Urban Future

The first section that has reopened is a marked improvement on what was there before. The city is asking residents to bear with the inconveniences of construction from now through about June, when hopefully the entire sections on both sides of the river will reopen.

Plans call for three towers rising 28 and 31 stories above ground with four basement levels. The development will combine office space, a business hotel, retail shops, and residential units in what officials describe as a mixed-use landmark integrating commercial services with sports and recreation facilities. Construction is expected to begin in August 2027 and be completed by October 2033.

JJP Architects & Planners (JJP潘冀聯合建築師事務所) has reportedly won the top prize in the design competition for the Chiayi City Main Library Complex (嘉義市總圖園區), with a proposal that draws on the city’s timber heritage, Alishan forestry history, and the winding form of the Alishan Forest Railway.

Kaohsiung’s Red Line already includes two stations widely praised for their design — Formosa Boulevard Station, famous for its Dome of Light installation, and Central Park Station, known for its distinctive modern architecture. Some civic leaders argue that the Yellow Line should strive for a similar international standard in station design and public art.