Shanghai YMCA building sinks | |
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/08/06 11:10 Shanghai Daily | |
The Shanghai Young Men's Christian Association building sank six centimeters and cracks appeared on walls after a neighboring construction project started two months ago. Officials with the Shanghai YMCA appealed to the public and the government to save the endangered 73-year-old building located on Xizang Road M. "My heart is heavy," said Wu Jianrong, chief of the Shanghai YMCA, yesterday. "To protect the old building is to be responsible for its history and our descendants." Developed by Shanghai Yalong Investment Group Co Ltd, the construction project - only 13 meters away - has just completed an 18-meter foundation and came to a halt two weeks ago. According to the examination report provided by the Shanghai Construction Quality Inspection Center, more than 160 cracks have appeared on inner walls of the YMCA. Several are thick and stretch for one meter. The floor has also begun to slant - a soda can rolls quickly if it's placed on the floor. "I talked with Yalong's board director before the project broke ground and asked if he would reconsider. He agreed but broke his word shortly afterwards," Wu said. Yet Zhang Wenrong, Yalong's board director claimed he has local government approval for the project. He says every step taken has been perfectly legal. Zhang submitted a written commitment to Shanghai YMCA that he would take responsibility if the old building was damaged due to his project. In response to Zhang's statement, Wu said it could not be accepted. "There must be some inside dealing," Wu said. "It is indicated in the city's cultural heritage protection regulation that structures built next to a protected building cannot be higher than 40 meters. Yalong's office building is designed at 39.95 meters plus there are three stories underground." The YMCA building sits on shallow wooden foundations, Wu added. A receptionist in the building said cracks in the walls were first spotted late last year when the M8 subway project started across the street. But it evidently got much worse two months ago. The Shanghai YMCA building also houses a three-star YMCA hotel.
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