A rendering of the planned residential complex. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]
A rendering of the planned residential complex. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]

A residential area in Banghak-dong that long struggled with development constraints due to its proximity to a height-restricted zone near Bukhansan will be transformed into a large complex of up to 35 floors and approximately 2,800 units.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it has finalized a fast-track integrated plan for a housing redevelopment project covering the area around 638 and 641 Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu.

The sites, located at the foot of Dobongsan and zoned as second-category general residential with a seven-floor limit, have been the subject of redevelopment efforts since 2021. Progress stalled, however, due to concerns over the project's viability under height restrictions and delays in reaching resident consensus on an appropriate project scale.

A rendering of the planned complex. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]
A rendering of the planned complex. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The city drew up an integrated plan to ensure that even if the two zones proceed under separate project entities, their landscaping, infrastructure and pedestrian networks remain coordinated. It also approved a two-stage upzoning from second-category residential with a seven-floor limit to third-category residential, relaxing the height cap to a maximum of 35 floors to secure both public benefit and project viability.

To that end, the Seoul Metropolitan Government set out three guiding principles: developing a signature lifestyle-centered complex through an integrated plan, creating a nature-friendly complex that embraces all four northeastern mountains, and building a pleasant streetscape that connects the area's local living and cultural environment.

Public benefit will be secured by linking the two zones through a unified plan that connects visual corridors and public pedestrian pathways leading to the four northeastern mountains — Bukhansan, Dobongsan, Suraksan and Bulamsan — and by creating a community hub at the junction for local residents. The upzoning will secure a floor-area ratio of at least 270 percent, and special architectural zone provisions will allow building heights of up to 35 floors.

On top of that, the plan incorporates changes in local conditions expected from the extension of the Ui-Sinseol Line to Banghak Station, with street-front commercial units to be placed along Dodang-ro. The area around 641 Banghak-dong will also include a silver care center — with 3,500 square meters of above-ground floor space — to provide tailored care services for elderly residents and contribute to an age-friendly residential environment.

"Through this fast-track integrated plan, the aging low-rise residential neighborhood in Banghak-dong will be transformed into a pleasant, nature-friendly residential complex embracing the four northeastern mountains," said Kim Chang-gyu, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Space Bureau. "With the Ui-Sinseol Line set to extend to Banghak Station and the area's development prospects looking bright, we will support the subsequent procedures so that residents can enjoy a comfortable and convenient living environment."


hope@heraldcorp.com