Department of Urban Development, Taipei City Government

The Taipei Urban Regeneration Center (TURC), an administrative legal entity, was transformed from its former Taipei Urban Renewal Promotion Center (TURP). The opening ceremony that announced the operations of the Center was held today (5/12), witnessed by Mayor Ko Wen-je of Taipei City, Chairman Pong Cheng-sheng of the TURC, Deputy Secretary Chen Hsin-liang of Taipei City Government, Commissioner Huang I-ping of the Department of Urban Development, Director and Supervisor of the TURC, and many other representatives from industry, government and academia.
 
Mayor Ko said that he has been making great efforts in social housing and urban public office renewal projects during his tenure. In terms of urban public office renewal, a total of 18 projects of demonstration bases for the 1.0 plan are currently being promoted and 8 have already begun construction (the urban public office renewal project at Beian Section, Zhongshan District in Dazhi acquired a use permit in April this year). The most complicated project – Siwen Phase 3 – was completed this year and is gradually being handed over after being demolished in 2018. This project was one of the most difficult tasks accomplished in the history of Taiwan’s urban renewal. Thanks to the successful examples of urban public office renewal projects, the City Government proposed the Public Office Urban Regeneration 2.0 plan in 2020, aiming to provide services for older communities. Currently, the TURC has been designated as the implementer for a total of 4 projects, while the suitability of 1 project is currently under assessment, with another 5 potential projects, to be implemented one after another by the TURC, gradually making the effectiveness of urban public office renewals. The City Government has created a unique model for social housing, with public social facilities planned in low-rise buildings. Coupled with the resources put in by the social housing youth teams, social housing has become a “good neighbor”, further implementing the “common good” community policy. The greatest number of social housing units in Taiwan have been built in the past 8 years. As in the future the demands on professionalism and flexibility of management will rise, establishing a dedicated housing organization was critical, considering the increasing number of completed social housing projects over the past few years. The TURC has 3 central aims: 1. To divide urban renewal projects into real estate leasing and management operations, which are promoted in a financially sound fashion; 2. Promote the sustainable development of the policies for urban public office renewals, social housing and property management; and 3. Through the flexibility of administrative legal persons in personnel and systems, develop the City in a professional manner, improving its efficiency while bringing in the private sector to make Taipei more sustainable.
 
The TURC will carry out relevant operations in a fair and positive manner, while taking into account both benefits and costs. With more flexible personnel, accounting and procurement systems, professional management, and a sound monitoring mechanism, the TURC will continue to be on the front lines to provide the most professional and high-quality services to Taipei citizens in terms of future urban development, becoming the most credible and trustworthy service “brand” for housing and urban renewal. The TURC will strive to seamlessly and smoothly take on the business of the TURP; and with the growth of the business and projects, the TURC will become the largest dedicated residential and urban renewal organization in Taiwan relative to the size of social housing and the number of urban public office renewal projects. The overall goal of the TURC is to “improve urban development, achieve housing justice, implement housing policies, effectively promote urban renewal, revitalize urban functions and achieve a sustainable city”. Through enterprise management, the efficiency and effectiveness of city-owned property operations will be improved, and by combining private professional expertise and government resources and aid, quality of life can be improved and investment opportunities created.