Cramped, inconvenient life in a degraded apartment complex
According to the plan, the total area of the research area is about 14,600m2. Of which, about 13,700m2 is reserved for renovating and rebuilding the Truong Dinh collective area, and more than 890m2 is used to open roads connecting to the Set riverside road and Truong Dinh road, contributing to completing the regional transport infrastructure.
Before being planned for renovation, the Truong Dinh apartment complex existed in a seriously degraded state. Many old buildings have cracks, peeling walls, dense electrical systems, and narrow walkways.
Mr. Tran Quang Binh - who has lived in Truong Dinh apartment complex for more than 30 years - said that the biggest wish of residents is for the renovation project to be implemented soon.
According to Mr. Binh, because the apartments are built according to the old architecture, the area is small, many items are no longer suitable for current living needs. To have more space, many families have expanded themselves, built additional kitchens or private toilets. However, these are just patchwork solutions.
In building E, the image of kitchens set up right in front of the house has become familiar. The common walkway area is also a place to cook, wash clothes, dry clothes and store many household items. The already cramped space becomes even more cramped, posing a potential risk of fire safety.
People expect on-site resettlement to soon stabilize their lives
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc's family (71 years old), living on the first floor of building E, is one of many households that have to extend their houses to meet living needs. The apartment initially only had about 21m2 but is now the residence of many family members.
At the age of over 70, what Mr. Ngoc wants most is to live in a new, spacious and safer apartment. However, the family's economic conditions do not allow him to move to another place.
When I knew that the apartment complex would be renovated, I was very happy. But I am also worried about whether my family will be resettled on the spot or not. If I have to move to another place, the life, work and schooling of my children and grandchildren will be greatly affected. However, everyone hopes the project will be implemented soon because they do not want to continue living in old houses that always pose a risk of unsafety" - Mr. Ngoc expressed.
The situation of Ms. Le Thi Oanh's family (60 years old), living on the first floor of building A, also clearly reflects the difficulties that many residents are facing.
The house with an actual area of only about 10m2 is the residence of three generations for nearly 60 years. Due to frequent flooding after heavy rains, her family had to build an additional concrete barrier in front of the door to prevent rainwater and wastewater from overflowing into the house.
I just hope this temporary life will end soon. Houses are getting worse and worse, so everyone is worried. The family also hopes to be resettled right where they live to facilitate business and stabilize life" - Ms. Oanh shared.
According to the People's Committee of Tuong Mai ward, Truong Dinh collective housing area currently consists of 10 rows of houses built from the 1970s-1980s, mainly 2 floors high. Over the years, many households have self-extended to 4-5 floors, causing the works to be deformed compared to the original design.
After decades of use, many items have seriously deteriorated in both structure and technical infrastructure. Prolonged expansion not only detracts from urban aesthetics but also poses many risks to construction safety, fire prevention and fighting, and the quality of the living environment.
Currently, the project to renovate Truong Dinh collective housing area has only stopped at the planning stage. Investors, compensation, support and resettlement plans have not yet been determined. Therefore, along with the joy of the resettlement information, what people want most at this time is to soon have a specific implementation roadmap and appropriate resettlement policies, so that the renovation process not only creates a new urban appearance but also ensures a stable life for residents who have been attached to the collective housing area for many decades.
