Taipei, April 10 (CNA) A green area of about 1,400 square meters, created at the site of the old Taipei City council building, was opened Sunday to the public for the first time, according to the city government.

Following the demolition of the old city council building building on Feb. 25, the city's Public Works Department began land grading and environmental afforestation work at the site, the city government said.

The greening of a 1,400-square-meter area was completed Saturday and the site was opened to the public on Sunday.

The old building, sprawling over 42,965 square meters at the intersection of Zhongshan South Road and Zhongxiao West Road, was built in 1970.



It was used as the office of the Zhongzheng First Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department after the city council was relocated to its new building on Renai Road in 1990.

In 2007, the Zhongzheng First Precinct moved out and the structure was deemed an abandoned building in 2009.

The city government said some 16,525 square meters of the site will be reserved for construction of a "Taipei vision hall" to showcase the history of the city council.

Another 6,610 square meters will be used to construct headquarters for various non-government organizations, while the remaining space will be allocated to business investors, the city government said.

An investment solicitation notice was published on March 2 and the deadline for proposal submissions was set for May 3, the city government said.

(By Ku Chuan, Y.F. Low and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/ pc


[Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Public Works Department]