Developer volunteers to flatten new £300k apartments as furious locals make one complaint
The building is set to come down, just weeks before the first tenants were due to move into it.
A Japanese property developer has decided to demolish a newly built condominium in west Tokyo after residents complained it obstructed their views of Mount Fuji.
The 10-storey Grand Maison Kunitachi Fujimi Dori, consisting of 18 units priced at 70 to 80 million yen each (roughly £348,350 to 398,129), faced backlash despite attempts to address concerns.
Construction of the condominium, located a 10-minute walk from Kunitachi railway station, began in January last year. Developer Sekisui House initially adjusted the building's blueprint in response to neighbor feedback, reducing the height from 11 storeys to 10. However, these modifications failed to appease the locals.
In a statement, Sekisui House announced its voluntary decision to discontinue the project due to "insufficient consideration for the impact on the scenery."
“We were aware of the culture that values scenery but we failed to consider it adequately", a spokesperson said. 'There is no denying that the current situation has an enormous impact on the landscape.”
The condominium, situated in a part of western Tokyo known for its scenic views of Mount Fuji, obstructed half of the view of Japan’s highest mountain, which is a major draw for the area.
The unobstructed vista from Fujimi Street, aptly named “Fuji Viewing” street, was significantly marred by the new building. Tenants were set to move into the new building next month.
One resident expressed their relief, telling Japanese broadcaster TBS: “We didn’t want to lose the appeal of our town, where on a sunny day you have a clear view of Mount Fuji.”
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Sekisui House will record the construction and demolition costs as extraordinary losses and will offer compensation or alternative redress to buyers.
This move follows a similar instance last month, where a Japanese town installed a large mesh barrier to block the view of Mount Fuji to deter disruptive tourists.
The residents of Fujikawaguchiko had long complained about foreign visitors littering, trespassing, and breaking traffic rules in their quest for the perfect photo of the iconic mountain. The new screen, measuring 20 meters by 2.5 meters, was put in place to mitigate these issues.
