The Taipei City Government on Friday night passed a resolution to temporarily relocate the historic Mitsui Warehouse and later move it back to its original location once traffic near the North Gate (北門) on Zhongxiao W Road is alleviated.
The city’s Cultural Assets Review Committee made the resolution by way of consensus following a three-and-a-half-hour meeting pitting a road adjustment plan proposed by the city against one backed by preservationists.
Committee member Tsai Yuan-liang (蔡元良) said the plan proposed by preservationists, which would see the warehouse surrounded by two roads, would separate the North Gate from the warehouse and other nearby historic buildings, such as the Taipei Post Office and the Futai Street Mansion, turning it into an “isolated island.”
Committee member Mi Fu-kuo (米復國) said that as the city has set a goal of boosting the use of public transportation and electric vehicles by 80 percent by 2050, it should keep the warehouse in its current location for 10 years, as heavy traffic near the area might be alleviated.
The warehouse can be moved if traffic problems are not resolved by then, he said.
Tsai said that the warehouse must be relocated before waiting for traffic to improve and then moved back to its original location after traffic is alleviated.
A transportation specialist among the preservationists echoed Mi’s proposal and shared their opinions on how to plan road projects.
Deputy Commissioner Chang Jer-yang (張哲揚) said that he has been working in the field for 30 years, adding: “If we traded places and the problem were solved in 10 years, I would be very impressed.”
Taipei Deputy Mayor Teng Chia-chi (鄧家基), who chaired the meeting, said that the plan espoused by the city would be used if no committee members objected.
Committee member Chang Kun-chen (張崑振) protested Teng’s proposition, saying the transportation department should conduct an analysis to prove that the preservationists’ plan is problematic before a decision is made, but withdrew his offer after hearing city officials’ arguments.
Department of Public Works Commissioner Peng Chen-sheng (彭振聲) said that the warehouse is in a dilapidated state, and that it would have to be dismantled and reinforced even if it is to be remain where it is.
Department of Urban Development Commissioner Lin Jou-min (林洲民) said that traffic in the area would become more congested after the completion of the Taipei Twin Towers and told Chang that transportation officials had conducted an analysis of the expected traffic flows based on the city’s plan.
The resolution stated that the warehouse would be moved back after traffic is improved, but did not specify that the city’s roading plan would be adopted.
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