TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei Urban Planning Commission has approved a significant policy change, reshaping the skyline surrounding the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
The commission granted permission to lift height restrictions on buildings in most directions around the memorial on Thursday (Dec. 14), except for the north side, which remains constrained due to flight path restrictions linked to nearby Songshan Airport.
This new regulation, effective from January next year, marks the end of a 60-meter height cap that has been in place for over 30 years. The decision is expected to rejuvenate the aging infrastructure of the Daan district, where developers have been hesitant to renovate old properties, resulting in issues like leaky roofs.
Initially set at 35 meters during the memorial's planning phase in 1978, the height limit was later raised to 60 meters in 2004, six years after its completion.
Nevertheless, a union led by Feng Shih-tsui, advocating for the removal of height restrictions around the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, has consistently argued that the old regulations severely hindered maintenance and renovation of residences. Homeowners also experienced reduced property sizes and parking spaces.
With the upcoming changes, renewal projects will see the floor area ratio increase to 2.5 times the legal volume, and building heights will reach 120 meters based on environmental assessment standards.
However, buildings on the north side of Zhongxiao East Road will continue to adhere to Songshan Airport's height restriction of 95.49 meters.
These height limitations extend beyond the memorial's vicinity, affecting buildings behind the Presidential Office, with constraints ranging from 50 to 78 meters, aimed at preserving the capital's skyline.