Will Gulou Be Destroyed This Time?

News of demolition and renovation in the Gulou neighborhood are once again making headlines. Plans are afoot to restore the Drum and Bell-area to its former glory by wiping out 66 siheyuan. But is this round of rumors any more well-founded than all the previous ones?

The impending doom of the Gulou-area as it now stands has been hanging in the air for years. Back in early 2010, rumors swirled about plans for restoration as well as a new "Beijing Time Cultural City, comprising restaurants, parking spaces, and a museum about timekeeping technology." The plans were put on hold later in the year.

The latest reports are that the immediate space around the Drum and Bell towers will be cleared, restoring the cultural space to its previous area that has shrunk over the years as houses were built into the square. The cleared area includes both sides of the towers and extends from the intersections of Gulou Xijie and Gulou Dongjie on the south to Doufuchi Hutong on the north. Some venues that may fall into this section include the Drum & Bell, Sculpting in Time and Ball House.

Chinese news is reporting that residents are being ordered out before February 24, 2013. They are being incentivized to leave earlier: In addition to the RMB 44,361 per square meter they’ll be reimbursed, families leaving before February 2 will receive RMB 150,000. If all families living in a courtyard move out by early February, each family will receive an extra RMB 20,000 each.

Needless to say, we'll be following this story closely and will update you with developments and reactions from business owners in the area.

Photo: fhoto.se, news.dichan.sina.com.cn