A platform is to be established to allow the public and the Taipei City Government to exchange opinions on the fate of the Mitsui Warehouse, Taipei Deputy Mayor Teng Chia-chi (鄧家基) said yesterday at a Cultural Asset Review Committee meeting to discuss a proposed relocation of the historic building.
Prior to making the announcement, Teng, who heads the committee, attempted to force through a “road adjustment” option espoused by the city government that would see the building relocated to accommodate a road construction project to alleviate heavy traffic near Taipei Railway Station.
Teng initially overruled the objections of four committee members who said that the warehouse’s fate should be voted on.
Teng repeatedly reiterated that the government-backed “option No. 2” would be a consensus to be followed unless civic groups can put forward arguments convincing enough to make the committee revoke the consensus — a model similar to that used by Taipei Deputy Mayor Charles Lin (林欽榮) at an Urban Plannning Commission meeting last month.
Teng based his decision on a new road adjustment plan preservationists proposed at the meeting, which was not one of the three options the committee resolved to discuss at yesterday’s meeting.
Teng said the move would cause the discussions to drag on indefinitely.
Residents opposed to the relocation protested loudly when Teng announced his decision.
Teng’s decision met with opposition from committee member and former New Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs director Lee Pin (李斌).
“Just because some committee members did not speak does not mean they agreed to a resolution to the issue… I can sense that the committee will make a decision different from the one you just made,” Lee said.
Teng angered Lee when he repeated that option No. 2 would be adopted, and the two engaged in a loud exchange.
Teng later softened his stance when a fifth committee member, Chung Yuan Christian University architecture professor Hsueh Chin (薛琴) voiced his opposition and suggested that Teng propose a show of hands instead, which Teng rejected.
A fourth meeting over the warehouse’s fate is to be held and no additional road adjustment plans should be proposed, Teng said.
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