On February 7, the nine JV companies involved in the Umekita Phase 2 development project, led by Mitsubishi Estate, decided on “GRAND GREEN OSAKA” as the name of the project and unveiled a logo mark. The green of “GRAND GREEN OSAKA” represents the theme of “fusion of nature and the city,” which will be created around a park.
Umekita” is the name of the redevelopment area utilizing the site of the Umeda Freight Station, commonly known as “Umeda Kita Yard,” on the north side of JR Osaka Station, and Grand Front Osaka opened in 2013 as the last prime development area in Osaka.
The Umekita 2 district, which is currently under development, has a total area of 9.1 hectares, with a vast urban park of 4.5 hectares (about half of the total area), which is the center of the project, and consists of the South and North districts. The urban park will include the “Big Roof Facility: Information Transmission Building” and the “Next Innovation Museum (tentative name)” directly connected to JR West’s new Osaka Station platform, “Umekita New Station,” which is scheduled to open next month.
The Waldorf Astoria Osaka, the highest-end hotel brand of the Hilton hotel family, and an upscale hotel are scheduled to open in the South District, and Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda will open in the North District.
In conjunction with the announcement of the project name and logo, a PR room for interested parties was also opened to the press. The room overlooks the Umekita 2nd phase construction area. The room is designed to provide a concrete image of the city with a model of the completed project, as well as the progress of the construction. The PR room is not open to the public.
Mr. Toru Kimura, Executive Officer and Managing Director of Mitsubishi Estate, who spoke at the press conference, gave an overview of this development project and then said, “Despite the prolonged Corona disaster, human interaction is becoming less frequent. The importance of real interaction has been reaffirmed. We would like to make the town a place where people of all nationalities and genders can visit,” he said, expressing his ambitions.
In the summer of 2024, the hotel, core functional facilities, commercial facilities, and part of the urban park in the North District will open in advance; in the spring of 2025, the offices, hotel, core functional facilities, and commercial facilities in the South District will fully open; and by 2027, all facilities will be completed.
© Source travel watch