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TLDC comments on Taipei Dome

TLDC Chairman Chiu Fu-sheng

TLDC comments on Taipei Dome

TLDC Chairman Chiu Fu-sheng

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – With a July 8 deadline for a solution to the Taipei Dome stalemate set by the Taipei City Government rapidly approaching, Taiwan Land Development Corporation again expressed interest in the stadium project Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the city said it wanted Taipei Dome developer Farglory Group to give a clear answer by July 8 what it wanted to do about the project. If no answer was forthcoming, the city could move to cancel the contract with the group and seek a separate solution, which could either involve finding another investor or having the nearly completed 40,000-seat stadium complex torn down.
The city and Farglory Group have been at loggerheads since Mayor Ko Wen-je took office in December 2014. He has accused the developer of a variety of issues, including changing the design and neglecting safety measures. In May last year, the city ordered a complete halt of work on the stadium.
Last month, TLDC Chairman Chiu Fu-sheng first emerged to present his ideas about the Taipei Dome, though he denied having any interest in taking over the project from Farglory.
On Wednesday, he said that if the city and the developer failed to find common ground by July 8, TLDC might come in with a plan. He called on Farglory to pay more attention to public safety at the Taipei Dome and to tighten its standards. The developer might need to sacrifice some commercial space, Chiu said, but if safety was improved to the level requested by the city government, it might turn out positive for both sides.
If a solution was found soon, the Taipei Dome might be finished in time for the opening of the 2017 Universiade in August next year, Chiu said.
While saying it approved of a supposed recent improvement in relations between the city and Farglory, TLDC also wanted to present its own plan, with the city’s own seven points for public safety improvements coming first. Britain’s Arup Group Limited would provide the necessary design proposals, and if they were approved, new design plans and plans for a management team would be presented, Chiu said.