VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People's Committee has decided to take back 60 State-owned villas which were being leased or used ineffectively.

The State-owned villas, which will not be sold, will be used for public projects such as parks, schools, hospitals, State offices and apartment buildings for relocated people and civil servants.

The State-owned villas are located in 10 districts, and more than half of them have an average area of 1,000sq.m.

Of the villas, one at 373-374 Le Van Huu Street in Thu Duc District's Binh Tho Ward has the largest area, with 3,583sq.m.

Many of the villas are located in prime areas and are being used improperly.

The villa at 2 Pham Van Hai Street in Tan Binh District's Ward 2, which faces Hoang Van Thu and Pham Van Hai streets and Hoang Van Thu Park, is being rented to sell food and motorbikes.

Similarly, the villa at 5A Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street in District 1's Ben Nghe Ward is being used as a restaurant. It is located in the city's zoo precinct and is part of an expansion project for the HCM City-based Viet Nam History Museum, which is inside the zoo premises.

Most of the villas have been rented for housing or offices, or to families, according to the Department of Construction. Fourteen households that own space in the villas were allowed to buy space in the State-owned villas under Government Decree 61.

Of the total 60 villas which will be taken back by the city, there are another 293 households that are renting. Six State agencies rent offices and two villas are still vacant. Most are old and in disrepair.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the city People's Committee, has told departments and agencies that they must use the villas in an effective way after they take them back from residents and companies.

The People's Committee has also set up a steering committee to manage the 60 villas. This year, it will make plans to relocate and compensate households and on how to use each villa.

The villas, which have a total area of 35,000sq.m, will be managed by the Department of Construction and the HCM City Housing Management and Trading Company.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News