Recently, in Changsha Beichen Center Poly Times Building in Kaifu District, Hunan Province, the promised 320,000 square meters of commercial facilities and 200-meter landmark facilities have not been implemented as advertised, causing inconvenience to 5,800 homeowners who have been unsuccessful in seeking solutions.
According to data, this property is a high-end real estate project by the central state-owned enterprise Poly Group, with an average price of around 12,000 yuan per square meter. It was delivered to over 5,800 homeowners at the end of December last year. The project was heavily promoted with highlights such as over 320,000 square meters of commercial facilities within the community, claiming to be a city-level large-scale project with regional, project, and brand values. Planned facilities included a Sam’s Club, Poly Cultural Theater, and Military Aviation Theme Park.
One homeowner, referred to as Fang Hua, told a reporter that homeowners have been demanding their rights for over a month, gathering at the sales office every weekend chanting slogans like “We want commercial facilities, we want a better life.” The developer responded with a heavy presence of security guards to suppress them, leading to physical clashes during protests. The ongoing struggle has left homeowners exhausted and feeling helpless.
Fang Hua explained that most homeowners purchased their properties around 2022 based on the developer’s promotion, Poly’s brand reputation, and the government’s investment promotion for comprehensive developments integrating commerce and education. The average price per square meter was 12,000 yuan at that time. If it wasn’t for the advertised commercial facilities, none of the homeowners would have bought properties in this area, which is not conveniently located in the city center and is priced higher than other regions. Now, with the promised 320,000 square meters of commercial facilities reduced to 100,000 square meters and the 200-meter landmark no longer visible, the situation has left homeowners feeling shortchanged.
Fang Hua also emphasized, “Now they want to change the commercial properties to residential, blocking our apartment’s views without clarity on the new building heights. They’re even planning to demolish the sales office.”
Homeowners believe the developer engaged in false advertising, deceiving consumers. Currently, it is extremely inconvenient for homeowners to shop for groceries and daily necessities, leading them to rely heavily on online shopping or travel to malls located 2 kilometers away.
“There isn’t even a nearby market to buy groceries or fruits, let alone a single store,” said Fang Hua.
Another homeowner shared their frustration, “We took out loans from the bank to purchase these homes, and all the money was hard-earned, not falling from the sky. Each property costs around 2 million yuan for renovation alone. We had to pool money from relatives and ancestors over two to three generations. It hasn’t been easy for any of us.”
Fang Hua added, “There have been no concrete results so far, and it seems like the government is powerless to act because Poly is a state-owned enterprise and has the money but is unwilling to fulfill its promises.”
Attempts to contact the Kaifu District government and other relevant departments were unsuccessful. According to mainland Chinese media reports, the official response stated that the approval authority for the commercial supporting facilities in Poly North Center lies with the Changsha Natural Resource and Planning Bureau, and no application has been submitted yet. The bureau has not received any construction application for the commercial supporting facilities at Poly North Center. Authorities currently believe that the developer has not engaged in false advertising.
The only demand of the homeowners now is to retain the existing sales office and ensure the implementation of the promised 320,000 square meters of commercial facilities and 200-meter landmark within two years as advertised during the purchase. The changes in the plan and project delays have harmed the homeowners’ rights, as the advertised features were the core basis of their property selection. “The developer should respond promptly; otherwise, we will continue to seek justice through legal means to protect our rights,” the homeowners stated.