old construction ban. Home to a population of 19,350 people as of 2023, it desperately needs redevelopment.
In 1970, the Taipei City Government designated Shezidao as a restricted development zone due to its vulnerability to frequent flooding. However, instead of solving the problem, this decision resulted in several issues, including resident protests and a deteriorating landscape.
From aerial photographs, it is evident that unauthorized constructions have gradually marred the area over time.
During the tenure of the former Taipei mayor, Ko Wen-je, an online poll was conducted to determine the future development strategy for Shezidao. Among the various proposed plans, the one that garnered the most votes was an "ecological development plan."
The incumbent Taipei mayor, Chiang Wan-an, held his first zone expropriation briefing on March 4. However, his intention to continue with the development plan proposed by the previous Ko administration has sparked strong opposition from some Shezidao residents, who wish to maintain the current status.
The Taipei City Government has set certain conditions to exclude some lands from the expropriation zone. As of Sept. 2023, seven plots across four locations have been banned and slated for redevelopment instead.
While the expropriation zone continues to be debated, the need for redevelopment in Shezidao remains apparent. Whether Chiang's actions will win the approval of Shezidao's residents remains to be seen.