In Shanxi province, a property developer turned the entrance of a residential complex into a beef noodle shop, causing inconvenience to the residents who now have to use the fire escape route for entry and exit, leading to a protest by the homeowners.
On July 8th, a netizen revealed on social media that the entrance originally planned for the residents of Swan Bay Yuet Fu residential complex in Yuncheng city has been transformed into a beef noodle restaurant. A large group of homeowners gathered in front of the complex, with banners demanding an explanation.
In a video shared online, the homeowners can be heard chanting, “Give us back our entrance, give us back our entrance,” while a wreath was placed in front of the noodle shop. The storefront of the shop is labeled “Lanzhou Se La Palace Beef Noodle.”
According to the homeowners interviewed by Daxiang News, the property developer leased out the entrance to a beef noodle vendor without the residents’ consent, forcing the residents to use the adjacent fire escape route for access.
On the evening of the 9th, the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Yuncheng, Shanxi issued a statement announcing the formation of a joint investigation team to verify the issues raised by the public.
On the 10th, Jimo News reported that the noodle shop is a franchise of Lanzhou Se La Palace Beef Noodle. A staff member from the headquarters of Lanzhou Se La Palace Beef Noodle stated that the shop in question is their only outlet in Yuncheng and they have contacted the local franchisee to understand the situation. According to the headquarters, the leasing of the premises by the franchisee was done with all necessary property rights documentation in order, and there are no violations.
The staff member mentioned that the shop has completed its renovation and is currently in the trial operation phase.
The incident has sparked heated discussions online. Many netizens questioned the legality and reasonability of the situation, with some commenting on the lack of public order due to the vendor’s pursuit of self-interest at the expense of the residents. Similar cases were cited by netizens in other areas, highlighting a recurring issue of commercial encroachment on residential spaces.
Some netizens drew parallels to past incidents involving unscrupulous property developers, suggesting a complex interplay of interests between the developers and the local real estate regulatory authorities. The delay in addressing such issues raised questions among the public regarding the priorities and actions of the local government in safeguarding public interests.