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China’s ‘House In The Middle Of The Highway’ Has Been Demolished

Dec. 1, 2012 6:00pm

Last week TheBlaze reported on the strange story of a home in China that was in the middle of a brand new highway. At the time we posted the story, the owner had not accepted the government’s offer to buy the house. He thought it was too low, and so the Chinese government simply simply paved a highway around it.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Photo: AFP/Getty

TheBlaze reported:

Luo Baogen and his wife are the lone holdouts from a neighborhood that was demolished to make way for the main thoroughfare heading to a newly built railway station on the outskirts of the city of Wenling in Zhejiang province.

Saturday morning brings an update to this curious story. The Times Live is reporting that Baogen has come to terms with the local authorities. An agreement was signed late this week and demolition of the house in the highway began on Saturday.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Photo: China Daily / Reuters

The Times Live story also added some comments from the holdout homeowner:

“It was never a final solution for us to live in a lone house in the middle of the road,” owner Luo Baogen told the Xinhua news agency. “After the government’s explanations, I finally decided to move.”

While investigating this story, TheBlaze discovered that the Chinese citizens are no stranger to these David vs. Goliath-like battles to save their homes from government and real estate developers pushing to modernize the country. Situations like the one involving Luo Baogen and the Zheixaing province are so common that they have a name. The Chinese people call these “nail houses.”

A “nail house” is typically a stand alone property in the middle of a new development project. Once all of the other properties around it have been knocked down, the hold out sticks out like a nail at a construction site — just waiting to be hammered down.

Some of the more famous “nail houses” have been memorialized on the Internet. The home below was a viral hit in 2008.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: zonaeuropa.com

This one stands in the shadow of a bustling commercial development that includes a McDonald’s.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: Moobol.com

Two years ago, the issue became so popular that it was the storyline for a video game that pitted homeowners against developers.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: Mirage Games

The Wall Street Journal’s China blog summarized the plot of “Nail Household vs. Demolition Team.”

The goal? To defend your house against guards and gangsters brandishing knives and bouncing on jackhammers. The characters you can play include a woman in curlers who throws sandals at encroaching attackers, a pot-bellied man who drops dynamite from the roof, and an old man with a shotgun.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: Mirage Games

When you win a level, the woman appears, pointing a finger at the Forbidden City, the symbolic center of the government’s power. When you lose, the house collapses in a cloud of dust.

According to reports from the tens of thousands who have played the game online, even if you manage to defeat all challenges and get all the way to the end, the government still demolishes your home. A not so subtle message? Perhaps.

In 2010, China’s state-run Housing and Urban-Rural Development Administration let it be known that it believed over 50% of the country’s current homes will be demolished and rebuilt before 2030.

However, before you start thinking that “nail houses” are exclusive to China, there are myriad examples of people and even churches holding out against developers or governments. It happens all over the world. Japan’s Narita Airport’s expansion was held up for years in a battle with local farmers.

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: Airliners.net

In San Antonio, TX, St Joseph’s Catholic Church has managed to hold off the creeping advances of progress for over 65 years. In 1945, Joske’s Department Store wanted to expand its downtown location and offered to buy the church built by German immigrants in 1868. No deal could be made so Joske’s built all around St. Joseph’s. (The locals have referred to St. Joseph’s as “St. Joske’s” for years.)

Chinas House In The Middle of the Road Is Demolished

Image: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Joske’s was purchased by another Texas retailer in the late 1980. The new owners could not make a success from their purchase and the building that surrounds St. Joseph’s currently sits empty, awaiting a new developer. Conversely, The San Antonio Express-News reports that “St. Joske’s” continues to serve the community. The church claims more than 600 attend weekend masses.  In Texas, “David” still appears to be able to hold off “Goliath.”

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Comments (51)

1 2
  • TulsaYeeHaw
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 11:45am

    Don’t mess with Texas Catholics

    Report this comment

    TulsaYeeHaw  
  • Atrocities
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 10:05am

    Preservationist is only a tool for liberals who want to use it. For the rest of us, we are SOL. If you have a historical property, and liberals want a new park, you home is gone. However, if liberals owned the home, you couldn’t fart within 10 miles of the place without having 10,000 EPA, historical preserver society types, government cronies, and jack booted environmentalists coming after you.

    Report this comment

    Atrocities  
  • candymanal
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 9:46am

    I guess that history and historical ethics, never play a role there.

    Report this comment

    candymanal  
  • Hawk69
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 7:58am

    You sell or you die is the option they gave him.

    Report this comment

    Hawk69  
  • AlleyTrotter
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 7:58am

    Suddenly it seems the Chinese have more rights than United States citizens.

    Report this comment

    AlleyTrotter  
  • calmandcents
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 3:34am

    This is all about the tyranny of governments that our Founding Fathers warned us about. The entire history of man is plagued by those who hate and desire only to rule over others. Sadly, they are so stupid and void of any ethics that they are UNABLE to appreciate the miracle of America.

    Contrary to their rhetoric, Obama, his commissars, most of Congress, progressives/liberals/socialists, Hollywood, MSM, most so-called national organizations, private and public unions, and even SCOTUS are preaching the same old oppressive and suppressive crap. They are smarter that you, you don’t need free choice, and free enterprise is unfair.

    You — we — either get it or we don’t. Choose a side. It smells like another religious war in the air!

    Report this comment

    calmandcents  
  • Ragnars Repos
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 1:30am

    “After the government’s explanations, I finally decided to move.”

    Chinese government’s ‘explanation’: “You move, or you and your extended family become dead, only some of your organs will live on. Understood? Good. Have a nice day, and best of luck in your new digs.”

    Report this comment

    Ragnars Repos  
  • Jase
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 12:22am

    In modern America, they would have just taken it under eminent domain. Is China’s government now less communist than the brutish new US Gov’t?

    Report this comment

    Jase  
    • antiprogressive
      Posted on December 2, 2012 at 1:06am

      Being that China nows owns so much of our debt, is moving AWAY from communism and TOWARD capitalism – just the opposite of the present administration, I’d have to say probably so.

      Report this comment

      antiprogressive  
  • Heb4Seven
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 12:03am

    Add your comments

    Report this comment

    Heb4Seven  
  • Exiled
    Posted on December 2, 2012 at 12:00am

    Who puts a building around a beautiful church and doesn’t put large windows in for the view?

    Report this comment

    Exiled  
    • Todd P
      Posted on December 2, 2012 at 5:24pm

      If I were a billionaire, I would buy the building, turn it into a park, and donate it to the church.

      But then again, if I were a billionaire, I would not be living in this country.

      Report this comment

       
  • satman40
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:48pm

    If all the stories about the China Government were true they would just take the property.

    Hate to tell you but a lot of protesters are at The Forbidden City in Beijing..

    Do not believe all the spin your read or hear..

    Report this comment

    satman40  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:37pm

    Genesis device. thats what this world needs.

    Report this comment

    Mr.Fitnah  
  • AZgirl9000
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:39pm

    I suppose it does weaken one’s resolve when you have to worry about your house “accidentally” getting hit by a concrete truck followed by a fully-loaded fuel truck.

    Report this comment

    AZgirl9000  
  • tharpdevenport
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:13pm

    We’re not so different, the Chinese and us.

    They have a despotic regime, we have a despotic regime.

    They have “nail houses”, we have immonent domain.

    They have devalued life, we’re on the path to devaluing life.

    It’s almost like looking in a mirror.[/sarcasm]

    Report this comment

    tharpdevenport  
    • jman-6
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:15pm

      That would be hillarious if it wern’t so sad an true!!

      Report this comment

      jman-6  
    • janmil200
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:45pm

      We’re on our way to de-valuing life? We arrived at that destination 39 years ago. Heard of Roe v. Wade?

      Report this comment

      janmil200  
  • AmericaMustBeFree
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:05pm

    I love the last photo.. the church is beautiful.. the buildings next to it are uglier than sin!

    Report this comment

    AmericaMustBeFree  
    • Mike Opelka
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 8:15pm

      I have attended Mass at “St. Joske’s” — it is inspiring!

      Report this comment

      Mike Opelka  
    • deron
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:53pm

      If you are interested – the church is in Downtown San Antonio. Near the Rivercenter Mall. Gorgeous church. Close to the riverwalk and the Alamo.

      And no, i’m not a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

      Report this comment

      deron  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:38pm

    I miss Joske’s :(

    .. a lot of good memories :)

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • chips1
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 7:25pm

    FEMA works much faster in China.

    Report this comment

    chips1  
  • longknifed
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:51pm

    I was really looking forward to the mandarin version of “our house in the middle of the street.”

    Report this comment

    longknifed  
  • 1776freedomofspeech
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:42pm

    Hugh surprise…….

    Report this comment

    1776freedomofspeech  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:35pm

    The problem was the highway was to one of the ghost cities so when they opened it there still would be no traffic and they knew that when they built the highway.

    In the end we may never know if it was capitalism of money that made the owners move or the communism of bullets, threats and shame.

    Report this comment

    TJexcite  
  • gyro
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:32pm

    In canada all land is crown land and very old british law overrides everything so it just takes a long time and lots of lawyers to take land from private people
    should be noted that fair market value is paid always

    Report this comment

    gyro  
    • jman-6
      Posted on December 1, 2012 at 10:19pm

      At the rate were going here seems like you guys will probably see an influx of conservatives.

      Report this comment

      jman-6  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:30pm

    LMAO Yeah the homeowner said “After the government’s explanations, I finally decided to move.”

    Yes the cold steel of the barrel on his temple gave the homeowner a new perspective and he decided to sell. Here in Amerika they use the EPA or IRS as the club,different weapons same result.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:12pm

    So much for the best location for a Chinese restaurant drive through…..

    That 3rd photo reminds me of an old Bugs Bunny cartoon. LOL

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • blanco5
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:10pm

    It’s CHINA!!!! They could have knocked it down a long time ago and put the “owners” in jail or execute them …….or is that the new amerika? I’m confused.

    Report this comment

    blanco5  
  • RoDogg
    Posted on December 1, 2012 at 6:08pm

    In America, now, they (the homeowners) would be classified with disassociation disorder. LOL

    Report this comment

    RoDogg  
1 2

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