Suzhou’s Wu Zhong District’s Shangcheng Shiguang residential development has recently sparked intense dissatisfaction among homeowners over the sudden demolition of the southern main entrance. Homeowners have gathered to defend their rights, questioning a potential collusion between the local Suzhou government and the developers for personal gains.
One of the homeowners, Wang Yu (pseudonym), expressed to Epoch Times that on the morning of June 10th, the southern main entrance was intact as he left for work, only to return in the evening to find it completely demolished. The signage related to the residential development at the entrance had also disappeared.
The Shangcheng Shiguang project consists of three phases, with the final phase of housing units currently being sold. The developers conducted the demolition work overnight without prior notice to the homeowners.
Another homeowner, Li Ming (pseudonym), mentioned that the removal of the southern main entrance and accompanying landscape features has led to a decline in the quality of the residential area, depreciation of property values, and increased safety risks.
The developers justified the demolition by claiming that the southern main entrance exceeded construction limits and encroached upon green areas, classifying it as an illegal structure. However, Wang Yu argued that the southern main entrance has been present since the initial sale of the properties four to five years ago. The design plans showcased by the developers at the time also included the southern main entrance. Homeowners had invested in the property based on the aesthetics and value of the main entrance and fountain architecture.
Wang Yu highlighted that during the property promotion and sale, there was no mention of any violations. He had taken out a 30-year mortgage, burdened with debt to purchase the property. Now, with the houses sold out and the developers withdrawing, they suddenly claimed it was an illegal structure. Wang Yu questioned whether this was a form of deception, with no authorities addressing the violations for nearly four years, leading to a deception of property buyers.
Li Ming added that if the violation claims were true, it would indicate negligence, misconduct, and potential collusion among the housing, urban planning, and regulatory departments, while the developers could be engaging in commercial fraud.
Shangcheng Shiguang was opened for sale on September 1, 2021, with the developer identified as Suzhou Zhuomei Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. Attempts to contact the company via phone were unsuccessful.
Similar incidents involving developers have been observed in other regions as well.
On December 30, 2024, in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, Hua Chun Road 100 Lane, which had been delivered for over four years, faced a similar situation. The developers, Shanghai Jinxiu Huacheng Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., suddenly sent construction crews to demolish the “East Gate” of the residential area, citing illegal construction as the reason.
While the developers deemed the “East Gate” as illegal, the local authorities responded to homeowners stating that it did not violate building regulations.
Numerous homeowners from Shangcheng Shiguang have left comments online, expressing sentiments such as, “I purchased this property attracted by this gate, why should it be demolished? Anyone can now enter the community, posing safety risks that need to be restored,” and “Having a mortgage of over one million yuan yet the main entrance was forcibly demolished.”
Homeowners are demanding the restoration of the original conditions present during the property sale. They have stated their determination to defend their rights if their interests are not adequately protected.