Mori Building to expand in Tokyo

New development part of push to revitalize city

TOKYO – Razed a century ago by an earthquake and fire and then again by bombing during World War II, Tokyo is constantly re-creating itself.

These days, multibillion-dollar redevelopment projects are replacing aging downtown neighborhoods of tiny two-story homes and apartments, and in some cases cherished green spaces, with massive mixed office, retail and residential centers designed to help the city burnish its status as a desirable home for global business.

Mori Building, one of the biggest players in this effort led mainly by private developers, is putting the finishing touches on two big projects. Toranomon Hills Station Tower, a skyscraper with office space that’s part of the earlier Mori Toranomon Hills project, is opening Friday.

Mori JP Tower, a 64-story, 1,067foot -tall skyscraper that will be Japan’s tallest structure, is part of Mori Building’s 600 billion yen ($6 billion) Azabudai Hills project, which is set to open in November.

More projects are in the works. Shingo Tsuji, CEO of Mori Building, says he hopes to help Tokyo compete as a world city and destination for foreign investment.

It’s a goal that has been gaining urgency as the Japanese economy has slowed while the population shrinks and quickly ages.

“When the world is globalizing, everyone is doing business worldwide, not just locally. People choose the city they’re going to make the Asian hub, be it Tokyo, Hong Kong or Singapore. If Tokyo gets chosen, people will gather here, and it can keep growing,” he told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Japan relies heavily on private companies like Mori Building in redeveloping urban areas. In the past, public-led planning was scant, with much of how a Japanese city grows and changes seemingly left to chance in the rush to rebuild. That means that vast parts of the city are crammed with tiny buildings just an arm’s length apart, along alleys too narrow for ambulances to pass through.

With growing numbers of buildings abandoned as their owners die or move to assisted living facilities, parts of downtown Tokyo are being transformed with newer, much taller buildings. Mori has spearheaded many major redevelopments that have replaced middle-class housing and small shops with luxury high-rise towers.

Mori properties are chockablock with amenities, but they are not necessarily spacious or affordable. Rents in Mori residences range from 380,000 yen ($2,500) a month for a 495square-foot studio apartment to 1.47 million yen ($10,000) a month for a 1,500-square-foot two-bedroom apartment.

That compares with about 170,000 yen ($1,200) average rent for a small two-bedroom apartment in suburban neighborhoods within an hour’s commute from downtown.