Taichung's Popular Music Center remains unfinished after 8 years, opening date uncertain

Taichung's highly anticipated Popular Music Center, a project initiated eight years ago, is still not operational, drawing sharp criticism from city councilors. Despite an investment of 1.7 billion New Taiwan dollars and multiple changes in leadership within the News Bureau, the facility remains a "mosquito hall," a term used for unused public buildings.

City Councilor Chen Shu-hua has questioned the prolonged delay, pointing out that Mayor Lu Shiow-yen's tenure is nearing its end. She highlighted that the center, situated in the prime ShuiNan Economic and Trade Park, has been plagued by issues from its initial positioning to tender processes, leading to its current state of disuse. Chen criticized the city government for missing a crucial development window for related industries, particularly during the pandemic when online entertainment surged.

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The city's News Bureau chief stated that while they aim for a year-end opening, the contract with the operator extends to April next year, prioritizing quality and safety over speed.

News Bureau Chief Luan Chih-yi acknowledged the delays, attributing them partly to an expanded investment by the operator, which increased from 405 million to 650 million NT dollars. She confirmed that the contract with the operator extends until April 27 next year but expressed a commitment to aiming for a year-end opening. However, Luan also emphasized the importance of prioritizing quality and safety, stating, "We don't want to rush just to be fast."

Chen Shu-hua, however, interpreted this as a lack of confidence from the city government in meeting the year-end deadline. She accused the administration of dragging its feet, which she believes erodes Taichung's urban competitiveness. The audit office has also certified the six-year delay in opening the center as a serious administrative violation, adding further pressure on the city government to provide a clear timeline and ensure the facility's eventual launch.

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Mayor Lu's administration has no confidence in opening for business by the end of the year, dragging its feet and eroding Taichung's urban competitiveness.