ed. 2026/4/10
in process
Taiwan is a wealthy country that can offer a decent standard of living to many people. Unfortunately, not to everyone. Some places are deeply saddening. Among these sad places are the decaying shopping malls. Most of them were built during the first wave of rapid economic growth in Taiwan. They all share the same story: the buildings aged, new centers were constructed, the area became less attractive, and investment in the properties declined. As a result, fires broke out, accidents increased, and wealthier tenants moved away. It is usually a vicious cycle. People from more vulnerable social groups move in, which naturally leads to higher risks of accidents and suicides. The building gains a bad reputation and becomes a “ghost house.” It ends up being rented out only semi-legally, and often undocumented migrants move in.
No one wants to invest in these buildings anymore, and the homeowners’ associations fall into dispute. The saddest group, however, are the abandoned elderly. Forty years ago, they moved in with optimism; at the time, it was a good residential area. Perhaps life did not go as planned, they had no children, or their children moved away. Where are they supposed to go now? So they live out their final years in a dying housing complex—watching it age, just as they themselves grow old. Since the story is often similar, I will focus each time on just a few distinctive features.
(TianTian in Taoyuan)
Fortune Mail in Miaoli
The Fortune Mail Building in Miaoli City has been designated by the county government as a hazardous building more than 30 years old. Its dilapidated appearance has long been criticized by local residents and even mocked as an “alternative landmark.”
Because of its run-down condition, it has been the subject of complaints for years. The county government has been negotiating with the owners for a long time in an effort to renovate and secure the building. More than 50% of the owners must agree in order to proceed, and there are more than 200 owners in total.
Regarding its current use: the basement and ground floor are occupied by KTV venues and bars; floors 2 to 4 are vacant; floors 5 to 8 are used for residential purposes (partly vacant); and floors 9 and 10 are vacant. However, the apartment levels themselves are in relatively good condition. At present, around 44 households live on floors 5 to 8. A joint inspection conducted by the county government in 2021 identified six violations, including the removal of fire doors, damage to fire compartmentation, obstruction of emergency stairways and common areas, and elevators lacking proper operating permits. The owners were notified and (many) deadlines to rectify these issues.
