The Japanese-style dormitory complex in Zhongzheng Section, Tamsui, New Taipei, has been restored, creating the first public-private collaboration to revitalize a historic site.

The "Japanese-style dormitory complex in Tamsui Zhongzheng Section" at the end of Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui Old Street, New Taipei City, was registered as a historical building in 2011. The restoration was completed this year. The restoration and reuse completion and opening ceremony will be held today (23rd). New Taipei City Mayor Hou Youyi said that this case was restored under the principle of preserving the original appearance and architectural features, and through private leasing and investment in restoration funds, it became New Taipei City's first case of public cultural assets restored and reused through private participation, demonstrating the results of public-private efforts to preserve cultural assets.

Secretariat Director Zhu Huimei said that the restoration process of the Japanese-style dormitory complex in Tamsui Zhongzheng Section was selected by the Cultural Assets Bureau of the Ministry of Culture as a field teaching and visiting site for the "2025 Japanese Large Woodworking Class"; this building is located in the "Fenghuo Section", an important military and trade area during the Qing Dynasty. It was used as a dormitory for Tamsui County Hall officials during the Japanese colonial period, and was used as a dormitory for civil servants of the Taipei County Government and Tamsui Land Office after the liberation, witnessing local development on the banks of the Tamsui River.

The Secretariat pointed out that the Japanese-style dormitories at Nos. 3, 5 and 6, Lane 21, Zhongzheng Road, adopted a public bidding method, combined with the power of the private sector, and established a follow-up use and maintenance mechanism on the premise of preserving the historical buildings, allowing the private sector to become an important participant in the preservation of cultural assets. After the restoration is completed, catering and historical and cultural exhibitions will be introduced according to the architectural features and space conditions. The restoration will extend the life of the building and preserve the historical memory of Tamsui's local development.

City Councilor Zheng Yuen said that the Japanese-style dormitory complex in Tamsui Zhongzheng Section is a precious cultural asset. In the past, it could not be renovated for many years due to limited public sector restoration funds. Since 2019, she has continued to strive for public-private cooperation for restoration, and has also led the New Taipei City Cultural Bureau to issue the "Key Points of Rent Reduction for the Restoration of Public Cultural Assets" so that private resources can be invested in the preservation of cultural assets. Seeing that the dormitory complex has been restored, she sincerely thanks the restoration team and will continue to pay attention to the subsequent settlement and opening status. She hopes that this case will become a new highlight in the later section of Tamsui Old Street.

City Councilor Chen Weijie said that for the first time, the city government adopted a "public-private partnership" model with private participation in restoration and leasing to improve the preservation of historical spaces, catering, and cultural exhibitions, setting a good example for the revitalization of Tamsui cultural assets. The preservation and revitalization of cultural assets is a long-term project. In the future, while implementing operational supervision and maintenance of historic sites, the city government should further integrate Tamsui old streets and surrounding tourism resources, and deepen cultural promotion with communities and schools, making the Japanese-style dormitory cluster a new highlight in driving the overall cultural tourism development of Tamsui.