Guro-dong, Once Divided, to Become an 'Open Complex' with 1,500 Units... Rapid Redevelopment Plan Finalized

Aging Low-Rise Neighborhoods on the East Side of the Vehicle Base
to Be Transformed into an Open Residential Complex
with Enhanced Living Infrastructure
Proactive Overhaul of Local Transportation Systems

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on July 22 that it has finalized the rapid integrated planning for the redevelopment of the east side of Guro Vehicle Base, specifically the Guro-dong 466 area. With this plan, a residential complex with up to 40 stories and about 1,500 units is expected to be created.

Redevelopment aerial view of the east side of Guro Vehicle Base, Guro-dong 466 area, Guro-gu, Seoul. Seoul City

The Guro-dong 466 area is a low-rise residential district that formed in the 1970s as a supporting neighborhood for the Guro Industrial Complex. Although convenient facilities such as Korea University Guro Hospital and Guro-gu Office are nearby, the east and west residential zones have long been disconnected due to the Guro Vehicle Base to the west. The area is densely packed with aging houses and features steep slopes that make movement difficult, while also lacking parks and leisure or rest facilities, leading to ongoing demands for improved living conditions.

The main goal of the new plan is to transform the isolated, aging, low-rise residential area into a community that is better connected with the surrounding districts. In addition to supplying approximately 1,500 housing units, the plan seeks to resolve grade differences along Beotkkot-ro, expand parks and senior care facilities, and enhance local living infrastructure (SOC). Height restrictions will be set based on the proximity to railway lines and existing low-rise housing, aiming to create an open residential complex that blends with the surroundings.

To achieve this, the city will apply five key principles: ▲ improving the transportation system to prepare for surrounding developments; ▲ expanding living infrastructure to include leisure and care facilities; ▲ improving pedestrian conditions, taking steep terrain into account; ▲ creating an urban landscape harmonious with neighboring areas; and ▲ applying tailored incentives to secure project feasibility.

First, the city plans to proactively improve the transportation system in conjunction with nearby redevelopment projects. Along Beotkkot-ro by the railway on the west side, grade differences between the two-way roads will be addressed, and the northern rotary intersection will be converted into a signalized intersection to accommodate increased traffic from local development. A phased road improvement plan will also be established to connect with the rapid integrated planning target area south of Guro-dong 400. Roads that are currently disconnected on the east side, adjoining low-rise housing, will be reconnected to enhance site accessibility.

For smooth vehicle entry and exit, and to ease local traffic congestion, three entrances will be distributed across roads other than the heavily used Guro-dong-ro.

The plan also aims to expand parks and care facilities to establish a health-friendly living infrastructure for community members. A park will be placed at the northern entrance, which sees a high volume of pedestrian traffic between Guro Station and Guro Elementary School, while in the south, a combined park and social welfare facility will be built to provide both leisure and caregiving functions.

Additionally, a walkable, pedestrian-friendly residential complex will be created that is mindful of the area's steep slopes. On the west, the development will connect smoothly with existing roads; on the east, deck-type land formations will be constructed to adapt to the rising terrain. Differences in elevation inside the complex will be resolved by the installation of elevators and ramps, while a sloped walkway will be installed for the low-rise residential area to the east.

An open urban landscape that harmonizes with the surrounding low-rise residential areas will also be developed. A roughly 30-meter-wide visual corridor will be provided, continuing from Gamasan-ro, and the section adjacent to the Guro Vehicle Base along the railway will feature buildings up to 40 stories high, with an elevation of about 135 meters above sea level. Building heights will be gradually lowered toward the east, where they border low-rise homes, to create a harmonious skyline with the neighborhood.

To strengthen project feasibility, tailored incentives reflecting local conditions will be introduced. The city plans to rezone both Type 2 General Residential Areas and Type 2 General Residential Areas limited to seven stories or less as high as Type 3 General Residential Areas (up to two levels higher), applying the maximum correction factor for project feasibility of 2.0, allowing for a supply of around 1,500 housing units.

Rapid integrated planning is a system in which the city government, district offices, residents, and experts coordinate project feasibility, public interest, and urban planning direction from the very beginning of the redevelopment process. After a redevelopment zone is designated, procedural improvements in construction, management, relocation, and demolition are continuously made to ensure that private redevelopment projects lead quickly to actual housing supply.

Chang-kyu Kim, Director of Urban Space at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "In Seoul, where available sites are limited, redeveloping and reconstructing aging residential areas is the most practical and important means of expanding housing supply. We will swiftly provide approximately 1,500 housing units in the Guro-dong 466 area, while also connecting previously isolated neighborhoods and improving transportation, pedestrian pathways, parks, and caregiving facilities to truly enhance the living environment experienced by residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.