By KHT Staff. Recreated images via 高雄好過日.
KAOHSIUNG — Hotels, rental apartments and public fitness facilities are planned beside Chengcing Lake Baseball Stadium (澄清湖棒球場) under an approximately NT$18 billion redevelopment agreement signed Oct. 21.
The city government’s agreement with Taiwan Life Insurance (台灣人壽) covers the Shanshuei sports and leisure zone in Niaosong District (鳥松區). Plans call for three hotel buildings, two rental residential buildings, and another building housing urban renewal functions and a fitness center.
The city will receive about 1,200 ping (3,970 square meters) of fitness and health facilities. Officials describe the development as Taiwan’s first publicly led urban renewal project centered on sports, leisure and older adults’ health.
The proposal connects two markets: visitors attending baseball games and people seeking longer stays with access to recreation and medical services.
Taiwan Life Chairman Hsu Shu-po (許舒博) said a planned underground passage would connect the development with Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (高雄長庚紀念醫院), according to CNA’s coverage of the signing. The city and developer also propose pedestrian connections to the future MRT Yellow Line.
Next Apple reported that the rental housing component would include approximately 200 rooms intended for a senior living community. Detailed accommodation terms were not included in the city’s announcement.
Taiwan Life is set to take over the baseball stadium in 2027, with a replacement scoreboard screen and improvements intended to bring the venue up to international competition standards. The company also plans to support a professional baseball team using the stadium as its home ground, the city said.
Other commitments include pursuing Gold-level green building certification, donating a bicycle rental station and maintaining surrounding parks. Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the nearby lake, parks, hospital and sports facilities provide a foundation for integrating housing, recreation and services for an aging population.
There is also a hotel brand to watch. Hyatt’s development directory lists “Hyatt House Gaoxiong Chengqing Lake” as a pipeline project. However, the city’s signing announcement did not identify hotel operators or assign brands to the three planned hotel buildings.
Note: Published schedules apparently conflict. Earlier reporting gave a 2028 construction start and 2034 completion, while CNA’s Oct. 21 report gives 2032 completion; as such, we’ve left a firm completion date out pending clarification. Also, a figure in one report needs correcting; “500 ping = 1.5 hectares” is incorrect: 500 ping is approximately 1,653 square meters, or 0.165 hectares.
