The Taipei City Government yesterday pledged to start negotiations with residents of two public housing projects constructed with sea sand.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday the city was willing to sit down and talk with residents, as long as they reach a consensus among themselves first.
CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Ma made the remarks yesterday while inspecting the Yenshou Public Housing Complex in the Sungshan district and Hsiuteh Public Housing Complex in the Nankang district.
"The city no longer owned the two complexes after they were sold to the residents," Ma said. "Unless all of you agree that they should be demolished and rebuilt, we cannot make the decision for you."
Ma made his first visit to the two complexes yesterday.
The Yenshou complex was found in 1995 to be built with sea sand, and the Hsiuteh complex in 1999 was also discovered to have been constructed with the substandard material.
While most buildings are constructed using river sand, those built with sea sand pose a possible danger, since chlorine ions from residual salt can gradually eat into the concrete and steel rebar of the building's structure.
A study conducted by the Professional Structural Engineering Society in 1995 found that the chlorine ion content of the "J" building of the "C" area in the Yenshou complex far exceeded national standards. The chlorine-ion content measured 1.06kg per cubic meter, or 3.5 times the national standard of 0.3kg per cubic meter.
The society also recommended that the 336-family "J" building receive immediate reinforcement before it's demolished and rebuilt.
Another report conducted last year by the Taiwan Professional Civil Engineers' Association concluded that the chlorine-ion content of five more buildings of the "C" area was 1.36kg per cubic meter, or 4.5 times the national standard.
Ma encouraged residents of the complex to collect evidence from their homes by taking photos or collecting chunks of concrete fallen from the ceiling or walls.
"To help you reach a consensus as soon as possible, I recommend that residents of each building make their own decision -- to rebuild or receive reinforcement -- and we'll take it from there," Ma said.
As for the Hsiuteh complex, Ma promised to hold the first meeting within a week.
"Let's meet on a regular basis and let's not stop until we reach a concrete conclusion," Ma said.
The evaluation report released by the Taipei Professional Civil Engineers Association on Aug. 1 specified that buildings No. 1 through No. 9 of the Hsiuteh complex should be demolished and rebuilt within five years, although the complex was not in any immediate danger.
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