By KHT Staff. Images via 高都觀測站.
KAOHSIUNG — A Facebook post documenting demolition at the former Kaohsiung Ambassador Hotel (高雄國賓大飯店) has renewed public discussion over one of the city’s most closely watched redevelopment projects.
The post, shared by a local urban-development page, said the project’s construction permit had not yet been issued, but that a photo album had been opened to record demolition work at the site.
The post also included a rendering of two high-rise towers described as the planned redevelopment of the former hotel site along Love River (愛河). The image drew comments asking whether the project’s height reduction had been confirmed, whether the final design had been approved, and whether the redevelopment would still include a hotel.
KHT could not independently confirm the current construction permit status by publication time. Earlier city statements and media reports said the project had received demolition approval, but had not yet received a construction permit.
Residents opposed to the project have argued that allowing demolition before the construction permit is issued could create a “fake demolition, real construction” situation, effectively allowing redevelopment to move forward before all objections are resolved.
The Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau (高雄市工務局) has previously rejected that argument, saying demolition and construction are separate legal procedures. The bureau said in 2025 that the project had received a demolition permit on June 30, but had not received a construction permit.
The redevelopment has faced objections over its scale, floor-area incentives, environmental review, ground conditions, traffic impact, and effect on the Love River skyline.
Earlier plans called for twin towers of 58 and 52 floors. The developer later said the design would be adjusted to 55 and 48 floors, with the basement reduced from seven floors to six and building coverage slightly lowered.
The project’s supporters have described the redevelopment as a potential new landmark for the Love River area. Comments under the recent post also framed the project as a possible boost to the waterfront skyline and nearby property values.
Opponents, however, have argued that the project’s size and approval process warrant further review before construction is permitted to proceed.
For now, the demolition photos appear to have reignited the long-running debate, while several fundamental questions remain unresolved: whether the current rendering is final, whether a construction permit has been issued, and what the completed project will entail.
