Illegal 'sky villas' cap Dongguan building

[Untouchables]

Raise the roof: Illegal 'sky villas' cap Dongguan building

Globaltimes | September 11, 2013 18:26

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Photo: xkb.com.cn

A pair of illegal rooftop villas built atop a dozen concrete pillars in Dongguan, Guangdong Province has residents on pins and needles over safety issues.

These chateaus in the clouds join a growing list of illegal structures that have recently capped city high rises throughout China, such as in Beijing and Shenzhen.

According to neighbors, the two-story twin villas are owned by a Hong Kong businessman who has relatives in the area.

"The villas were built several years ago, but just decorated last year. There has been a lot discussion about it," local news site xkb.com.cn quoted a neighbor as saying.

The owner declined interview requests from the news site.

Though local housing authorities confirmed the owner initially had permission to build, he was only permitted a contingent four-story structure, and that his stilted villas are inconsistent with submitted blue prints.