Tuesday 29 May 2012

Fwd: [ParticipantsofPenangForum] Pulau Tikus Carpark - Pg Govt allowed developer to build commercial SOHO project [5 Attachments]




From: sh tan <shtan0202@yahoo.com>
Date: May 25, 2012 10:01:31 GMT+08:00
To: "taman-sri-nibong-e-group@googlegroups.com" <taman-sri-nibong-e-group@googlegroups.com>, "ParticipantsofPenangForum@yahoogroups.com" <ParticipantsofPenangForum@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [ParticipantsofPenangForum] Pulau Tikus Carpark - Pg Govt allowed developer  to build commercial SOHO project [5 Attachments]
Reply-To: ParticipantsofPenangForum@yahoogroups.com

 
[Attachment(s) from sh tan included below]

Here's another development project that is making residents angry. Public meeting organised by Pulau Tikus YB Koay Teng Hai  held at the MPPP office near the Pulau Tikus market in Jalan Pasar on 19 May 2012. It was attended by the Pengarah of Planning Dept. Haji Roslan, MPPP traffic engineer Rajendran and about 50 residents.
 
Project:
- Moulmein Rise by Belleview Group (http://www.belleview.com.my/node/121)
- 27 storey commercial complex to be built on the site of a current open air carpark in Moulmein Road.
- project site is only about 30m from the Pulau Tikus market and is right in the centre of a badly congested area
- MPPP said developer allowed to build high density with plot ratio of 5:1
- 200 parking lots reserved for office staff
- 90 parking lots allocated for public use
 
Issues raised:
- MPPP claimed they sent out letters to affected residents staying 20m radius from project site to submit their objections in June 2011
- several residents claimed they did not receive the letters
- MPPP approved planning permission for his project in Sep 2011
- previous plan by the developer was to build high rise residential units and residents petitioned and staged a protest in 2004
- residents asked why the project was approved now when there were strong objections and the project was put on hold in 2004
- residents claimed previously there was a height restriction of not more than 7 storeys for the area. Residents asked who and when was this rezoned to high rise, high density and commercial use.
- residents questioned why only 90 parking lots allocated for public use when the current open air carpark has a capacity to park about 200 cars.
- why only 200 parking lots for office staff use when there will be estimated at last 500 cars users. (assuming 10 office lots per storey, 4 staff per office lot and 50% drive to work. This comes to 27 storeys x 10 office lots x 4 staff x 50% = 500 car users).
- where would the extra cars for the office staff , market goers, public and visitors to the offices park?
- what are the assumptions of the study in the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA)? What are the conditions set (if any) to approve the TIA?
- request to make the TIA report public for public interest. Penang's FOI Bill has been gazetted in Feb this year.
- Roslan explained MPPP approved based on meeting technical requirements eg parking space requirement of 1 lot per 1000 sg ft.
- why is MPPP using an irrelevant guideline which favors developers and not taking care of the public's needs?
- what does it take for MPPP to change the guidelines and make it relevant to today's needs?
- MPPP always hides behind these guidelines and use the same excuse of "developer has met the guidelines" everytime there is a residents objection
- residents also asked where would all the market goers park without getting their vehicles clamped for the next 2-3 years while the project is in progress


----- Forwarded Message -----
Pulau Tikus Carpark - PGGOV allowed developer BELLEVIEW GROUP to build commercial SOHO project [4 Attachments]

 

PPGOV had approved for the developer to build a 27 storey commercial
block here at the market carpark.

The surrounding area are all about 8 storeys high only.

This units will be used as SOHO "small office home office" the latest
trend from Penang's developers.

We wish to advise as follows:-
1. MPPP approved commercial density of 5:1 plot ration [where as
residential u only get 2;1]
2. you dont have to build suraus'
3. no community hall
4. pool had been thrown in for shoppers or office workers to have a
swim before work or after shopping
5. adequacy of waste management systems.
6. buyers will have to pay commercial rates for TNB and all utilities
7. Carparks for commercial is allocated at 1 carpark for every
1000sqft of office space [residential project 1 car park per unit ]
Please note with this SOHO style project they can cut out as many
units as they want 27 storeys, maybe 500 units.
8. no visitors carpark
9. carpark not public as not handed over to MPPP or PGGOV.
10. Traffic impact assesment report only advise Moulmein Road to be
changed to one way, imagine how congested PulauTikus market is going to be.
11. Objections NOTICE not received by all neighbours.

We want a moratorium on all projects in Penang till controls are put
in which will be fair to the Penang residents.


__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from sh tan

5 of 5 Photo(s)

Recent Activity:
The Penang Forum is a coalition of Penang-based public interest NGOs and concerned individuals.

Visit the Penang Forum website at http://www.ParticipantsofPenangForum.net
.

__,_._,___
Posted by at 2 comments:

Friday 25 May 2012

Pulau Tikus Carpark - PGGOV allowed developer BELLEVIEW GROUP to build commercial SOHO project

PPGOV had approved for the developer to build a 27 storey commercial
block here at the market carpark.

The surrounding area are all about 8 storeys high only.

This units will be used as SOHO "small office home office" the latest
trend from Penang's developers.

We wish to advise as follows:-
1. MPPP approved commercial density of 5:1 plot ration [where as
residential u only get 2;1]
2. you dont have to build suraus'
3. no community hall
4. pool had been thrown in for shoppers or office workers to have a
swim before work or after shopping
5. adequacy of waste management systems.
6. buyers will have to pay commercial rates for TNB and all utilities
7. Carparks for commercial is allocated at 1 carpark for every
1000sqft of office space [residential project 1 car park per unit ]
Please note with this SOHO style project they can cut out as many
units as they want 27 storeys, maybe 500 units.
8. no visitors carpark
9. carpark not public as not handed over to MPPP or PGGOV.
10. Traffic impact assesment report only advise Moulmein Road to be
changed to one way, imagine how congested PulauTikus market is going to be.
11. Objections NOTICE not received by all neighbours.


We want a moratorium on all projects in Penang till controls are put
in which will be fair to the Penang residents.
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday 20 May 2012

BN's plan for Penang . Do it now if ur sincere

Saturday May 19, 2012

BN's vision for Penang

By CHRISTINA CHIN 
sgchris@thestar.com.my 


BARISAN Nasional's alternative blueprint for the development of Penang will include new tourism products and attractions plus new premium shopping outlets.

It is learnt that under the proposal, Penang will be a hub for the northern region's tour and travel operators.

Also proposed are more incoming airline flights which will generate additional airport tax while also promoting service apartments and condominiums as alternative accommodation for tourists.

In George Town, neglected inner city areas like Magazine Road and Noordin Street will be rejuvenated and turned into hives of activity with the opening of premium outlets.

"Allowing various premium brands to rent the shops without changing the heritage structures will create a win-win situation as the city's heritage will be preserved while job opportunities are created," said a source who is helping to draft the blueprint.

The 'Sia Boey' town square concept to capture the feel of old Penang is also being considered.

Revival idea: BN has plans to turn the old Sia Boey site into a floating market.

Clearing the surrounding drains will allow small boats to enter from the clan jetties on Weld Quay to the old market spot.

"We can have the taikong wearing traditional Chinese costumes to row the boats.

"On board, art and craft items will be sold — it will be a floating market of sorts.

"Once the waterways are cleared, stalls selling popular local dishes and trendy coffee outlets can be set up. We can have the trishaw peddlers converging there.

"The entire ambiance will be attractive to tourists," he said, adding that adventure cruises along Sungai Pinang and island hopping packages to Pulau Jerejak, Pulau Aman, Monkey Island, Muka Head, Pantai Keracut and the many surrounding isles would also be promoted as eco-tourism attractions.

The iconic Penang ferries could generate greater income if they were turned into floating restaurants that offer sunset and sunrise cruises, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Penang International Sports Arena and Pulau Jerejak have the potential to become centres for nightly cultural shows.

"These are just some of our ideas — the details are being finetuned and nothing has been finalised yet."

On May 14, Penang Barisan chief Teng Chang Yeow announced plans to restore Penang's free port status as part of a "comprehensive development framework" to make the service industry an engine of growth for the state and narrow the gap between the island and the mainland.

He said the state could capitalise on medicine, entertainment, sports and education.

He said Barisan would get the rakyat's feedback before proceeding with the next stage of its "people-centric" plan.

There are also plans to develop the mainland into an international monetary centre and to have an innovative dynamo park as well as a modern aquaculture centre.

He said the plan would include infrastructure and public amenities projects.

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Posted by at No comments:

belleview project, submitted to mppp as commercial. wait n see what SOHO concept is in Penang !!

停車場地段擬建商場 官民對話變聲討大會

 2012-05-19 18:05

  • ■郭庭愷、羅斯蘭和檳市局工程部工程師拉占德蘭耐心向怒火中燒的居民，解釋檳市局批准的緣由和計劃內容，以平息居民怒氣。

（檳城19日訊）浮羅池滑私人停車場地段商業發展計劃再掀爭議，居民與官員對話會變相"聲討大會"，抨擊計劃猶如住宅區中央出現龐然巨物、加上停車位不足，將在未來加劇當地交通阻塞，令居住素質在發展下被犧牲。
居民在記者會上怒氣衝天，甚至未等檳島市政局發展規劃局代主任羅斯蘭解釋計劃內容，便一輪搶白開罵，場面一度陷入混亂。
浮羅池滑州議員郭庭愷週六在浮羅池滑檳市局診所舉行的對話會後坦言，計劃的聽證會已於去年9月完成，反對期限已過。有關計劃目前已獲批准，居民法律上已無法提出反對。他認為會造成今天混亂場面，一切都是"卡"在地方大藍圖，至今仍無法出爐上。 
"無論如何，我將把居民的意見匯集成報告書，在下週一提呈給由檳州首席部長林冠英任主席的檳州規劃中心，做進一步討論。同時，呼吁州政府盡快公佈地方大藍圖。"
他指出，浮羅池滑私人停車場地段，一直以來屬私人所有。早前，地段用途屬綜合發展性質，發展高度限制在14至17樓之間。但地段在發展商申請轉為商業用途後，已不再有高度限制，最新發展計劃為27樓商用大廈。
"這地段的發展計劃去年9月聽證會後，已在居民的反對原因，發展商已依命遵守，如開放大廈底樓停車場予大眾使用和其他，所以檳市局便依法批准，居民反對期已過。"
據悉，當時出席聽證會提出意見看法的居民，只有約3人。部份居民不滿，直說沒有收到檳市局來信通知。

稱高樓如龐然大物

羅斯蘭解釋，檳市局是援引1976年城鄉規劃法令第21（6）條文，向發展地區方圓20公尺以內範圍居民，發出通知信函。
然而，這引起部份出席者不滿，認為有關法令已"過時"，20公尺範圍太小，有關計劃受影響居民較多，甚至巴剎使用者意見也應被考量。居民不認同計劃，直說計劃中的27層高樓，猶如住宅區中央矗立龐然大物，極至突兀。
一部份居民則不滿目前停車位已不足，一旦計劃完成後，商業大廈引進更多車流輛，當地恐難負荷。
據了解，羅斯蘭說商業大廈計劃中有290個停車位，發展商將開放底樓90個給公眾使用。這讓居民批評公眾有必要和商家顧客"搶用"，根本不夠用。 （）

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday 13 May 2012

Sg Ara residents want MPPP to block hill-slope project



 
About 100 residents of Sg Ara staged a protest this morning over an RM800m high-end hill-slope development project in their area.
 
They are peeved that the MPPP approved planning permission for a hill-slope development project in their area on 2011. The planning permission permission was given subject to technical conditions in a geotech report and an EIA report.
 
In 2007, the Penang Structure Plan was approved and gazetted. This plan forbids development in areas exceeding 250 feet above sea level and on hill-slopes with a gradient of more than 25 degrees. But according to the state government, there is an exceptional projects (projek istimewa) category for those projects classified as low density general housing before the Structure Plan was tabled and these may be exempted from the prohibitions subject to meeting technical conditions. Such projects are also believed to require the approval of the State Planning Committee
 
Planning approval was submitted on 21 December 2011 and approved on 26 March 2012, after the MPPP went through the motions of seeking public objections last June. The approval was based on the green light given to the geotech report by a committee on high-risk development and the EIA by an environmental committee.
 
The question remains: why did the MPPP approve this project when there are new guidelines on hill-slopes in place? Based on its old zoning plan in 1996? Surely times have changed and that zoning plan should be superseded in view of the state government's policy of not approving any more new hill-slope developments. After all, the present state government claims that it has not approved a single hill-slope project since taking over in 2008.
 
Who decided that this is a projek istimewa and on what legal grounds?
 
And doesn't the MPPP now have a right to reject planning permission for projects that are not in the public interest – e.g. congestion, environmental degradation, and hill-slope risk? Does it really have no choice but to approve?
 
A Penang state exco member has denied allegations that the state government had tried to influence the MPPP to approve the hill-side projects in Sungai Ara.
 
For full report, check out Anil's blog below:
 



Posted by at No comments:

MPSP YDP on Heritage Panel, a first for Malaysia




Friday May 11, 2012

M'sia joins panel on heritage


Serious about conservation: Maimunah showing the 'Candidate for the World Heritage Committee 2011' brochure.

GEORGE TOWN: A team of heritage experts — including two from Penang — will head to St Petersburg, Russia, next month to represent Malaysia at the gathering of the World Heritage Committee.

The team, headed by Commissioner of Heritage Prof Emeritus Datuk Zuraina Majid, will comprise deputy heritage commissioner Prof Ghafar Ahmad from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysian Academy of Sciences member Prof Abdul Latiff Mohamad from Universiti Malaya and Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

It is the first time Malaysia is attending this gathering as a candidate in the committee since the country ratified the World Heritage Convention in 1988.

The four experts will be in St Petersburg from June 20 to July 7 to discuss the conservation of sites on the World Heritage List as well as add new sites to the list.

Maimunah said Malaysia was selected as a member of the committee for a period of four years, from 2012 to 2015.

"Prof Ghafar, Prof Abdul Latiff and I are on the team with our own specialisation. We will be working with Prof Emeritus Zuraina. Prof Ghafar is an expert on heritage buildings while Prof Abdul Latiff is for natural heritage and, I am on the cultural heritage," Maimunah told a press conference yesterday.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state was proud that Malaysia was in the committee.

"We are proud that two of the members are from Penang with one of them (Maimunah) serving the state government," he said.

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seven witnesses, including Najib, If the witness fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest might be issued.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: nigel loh <nlkw@streamyx.com>
Date: Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:39 +0800
Subject: Fw: YAHOOOOOOOO........seven witnesses, including Najib, If
the witness fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest might be issued.
To: Andrew Tan son <andrew_9tan@hotmail.com>


----- Original Message -----
From: larryleow
To: adrianchin ; alan tan ; chicken ; ez rider ; Francis Tan ; gigolo
; hun ; jaws ; Lee Glen ; liang ; max-chicken ; melissa wong ;
mpatvoon ; msleow ; nigel ; pamela ; PKR-PSC ; Ronnie Goh ;
Shirley-stephen ; siong ; songriver ; ted ; Tong
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2012 2:32 AM
Subject: YAHOOOOOOOO........seven witnesses, including Najib, If the
witness fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest might be issued.



FREE MALYSIA TODAY
Scorpenes deal: Najib's US$1b 'condition'
Teoh El Sen
| May 3, 2012
Suaram now calls the scandal 'the great Malaysian robbery', saying
that the issue has now magnified into a web of lies involving a slew
of companies.

FULL REPORT
KUALA LUMPUR: Investigations by French prosecutors found a document
indicating that the then defence minister, Najib Tun Razak, sought a
US$1 billion (RM3 billion) "condition" for a meeting between French
company DCNI and him in 2001, alleged rights group Suaram.

The sum was said to be for Perimekar Sdn Bhd's "stay in France."

At a press conference today, Suaram – which is the complainant in an
ongoing French judicial probe into the controversial Scorpene
submarines deal – revealed contents from investigation papers which
were made available to the NGO.

"We were really shocked to find that one of the documents contained
Najib's name and (he) had placed a condition in writing in France that
DCNS (the shipbuilding company that sold the submarines to Malaysia)
would need to pay a maximum sum of US$1 billion to Perimekar for their
stay in France," claimed Suaram secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel.

This was revealed in a note faxed from a representative from Thales
International Asia (which brokered the deal on behalf of arms
manufacturer DCNS – the parent company of DCNI – with Perimekar and
the Malaysian government), Francois Dupont, to his bosses.

In the note, entitled "Malaysia/Submarine Project", Dupont indicated
that a meeting with Najib on July 14, 2001 would take place with the
abovementioned "condition" but it was not known if the meeting
transpired.

Perimekar is directly linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate
of Najib, who was acquitted of abetting in the murder of Mongolian
national Altantuya Shaariibuu. The murder case was allegedly connected
to the submarines deal.

The note in question was obtained by prosecutors on May 28, 2010. It
details Dupont's visits to Malaysia during which he attended
negotiation meetings with the Defence Ministry and the management of
Perimekar.

"Basically, we're finding out more about the mechanics of Perimekar,
the company that was the recipient of the 114.96 million euros
(RM574.8 million) in commissions and kickbacks, and we're getting more
questions than answers," she said.

'Great Malaysian robbery'

Gabriel said Suaram currently had "privileged full access" to the
French investigators' 153 investigation papers, which were translated
for Suaram by interpreters and lawyers.

However, copies of the investigation papers were not released to the media.

So far, claimed Gabriel, the French investigations led to
"unprecedented levels" of discoveries in the case, including the
revelation of a "whole slew" of other companies that benefited from
"new commissions" or "sweeteners" from the entire procurement process.

Suaram had now termed the whole Scorpene scandal as "the great
Malaysian robbery".

"It is no longer just the 114.96 million euros in commissions to
Perimekar… it has magnified into a web of lies involving a slew of
companies formed to complicate the concealment of the blatant robbery
of Malaysian and French taxperyers' money," she said.

Gabriel alleged that more "retro-commissions" had surfaced, allowing
for the misuse of bodies such as the pilgrimage funds (Lembaga Tabung
Haji) and the military pension funds (Lembaga Tabung Angkatan
Tentera).

"The Malaysian and French people have been clearly misled, cheated and
robbed of their monies through blatant corruption and mismanagement of
funds in the name of national secret and security," she said.

'Evolved into criminal investigation'

Meanwhile, Suaram secretariat member and lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri
said the French judicial probe had now "evolved into a criminal
investigation."

"It would result in criminal prosecution of those involved in this
corruption scandal, our French lawyers William Bourdon and Joseph
Breham, have said. The parties involved in the scandal would soon be
charged in the French criminal court. It's going to be bigger than it
already is now," she said.

Fadiah said that the judge, Roger Le Loire, had accepted Suaram's
proposed list of seven witnesses, including Najib, Abdul Razak, and
current defence minister Abdul Zahid Hamidi.

Other potential witnesses include: private investgator S
Balasubramaniam, Altantuya's father Setev Shariibuu, Razak Baginda's
wife Mazlinda Makhzan, Lodin Wok Kamarudin (both directors of
Perimekar) and Jasbir Chahl, as one of the potential middlemen of the
deal.

Subpoenas, said Fadiah, would be issued by the judge soon and the
witnesses would be called to testify.

Fadiah said that according to French law, the court could take several
actions to compel Malaysian witnesses to assist in the inquiry:

1. Judge would issue a subpoena.

2. Once the subpoena is issued, the witness is obliged to appear
before the court.

3. If the witness refuses, the court could issue a notice of "mandate
d 'amener" to compell the witness to attend court.

4. If the witness fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest might be
issued. This warrant is applicable within French boundaries, and might
be internationalised if the judge deems it necessary.

5. A red alert could be sent to Interpol, if the situation warrants,
based on the discretionary powers of the judge.

Suaram, said Fadiah, hoped that Malaysian officials would cooperate
and assist in the probe as it was simply the "truth" that was being
sought by the NGO.

The RM7.3 billion deal to purchase two Scorpene submarines with DCNS
and Spainish Navantia was inked in 2002, when Najib was defence
minister.

In December 2009, Suaram filed a complaint with the French courts
asking for access to information regarding government contracts signed
with Perimekar and other information classified as official secrets in
Malaysia.

In April 2010, the French courts accepted the request to investigate
the claim of corruption for a payment amounting to 114 million euros
from DCNS to Perimekar.

Under the French justice system, an investigative judge has the power
to perform both as a judge and investigating prosecutor.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday 11 May 2012

Chowrasta market

Ben Wismen
I am concerned in many ways on this project. Despite the promises of it being green and caters to various user groups, it is no longer Chowrasta Market, as we know it. It seems like the plans are to make it into a mall instead.
I dread the death of another historic icon in the city..
Market makeover
thestar.com.my
ONE of the oldest markets in Penang — the Chowrasta Market — will be transformed into an iconic landmark in the state under a proposed major facelift project costing up to RM12mil.
 ·  ·  ·  · 22 February at 09:52
  • Gwynn Jenkins and 4 others like this.
  • 50 of 55
    • Ben Wismen I don't oppose development, and yes. Wet markets should be clean. But transforming it into a mall? That is a little too much, right?
      22 February at 10:36 ·  ·  2
    • Leroy Luar As I said earlier, a rose by any other name. :P
      22 February at 10:37 · 
    • Steve Miller multi storey car park - that should please the tourists :-)
      22 February at 10:51 · 
    • Alena Lau please the local more only if drivers willing to park their car inside...
      22 February at 10:59 · 
    • Jan van der Heijden Creepers in plant boxes. Creepers will be neglected after a while and the plan boxes will be used as ashtrays cum garbage bins.
      22 February at 11:12 ·  ·  4
    • Leroy Luar That's no reason to not have these amenities. The people want so much to have a say in planning but do not lift a single finger to contribute to implementation and maintenance. As per the littering problem, it's high time we implement the 'shame on you' method. Shame the next person you see littering on the streets and keep on doing it en masse until we get the message through.
      22 February at 11:14 · 
    • Jan van der Heijden Look at the road separation in front of Plaza Gurney and G-Hotel. No maintenance, only costly replacement (tax payers money) every now and then. Rubbish in the sea all over Gurney Drive (where are the enforcement officers to shame/fine the culprits?
      22 February at 11:27 ·  ·  1
    • Leroy Luar We can't rely on the state/local council officers for everything. Lazy asses makan gaji buta/ they can't be everywhere all the time/ we have to help if we talk about caring so much. When someone drops a piece of litter in my eyeline, I walk up to him/her and pick it up. Depending on how the person looks (some profiling is necessary unfortunately), I either return it to him/her or take it to a dustbin conspicuously. And I'm always prepared to run. :)
      22 February at 11:31 ·  ·  1
    • Rebecca Wilkinson This project concerns me too. Chowrasta caters to many locals & also foreign workers, as well as those of us who love the weird & wonderful tidbits found there. It is way fun to rummage around it's grubby corridors- I love it.. With Mydin across the street & all the stall holders, they are all part of the 'complex' as is the dynamic of the market alongside, behind & onto Kuala Kangsar Road. This atmosphere is altogether a brilliant local experience & it would be a shame if we lost too much of that smell, sight & sound experience. I agree that it is need of an upgrade but I'd hate to see it all change where the shopkeepers there now are forced to move out because of things like higher rentals after the reno. The reno itself will cause people to move & re-establish elsewhere- this in itself is pretty detrimental yes?
      22 February at 11:45 ·  ·  10
    • Trevor Vale As a tourist, I visit George Town to see places with atmosphere like the Chowrasta Market. Have noticed a difference since my previous visit about a year ago though. Walking the streets now requires looking down a great deal in order to avoid falling into the many and ever increasing gaping pavement holes.
      22 February at 13:01 · 
    • Ben Wismen ‎Rebecca Wilkinson, exactly my thoughts. We would only be displacing the local traders, while catering to a new niche. The traders will again go out onto the streets, creating the lively street market again. All the efforts would be in vain. We need to improve the building, yes. Improve the ventilation, bring in natural lighting. Reuse structures like the old cinema etc, but not to the extend of removing a heritage structure just to replace it with another mall. Honestly, Penangites are so lazy that the council parking in Hutton Lane is not even properly utilized, and people prefer to park haphazardly along Campbell Street. The situation should make the whole area pedestrian friendly, rather than to replace it with a mall
      22 February at 13:59 ·  ·  2
    • Leroy Luar I agree with making the place pedestrian friendly. No car Sundays!!!!
      22 February at 14:00 ·  ·  1
    • Ben Wismen If KL can build an air conditioned walkway all the way from KLCC to Pavilion mall, why can't we use part of that money to free our 5-foot ways, improve shade, repave walkways, or possibly, explore underground tunnels to improve pedestrian connectivity in Penang?? Think of it, if we could network Komtar to Chowrasta market, isn't that a better option? Rather than to remove the market, and make it into a parking/mall
      22 February at 14:03 ·  ·  2
    • Leroy Luar Underground networks? That's abit rapey unless you're including retail space along these tunnels as well.
      22 February at 14:06 · 
    • Ben Wismen it's only just a thought. Kawasaki has one of the best underground network/mall, just by the central train station. It conveniently links to various attractions, malls and also the local train station. Plus, they have good retail spaces there for permanent shops and also temporary display booths. If that can be done there, why not in Penang?
      22 February at 14:13 · 
    • Jan van der Heijden Digging from Komtar to Chowrasta underneath heritage houses wil most probably result in damaging the heritage houses and definitely in overshooting the budget of 12 Mln.
      22 February at 15:33 ·  ·  2
    • Ben Wismen It's just a thought. I would appreciate it if we could just free the 5-foot ways, restore the pavements and provide ample shading for the walkways around the area
      22 February at 15:35 · 
    • Ganesh Kolandaveloo I couldn't agree more with Ben. Rather than focussing and venting our frustration on the Chowrasta market makeover, wouldn't it be far better to use our creatrive juices to drive the council to free up the 5 foot ways. Many are closed up and pedestrians have to walk on the road. This is far more meaningful to the average penangite ....and if we do make it happen, believe me many local folks will thank us PHT for changing things that directly effect their lives for the better.
      22 February at 16:16 ·  ·  2
    • Nazlina Hussin http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.penangheritagecity.com%2Fgeorge-town-market-research.html&sa=U&ei=DMVET53lFqzKmQXk1LX0Aw&ved=0CAwQFjAE&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEtx5pepr_6Zr7hP93EeZMkBx_vUw
      22 February at 17:36 · 
    • Nazlina Hussin This research was done last year. The question is, how do the authorities interpret the wants of the locals and incorporate them in their plans.
      22 February at 17:37 ·  ·  1
    • Leroy Luar Fun!
      22 February at 17:38 · 
    • Ben Wismen good research, looks fun, but what are the results?
      22 February at 18:14 · 
    • Nazlina Hussin I believe the results were submitted to ThinkCity and MPPP. So from the plan that was drawn up, not sure if that is what the public wanted.
      22 February at 18:29 · 
    • Nazlina Hussin Results should be available from Arts-Ed people.
      22 February at 18:29 · 
    • Mark Walker It seems crazy to me that they are proposing putting in a multistory car park ..surely they should be planning more efficient public transport ..smaller buses taking 15-20 pax , every 5-10mins around the core heritage area ..special residents permits ..goods delivery only within specified times of the day and clear the 5ft Ways . Please dont take the heart out of Chowrasta and the surrounding area . By all means modernize it and make it more hygenic .
      22 February at 22:05 ·  ·  3
    • Leroy Luar I like the idea of more efficient public transport. I'm a bus rider myself and choose not to own a car. But let's be honest: how many of you guys would park and ride? The only reason why no improvement has been made in this area is because there are not enough of us to complain. At any given moment, buses are populated only by students, the odd white collar worker like myself, domestic help and foreign labourers. We like our cars and the status it confers waaaaaaaay to much and we make up too many excuses to justify refusal for using public transport. Yes. Super passionate about the cause for public commute. And super pissed at all the NATO as well.
      23 February at 13:56 ·  ·  1
    • Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy KOMTAR is already an iconic building in Georgetown. Great cities like Georgetown is able to sustain two "iconic" buildings? If not, is it the intention that this Chowrasta iconic landmark to replace KOMTAR? When will demolition commence?
      23 February at 15:38 ·  ·  1
    • Khoo Salma ‎Kevin Mark Low who had something to do with the Badan Warisan study of Chowrasta Market may have something to say. He is actually a member of this discussion group. Kevin? I was not involved in the study, so only heard about it indirectly.
      23 February at 20:10 · 
    • Kevin Mark Low thanks for alerting me to this salma, im afraid ive been a touch distracted of late and not been paying proper attention to important issues - and hello there everyone. i was invited to be part of a badan warisan brainstorm session about a year ago, and the primary participants in attendance were lawrence, helena hashim and myself. issues that were discussed were based on studies and surveys done between two weeks and a month with local traders and occupants of the market, as well as shoppers and general users. the survey pointed to a clear desire for the market not to be demolished, and to serve the purposes of adaptive reuse. the specifics of the discussion will take a whole lot more than a post on this thread to sort through, so let me just give you guys the summary of what my specific thoughts and recommendations were. - 1. that multi-storey wet markets are not and have never been a part of malaysian culture, which is the reason why chowrasta failed, to begin with. recommendations were made to have all the wet market functions of chowrasta located on the ground level and in ways to better engage the activity of the street during wet market hours; the street culture of malaysia being so integral to the idea of its wet markets. - 2. that the second hand bookshops on the upper floor were still very used and relevant (based on the surveys conducted), and pointed to the possibilities of educational- or academically-related facilities on the mid-levels of the market. - 3. the proposed activities for the upper levels of the market were gauged to be absolutely vital in the success or failure of the revamp: that in order to fully energise the mid levels of the existing chowrasta, an anchor was required at the uppermost level, with its mostly extant and lovely concrete vaults. my suggestion was to approach Thinkcity and have them set up their corporate offices at the uppermost level, with freshly glazed-in vaults directing awesome views one side to the hills and the other to the water: the idea was to get Thinkcity to put their money where their mouths were and to get them actually engaged with the activity of Georgetown itself by inhabiting it. the whole idea of having a whitecollar corporate entity occupying the top level of a heritage building while sharing the ground floor of one of the most active wet markets in the country, felt to be an opportunity that just couldnt be missed. just as viable an alternative for the uppermost level were office space for creatives - artists, graphics people and architects, to name a few. the big idea was about putting the right sort of mix back into chowrasta market, for each activity to feed off the other. - 4. i felt that extremely little needed to be actually done to the upper exteriors of the building, the project was one of completely reinventing the way the interiors functioned. the external faces of the ground level perhaps required a fresh look, since the interiors of the ground floor, being as closed off as they were from inside to outside, resulted in dead activity zones. whether the intervention were to be in the way of mobile awnings and stalls, or the demolition of selected walls for greater spatial flow was not discussed at that early a stage. - 5. the entire point of the exercise was not to provide guidelines as to the form the intervention should take on, rather than to determine the problems the existing market faced and to formulate proper solutions that anyone taking on the project could follow. it was about reconfiguring content, not designing form. - 6. lastly, the survey did not indicate that regular users of chowrasta were in any way inconvenienced by traffic, vehicular or otherwise. i felt that the proponents for removing the street business and activity around the market did not constitute regular users, and as such, did not quite understand the mind of the chowrasta 'local'. - in summary, it appears from a quick look that lawrence has indeed gone a little too immediately into form rather than the design of appropriate content that will ultimately deliver excellent form. green walls and vertical gardens are so imitated and passe, its amazing intelligent people in the tropics eve adopted the idea, seeing that our vertical gardens already come in the form of trees. that said and done, i would be considerably more interested to see what lawrence has programmed for the interiors of the building and its street edges and activity immediately around it. architects tend to be quick with designing form, and as such, forget the processes that configure that form. perhaps its still too early to slam judgement, but id say lets get rid of the bloody creepers first. ill drop lawrence a line to let him know what everyone thinks, have i read you guys right?
      23 February at 22:02 ·  ·  8
    • Yee Li Ong excellent said and thank you
      23 February at 22:14 · 
    • Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy Thanks Kelvin for the lengthy explanation. It would appear that the preoccupation with 'iconic' building is a permanent flaw in the mindset of local architects. If both BWM and Think City are truly interested in global solutions for what they stand and represent then such studies could perhaps be conducted with a more liberal engagement policy rather than one currently being practised. Your disappointment in what has been proposed is understandable. However if the building of this iconic structure means that KOMTAR will be replaced perhaps the trade off is not so bad after all. We can live with that. When will you be coming to Pen next Kelvin? Call me 012 2651528
      24 February at 06:07 · 
    • Kevin Mark Low Hi jimmy, ill definitely call you when I'm next in town, its been literally years ; ) not sure when that will be as I'm still moving around quite a bit. On a side note with regards to komtar - the trade off you speak of is with reference to komtar being replaced. Does the state governemnt have plans to demolish komtar? You know, to have it replaced? ; ) if not, perhaps we don't need to add to the existing crop of icons that the country is already so filled with.
      24 February at 07:48 via Mobile · 
    • Mark Walker Thank you Kevin for that explanation .it puts a lot of detail into the discussion .
      24 February at 17:07 · 
    • Lim Cheok Siang Jimmy where can we see the design for the proposal? Kelvin do you by any chance have them?
      26 February at 01:03 · 
    • Kevin Mark Low not to worry mark, tons more specifics that could be considered really - could be a minefield, or a lovely waltz ; ) jimmy, i think the only person to talk with about the design is lawrence...i have only seen what has been posted, which isnt much.
      26 February at 10:51 · 
    • Faiz Akhbar Interesting project!
      14 March at 00:36 · 
    • Gwynn Jenkins interesting comments!
      14 March at 16:07 · 
    • Citizen Chant what about a public consult, we r a democracy, let the architect tell us about his design plan and concept.
      20 March at 09:04 ·  ·  2
    • Citizen Chant the rear part of the market is used as a street market. The street market gives the place character. If this was taken away, it would be rather dissapointing.
      28 March at 05:17 ·  ·  4
    • Citizen Chant MPPP when is the public consult ??
      31 March at 17:08 · 
    • Citizen Chant CHANT meeting WED 530pm at 38 Perak Road, Penang. we will be discussing this issue
      3 April at 06:26 · 
    • Citizen Chant No more street market ?? Our heritage is lost
      10 April at 08:48 · 
    • Citizen Chant any updates ?? Ho Sheau Fung
      18 April at 10:19 · 
    • Elizabeth Cyl So heart breaking if it becomes a mall. Will these people never learn or realise?
      18 April at 11:06 ·  ·  1
    • Citizen Chant any1 got more news on this ?? A topic to discuss with YDP?? Ho Sheau Fung, Khoo Salma
      Tuesday at 11:58 · 
    • Timothy Tye Different people from different generation going back to the 19th century will know the Chowrasta Market differently. The site has been rebuilt many times. Nothing of the original Chowrasta Market remains today - except the name. If we want authenticity, is everybody ready for the time when it was an open-air market? What we are witnessing is urban evolution.
      Wednesday at 22:46 · 
    • Jan van der Heijden Urban evolution YES, bu, but, but with consideration for heritage and environment please.
      Yesterday at 08:48 · 
    • Rebecca Wilkinson ‎Timothy Tye urban evolution has definitely got to happen but not at the risk of bad development. There is a risk that by accepting 'urban evolution', you then accept that heritage/culture is dispensable & can be just wiped out to move forward. I'm not saying this project is bad development but it has to look at all aspects. Potentially turning it into a mall- if this is truly the case- will change the whole atmosphere of the area. What is needed now is to make sure we try to keep the traders that have established themselves in the area & who have added to the 'vibe' of the place. It is a centre for shopping for all locals, tourists & foreign workers. It provides retail/wholesale goods to many levels of society. This building somehow is the central axis for Mydin, the open air street market(which is I think, fabulous) going down Jln Chowrasta & Lebuh Tamil on to Jln Kuala Kangsar & also connects Penang Road, to Campbell St & Kimberly St. A big change now to Chowrasta will impact on all in this area. It's really dynamic in this area & it would be great if State/Council etc present the plan properly in it's complete form- not just dump bits of it into the news where there will be just a knee jerk reaction.
      19 hours ago ·  ·  2
    • Pc Chin Oh no my fav place to buy or loan my story books during the good old days, not another mall please!
      19 hours ago ·  ·  1
    • Rebecca Wilkinson ‎Pc Chin Thats why it would be good if State could present the whole plan, not just put an article out saying the building is being renovated by such & such architects & the ideas are such & such. Right now no one actually knows what they really plan to do with it!
      18 hours ago ·  ·  1
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