Development project at center of Ko allegations asks for permit change

Taipei, Jan. 15 (CNA) Core Pacific Development Corp. has asked for a change of building use permit for a redevelopment project allegedly granted illegal concessions by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Ssu-chuan (李四川) said Wednesday that Core Pacific Development Corp. had informed the city in a letter of its willingness to place a pause on a controversial 20 percent increase in authorized floor space it obtained for the project.

According to Lee, it will take about three months to complete a change of such permit for the project, which involves building a new office complex named Core Pacific Plaza on the site of the former Core Pacific City shopping mall in Taipei's Songshan District.

In a statement, Core Pacific Development Corp. said the permit change was only temporary and that it reserved the right to continue with the development project as originally outlined.

The company's move came after Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko was indicted last month on charges of corruption in connection with the redevelopment project during his time in charge of the capital from 2014 to 2022.

Prosecutors allege that Ko received bribes to illegally increase the floor area ratio (FAR) for a new building complex on the Core Pacific City site.

The FAR refers to the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the parcel of land upon which it is built. A higher ratio increases a property's value.

After Ko was indicted, several Taipei City councilors across party lines and former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) called on the Taipei City government to cancel offering the apparent illicit FAR increase for the project by 20 percent.

Lee said the Construction Management Office under the city government's Department of Urban Development has received a letter from the development company which said it is willing to suspend the move to apply for the 20 percent FAR rewards by filing a change of its building use permit.

If there were any inappropriate implementation, procedures, or application of laws, the Core Pacific City building complex could become an unfinished property project and cause public safety concerns and the city government would enforce a change of building permit, Lee noted.