There's a lot of finger-pointing going on up north these days, as Hanoi officials have ordered a local real estate developer to tear down the top floors of a building near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Related Articles:
- [Photos] Villa Collapses In Hanoi Leaving 2 Dead, 6 Injured
- After Villa Collapse, Hanoi Will Examine All Colonial Buildings
- [Photos] Three-Kilometer Traffic Jam In Hanoi Lasts Over 2 Hours
The complex at 8B Le Truc, which overlooks Ba Dinh Square and a host of nationally significant government buildings, is owned by developer Kinh Do TCI. According to Thanh Nien, the structure was initially approved to stand 53 meters tall, however city officials ordered an inspection of the building after local media reports noted its towering height in relation to the nearby mausoleum.
As you might expect, nobody messes with Uncle Ho. Following government inspection, officials found that the Discovery Complex II building currently stands 69 meters high, well above its approved limit. Developers also illegally expanded the building's area from the permitted 29,874 square meters to 36,000 square meters.
Above: The approved design of Discovery Complex II (left) compared to the current building at 8B Le Truc (right).
Below: The 69-meter-high Discovery Complex II overlooks not only Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum but also the National Assembly building, the office of the Communist Party, the presidential palace and several government offices.
Photo via VN Express.
Hanoi officials are not taking the infraction lightly and have ordered Kinh Do TCI, which has a history of fines for similar offenses, to remove the upper floors of the building so that it complies with the initial height limit.
According to VN Express, government officials deemed the building unsafe for national security. Discover Complex II's investor has allegedly sent apology letters to the prime minister, city authorities and several government departments, promising to redress the situation.
Though the full punishment has yet to be meted out, Hanoi officials have ordered not only the demolition of all floors exceeding the 53-meter mark but also required Kinh Do TCI to provide the authorities with a full plan on how and when they will complete the project in line with building codes, to be submitted for approval by October 15.
While the company already finds itself in hot water with city authorities, Kinh Do TCI may also run into trouble with the homeowners who have purchased units in Discovery Complex II, reports VN Express. The developer has sold 64 apartments, nearly all of the housing units planned for the building, and there is no word yet on how the company will handle the lost apartments.
