In the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, several Hanoi districts urgently relocated residents from dilapidated housing, highlighting the need for swift government action and innovative solutions to rebuild old complexes.

An old apartment building in Ba Dinh District. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

Creating public consensus

There are currently nearly 1,600 old apartment buildings in Hanoi, constructed between 1960 and 1990. Most of these buildings are now severely deteriorated, posing safety risks. Of these, six are classified as D-level (the most dangerous) and need to be demolished and rebuilt, including C8 Giang Vo, G6A Thanh Cong, and A Ngoc Khanh. Faced with this reality, Hanoi set a goal in 1999 to gradually renovate these old complexes. However, by the end of 2023, only 1.14% of the plan had been completed, with 19 complexes under renovation.

Chu Thi Ha, 68, who lives in room 202 of block A2 in the Thanh Cong complex, said that her family has lived there for over 45 years.

“The building is visibly deteriorating, with peeling walls and exposed, rusted steel reinforcements, which makes me feel unsafe, especially during storms,” Ha said, adding that residents are eagerly awaiting progress on the renovation.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, from G6A Thanh Cong, said that during Typhoon Yagi, local authorities moved residents to a hotel nearby for safety, while Ba Dinh district authorities were on standby to assist with further evacuations if necessary.

Nguyen Le Quoc Toan, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Cong Ward People’s Committee, reported that the ward had proactively prepared for Typhoon No. 3 by identifying vulnerable households and relocating them. Most residents voluntarily moved to safer locations.

Regarding old apartment renovations, Toan noted that 80 complexes in the area were built before 1980, many of which are now in poor condition. In particular, G6A is a D-level hazard zone.

“Following the city’s directives, the ward has been actively working to raise awareness among residents and coordinate with various city departments to assess and renovate the buildings,” said Toan.

Tran Duy Anh from Ba Dinh District's Urban Management Unit emphasized the importance of gaining public support for the renovations.

Breakthrough solutions

According to Anh, Ba Dinh District is exploring innovative planning solutions to address the challenges of renovating old housing. This includes revising zoning plans for areas near urban railway stations, such as those on the Nhon - Hanoi line, to allow for more flexible land use and development standards.

The district is also considering increasing building heights and densities in old residential areas while preserving key infrastructure like roads and water bodies. Another proposed solution is to redevelop around 30% of the land in these areas for commercial use, attracting investors and creating resources for further renovation efforts.

For complexes such as Giang Vo and Thanh Cong, the district plans to add commercial and service areas on the outskirts, allowing for on-site resettlement and increasing building heights. The aim is to free up 30% of the land for public services and green spaces.

Regarding progress, Anh reported that Ba Dinh district has completed assessments on 32 of 74 old complexes and submitted 10 reports to the city's construction department. The district is also pushing for additional assessments of 60 other buildings not yet included in the city's official inspection plan.

As for detailed 1:500 scale zoning plans, Ba Dinh District has approved contractor selection and signed agreements with the Hanoi Urban Planning Institute for areas like Ngoc Khanh, Thanh Cong, and Giang Vo. The process of selecting consultants for planning Lieu Giai is underway.