The Nangang River bikeway winds along the edge of the urban village which will probably be a construction site for new highrises soon. The bikeway is beautifully landscaped and sees a regular flow of the small remaining residents passing by or sitting and taking in the sunny winter weather.
The views of the partially demolished urban village, eerily empty and lining one of the ubiquitous urban village lakes which were in happier times a hub of activity, provide an end-of-the-world vibe. 100m further along is a taxi driver training course under the elevated road.
The demolition of urban villages often displaces low-income residents who may have lived in these communities for years or decades and disrupts their social and economic networks, though the main reason they can be controversial is related to compensation payments. Owners are compensated while the renters who live there get nothing. Critics argue that urban renewal efforts should focus on improving and upgrading existing neighborhoods rather than demolishing them and displacing their residents. In the case of Nangang where the buildings though dense don't seem to be structurally unsound appears to hold some validity, though the point is moot now for Nangang.