High-Rise for Low Income

Located by the side of the Youth Park, the Kuokuang community is a high-rise apartment project for low income citizens of Taipei which was completed on Feb. 23 this year. The l5 blocks of 12 stories each comprising accommodation at the community have 1,423 units and cover a land area of 8,500 ping (1 ping = 36 square feet). Loans with a period of 15 years will be made available to low-income people who purchase the apartments. The community is divided into three types of accommodation, with areas of 23.78 ping, 20.08 to 22.59 ping, and 17.24 ping respectively. Prices range from NT$289,000 (US$8,000) to NT$741,000 (US$20,600) per unit.

Yuan Ho, director of the Department of Public Housing of the Taipei City Government said that the engineering design of the building, which includes ideal environmental conditions, durability and resistance to fire, earthquakes and typhoons, had been worked out by computer. Among facilities are a control center to monitor the condition of elevators in each block, fire alarm system, generator, and the usual public utilities of running water, electricity, telephone, gas and so on.

The community is also provided with a parking lot, park, two-story community hall, a nursery and 72 shops, while schools, hospitals, post offices, banks and markets are all located in the neighborhood.

Built over a period of two years, by the Taipei City Government, the apartment blocks in the community are the highest to be used for low-cost housing. Since accommodation is reserved for low wage earners, owners must obtain permission from the authorities before they can sell their property in the community to third parties.

Originally, the area occupied by the community was crowded with unlicensed buildings consisting mainly of ramshackle huts which housed 2,000 people. The elegant facilities of today stand in stark contrast to the narrow alleys, blocked drains, inadequate services and cramped quarters which preceded them. One of the oldest residents of the community, who lived for 30 years in one of the shacks which formerly occupied the site, said he appreciated the government's efforts to build low-cost housing. Residents today feel secure, optimistic and comfortable, he said.

Mr. Yuan pointed out that for the future, the Department of Public Housing aims to reduce costs even further by standardizing accommodation for low-income families, strengthening the administration of the communities, improving the living environment, continuing cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense in building quarters for military families, building state housing in accordance with the urban renewal plan, developing hillsides for the establishment of state housing, and building more communities in suburban areas. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining propriety, peace and sanitation in the communities.

As Dr. Sun Yat-sen pointed out in his Three Principles of the People, housing is the third most important consideration in the Principle of Livelihood. This is a reflection of Confucius' saying: "People without estate will have no steady goals. Those without steady goals will do all manner of evil, prodigal and immoral things." In fulfilling the National Father's ideals of building our nation on the basis of the Three Principles of the People, more such public housing projects are anticipated. The Kuokuang Community is only the first step in providing low-income citizens with high-rise, modern apartments, which in turn is an important stage in equalizing the living standards of the poor and rich in society. In accordance with this policy, it can be assured that sub-standard housing such as slums and shacks, will become a thing of the past.