Ram Intra housing community in Bangkok's Bang Khen district is expected to undergo a face lift following the National Housing Authority's (NHA) success story in restoring the Din Daeng flats.
NHA governor, Tachaphol Kanjanakul, said the agency has a renovation plan for the low-cost Ram Intra housing community and hopes to apply the Din Daeng model in its efforts to rehabilitate this 40-year-old community.
Constructed in 1976, the Ram Intra flats are located on a 52-rai plot with 812 residential units and shops. Of these, 490 units are in eight five-storey buildings and 322 others are two-storey row houses.
According to Mr Tachaphol, the NHA set the plan in motion in 2015 with a feasibility study and a series of meetings with residents to promote community participation in the rehabilitation project.
"The Din Daeng community rehabilitation scheme will play a role in helping the Ram Intra project materialise," he said.
The NHA's efforts to improve the Din Daeng flats took years to bear fruit. The scheme faced strong opposition from tenants afraid the properties would be leased out for commercial development.
In February 2016, the government eventually signed an agreement with the tenants and the NHA refurbished the 60-year-old low-cost flats using new, fire-and-earthquake-resistant structures. The first phase was completed in June this year with a 28-storey residential building serving as new homes to dozens of families.
According to Mr Tachaphol, 91% of tenants at Ram Intra housing community approved of the restoration scheme while 9% disagreed with it.
The NHA this year is focusing on promoting a better understanding among the community members about project developments and getting their feedback, Mr Tachaphol said.
The Ram Intra resident community, located near the 4 kilometre marker on Ram Intra Road, is being eyed for restoration because it is 40 years old and sustained damage during the 2011 flooding in Bangkok. The scheme will also allow the NHA to improve drainage and garbage management.
