Demolition Dispute on Nanluogu Xiang
Global Times reports today that the southern end of Nanluogu Xiang was the scene of a standoff last night between a clothing store owner and police, as the owner hunkered down in her shop demanding compensation for the impending demolition of her business.
The article claims that nine police vehicles and about 30 officers were present outside the shop, situated on the corner of Nanluogu Xiang and Di'anmen Dongdajie, at 8pm last night, but "No one had taken any action as of press time.”
The report explains: “Wang's lease was cut short when the neighborhood was slated for demolition on April 15, 2009, to make way for Subway Line 8 construction. Wang said she met with former district chief Yang Yiwen in September 2009 when she petitioned for compensation, and that Yang told her a budget existed to compensate uprooted tenants. ‘I invested 1.6 million yuan [$243,028.12] in the store,’ Wang told the Global Times. ‘Someone should give me back the money, but no one has.’”
A sign addressed to an assortment of top leaders was reportedly posted outside the shop last night, reading: “Dear leaders: You are reading this letter from beyond the grave… All seven of my family are willing to die if it sends out a wakeup call to the people and brings back justice to this country.”
When the Beijinger visited the site today the shop was closed but still standing, surrounded on all sides by vacant lots. The scene was quiet, but as the pictures above and below show, banners referring to the dispute are still up outside the structure.
Wrecking balls have gradually been encroaching on Nanluogu Xiang ever since the strip of shops along the hutong’s southern end were gutted in late 2009 to make way for the new Line 8 subway station. As the images below show, another section of the street recently come down to make way for a massive car park. Last November theBeijinger.com also reported that rising rents along the popular street have created tensions between landlords and some long-term commercial tenants.
