By Tim Binnall
Rather than welcoming its first tenants, a newly built condominium in Japan will instead soon be reduced to rubble due to area residents' complaints that the towering building blocks their view of Mount Fuji. According to a local media report, the ten-story complex in the city of Kunitachi caused considerable consternation in the community when it was first announced a few years ago. Attempting to assuage fears that the condominium would obstruct Mt. Fuji for those living in the area, the developers behind the project agreed to make the building slightly smaller. However, the concession was seemingly not enough for Kunitachi residents, who continued to voice their concerns about the structure as it was being constructed over the last year.
Earlier this month, with the 18-unit condominium nearly complete, developers made the surprising announcement that are reversing course and will now demolish the new building. Explaining that they "did not adequately consider the impact of the project on the surrounding area and the landscape," the company indicated that have begun informing would-be residents of the complex that they will need to find a new future home. Although people living in the area are undoubtedly happy to have won the proverbial condo war, some have expressed astonishment at the wastefulness of it all and called upon the city to investigate the curious turn of events.
Meanwhile, other residents have already begun grousing that the forthcoming demolition of the building will bring too much noise to the neighborhood. One imagines that their complaints are particularly maddening to the developers who canceled the nearly-complete condominium to placate their initial concerns. Should the company be seeking sites for future buildings, they might want to consider the town of Fujikawaguchiko, which recently put up a giant screen to block Mt. Fuji in an effort to thwart pesky tourists who were making the community too congested.