Thursday, 10 November 2011

Effort to save our HERITAGE 101111

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  • Formed in 1986, the Penang Heritage Trust is a registered charity and NGO dedicated to promoting Penang’s cultural and built heritage.

    PHT played a major part in the successful campaign to award George Town the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. With your support, PHT will continue its mission in protecting this status for George Town...See more
 
  • UPDATED POSTS
  • Mark Lay
    An example of Anglo-Zinc architecture??
    Located behind the dilapidated Shih Chung Branch School.
     ・  ・  ・ 02 November at 21:52
    • Mark Walker likes this.
      • Gwynn Jenkins 
        where did she go, my fair prety maid? Should we write and obituary for the newspapers - "lost one dearly beloved old lady, who graced our UNESCO World Heritage Site with her humble elegance and was once truly a major contributor to its auth...See more
        Tuesday at 23:46 ・  ・  3
      • Bok Choon Lim 
        On one hand they're like wanted to tap all the oppurtunity that's brought in with the title of Unesco World Heritage Site, but on the other hand, they have just destroyed those invaluable heritage buildings... I really don't understand what...See more
        Yesterday at 02:33 ・ 
      • Gwynn Jenkins 
        lets be fair to our local authority - it must have been a big shock to get UNESCO status, very very little in terms of management was in place when the big day came and old habits die hard. Where is the fund to send them all off for heritage courses - am sure they would love a week in Rome? where is the library of books for them to delve into, the archives to search and discover, the local experts who really do know the difference between a cobble and a corbel and may have even lime plastered their own walls at home? Slowly Slowly we are getting there, but its cepat cepat cepat for all those who don't want to be bothered with permits, good materials etc, but as you say Bok Choon, they want to reap the benefits of a UNESCO site, they may even be members of heritage NGO's and think that's enough a credential. It hasn't sunk in that being a UNESCO site means you really have to work hard and learn learn learn about what this site is really about, its genious loci
        9 hours ago ・  ・  1
      • Bok Choon Lim I know... a week or two in Rome would be fab wouldn't it?! Though I prefer Prague myself :P Nevertheless, if we have got it all on our own door step, why do we need to go further afield (other than to learn from them)...
        3 hours ago ・ 
  • Bok Choon Lim
    Charging premium for entrance without concession for local Penang residents. Some prominent heritage establishments in Penang seems to be building a ring fence around them from the locals. What could be done differently by these big major players in Penang's heritage scene including Khoo Kongsi, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and Peranakan Pinang Museum in order to engage Penangites in heritage conservation project thus create a better awareness regarding risk to heritage sites in Penang??
    我�老槟城之乔治市古老建筑魅力��于2003年7月
     ・  ・  ・ Yesterday at 06:06
    • Beh Kim Chin likes this.
      • Gwynn Jenkins 
        Not so long ago there was only the museum as a ready made 'venue' for visitors in GT, and even that was free. I could wander around with my visitors - into the Khoo Kongsi compound and temple and others too. But the houses were all occupied...See more
        10 hours ago ・  ・  2
      • Gwynn Jenkins The World's heritage belongs to none of us, we are only custodians.
        10 hours ago ・  ・  3
      • Bok Choon Lim 
        At the moment, the idea of heritage conservation and the appreciation of the beauty of heritage buildings especially in Penang still very much belongs to the elite group. Penangites generally don't see the benefit for them to take up the responsibility of protecting their heritage unless we let them see it. I appreciate that certain companies have invested and hence own the rights to make profit in return. But if we could introduce the general public to our effort/ achievement through the sharing of our glorious past with our fellow Penangites, they might back us up when it comes to heritage conservation. It would make our life easier if we lower the 'ring fence'. Give local residents some incentive in order to encourage them to visit us more regularly... bring their family there. Make Them Feel That They're Part Of It. I think, if the locals have to pay just a small percentage less than what foreign tourists have to pay, that would be good enough to gain support from them. By the way you'll be very pleased to know that Penang Teochew Association - also an award winning conservation project doesn't charge at all and has clearly set itself as a role model for many others in the field.
        4 hours ago ・  ・  1
  • Terrence Lim
    Penang Heritage Defenders
     ・  ・  ・ 8 hours ago
  • Julian Candiah
    I read in the STAR that Selangor Dredging is building serviced apartments / condos in Batu Ferringhi. The last time I was there, there seemed to be huge traffic problem. Has this been resolved ? I wonder how SDB got council approval to build when traffic is still a problem in that area ? I wonder who says enough is enough ? The law of commons applies here.
     ・  ・  ・ 06 November at 10:54
      • Mark Lay For anyone who favours the PORR, just head over to Butterworth to see how the BORR has ripped through the pre-war bungalows along Jalan Pantai. The same thing could happen in Pulau Tikus.
        06 November at 21:29 ・ 
      • Bok Choon Lim There're just so much land to build road on. But there'd be so many people/users to invest on a good efficient public transport... Is it or is it not the time yet to call for a more strategic solution for transportation in Penang?
        Yesterday at 06:33 ・ 
      • Gwynn Jenkins If we didn't have cars.... the damage done during the Tsumani, the Italian and Bangkok floods ect etc etc would be so much less. I really don't understand why the very small % of the human race hero worships something so utterly destructive.
        9 hours ago ・ 
  • Rebecca Wilkinson
    This is interesting: " the presence of the component(nitrate) is due to the natural environment in bird houses". Read the link below. With 173 birdhouses just in the 1 square mile, Unesco zone of George Town, & the vast majority of Malaysian swiftlet nests being produced in bird houses, the question arises if China will continue to consume nitrate filled Malaysian bird's nest. The horrendous food scares in China have made them ultra cautious. Local consumers beware!!
     ・  ・  ・  ・ Tuesday at 11:00
    • You and 2 others like this.
      • Rebecca Wilkinson I saw this! Change? If the National Heritage Department don't do anything especially in GT, we may well be booted off. They have to stay putting pressure on the Council & State to maintain & protect the GT WHS before it's too late.....
        18 hours ago ・  ・  1
      • Gwynn Jenkins Looking through all the images I have of the buildings we have been monitoring - I might just put it together - think you would all die of shock. when we live in the middle of it we see some change, but when we look back - its scary - not sure if we will manage to stay away from the endangered list.
        10 hours ago ・ 
      • Yan Lee wonder why they were fighting to get on the Heritage committee ?? our guys.
        10 hours ago via Mobile ・ 
      • Gwynn Jenkins 
        JWN have really been working hard to get it through our thick sculls, just how brilliant Malaysia's multi cultural heritage is! (sorry very Welsh bluntness, but that's how it is). To be on the WH Committee says that their efforts are recognised not only for what they have achieved but how they can help and inspire others. It is a tremendous achievement and hopefully will give them more muscle to expand their 'education' and guidance for the rest of us, in particular those who think DIsneyfication is the way to go! To answer you Yan Lee its not so much of a fight to get on the committee, its a chance to show their worth and be recognised - it took some good sale(wo)manship.
        9 hours ago ・ 
  • OLDER POSTS
  • Yan Lee
    NO MORE ILLEGAL DEMOLITION !! IN PENANG. ALL BUILDINGS OF HERITAGE VALUE TO BE CONSERVED.
    Malaysia wins seat on World Heritage Committee
    www.nst.com.my
    Malaysia secured a seat on the World Heritage Committee, which means it will have a say in the selection and protection of ...
     ・  ・  ・  ・ 21 hours ago
    • Rebecca Wilkinson likes this.
      • Rebecca Wilkinson They must immediately act to save what's in our own backyard. Malaysia's management of heritage sites has to truly meet international standards. Would Florence allow 173 of its buildings to become breeding birdhouses? Would Milan? London? Venice? Paris? Would they risk their heritage buildings, the health of their people & visitors? Why do we do it here in GT especially when the guidelines (1GP) are clear?
        18 hours ago ・  ・  3
      • Yan Lee Will you be allowed to have a chickens running around in your backyard ??
        15 hours ago ・ 
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Wednesday, 9 November 2011

why not build terrace houses , semi ds or bungalows ??

Yan Lee
Uneasy about high-rise project
thestar.com.my
A GROUP of residents from the Pykett Avenue, Khaw Sim Bee Road and Westlands Road area in Penang are raising queries and concerns about a high-rise property development in the vicinity.
 ·  ·  ·  · 24 October at 23:10
  • You, Rebecca Wilkinson, Allen Tan and Siew Lim like this.
    • Yan Lee Now before the project stated already flooding problem, after your guests is as good as mine.

      Why the rebuild order nothing happened for so long MPPP must take action la, daily fine for non performance, make them pay for it la.

      What about the appeal on the MYR 6000.00 fine ?? AG boo boo is it ??

      How and by what way did the 15 units per acre become 87 units per acre ?? State legislature changed it or the YDP or CM ?? YB CHow qouted, "The council has already implemented the new ruling, where certain areas could have higher density per acre, for more than a year now," WHat certain areas, whats the guide line ?? Not for establish housing areas correct ??

      PGGOV you need to review this.
      24 October at 23:11 ·  ·  2
    • Siew Lim thank you Yan for taking care of our neighbour hood. Your effort is greatly appreciated
      28 October at 10:54 via Mobile ·  ·  1
    • Peters Lee Sounds like you are banging your heads against a brickwall and a pile of money Good luck.
      31 October at 08:19 · 
    • Bok Choon Lim A grand strait eclectic bunglow mansion is definitely got more meaning, own more depth and worth even more in terms of historical and asthetical value compare to a block mulitstorey white box. I used to admire HK's skyline, but now I hate to see them being imitated in Penang.
      05 November at 09:47 ·  ·  2
    • Diana Boon When it comes to profit, what is heritage and conservation? It is how much I can make on that piece of land..Hate to see character houses disappear..
      6 hours ago · 
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Density in Penang gone mad

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> http://anilnetto.com/society/public-transport/do-you-know-what-87-units-per-acre-looks-like/
>
> http://anilnetto.com/economy/development-issues/that-87-units-per-acre-density/
>

Posted by at No comments:

87 units per acre, do u know what it looks like ??

Do you know what 87 units per acre looks like?

 Public transport, Sustainable development Add comments
Oct212011
 
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Is this what we want for Penang? This is the sort of density that could be approved for a string of new projects in the pipeline. 

density

This is what a typical city block would look like based on 87 units per acre - Graphic: Penang Forum

This is what 87 units per acre looks like (click on graphic to enlarge). The Penang Forum Steering Committee showed these images to the Chief Minister during their meeting with him last Sunday in a bid to illustrate what is in store for Penang.

Can you imagine how our roads will cope – especially when the independence of traffic impact assessment reports is suspect? At the moment, a separate TIA is required for each new property development project. (These are usually prepared by consultants hired by the developer. Independent?) But what is really needed is an independentcollective TIA for all new property development projects coming up in a particular area to measure the overall impact on traffic in that area.

And yet, new projects across the Island are seeking approval for 87 units per acre – this is close to three times more than what was previously allowed.

Places like Jelutong and Kelawai Road could eventually look like this:

Graphic: Penang Forum

I doubt if this sort of high-density development was ever envisaged in the Penang Island Local Plan, which the MPPP approved in 2008. If at all there is provision for higher density, it would be in areas which are deemed to be transit nodes. But where are the transit nodes? How can we even think of such high density without the public transport infrastructure in place?

That is why the Penang Forum called on the Chief Minister to implement the much-delayed Penang Island Local Plan.

The Chief Minister responded by saying that the Special Area Plan for the George Town heritage area has to be completed first so that it doesn't conflict with the Local Plan.

There was some discussion about whether the implementation process for both plans could be done simultaneously.

In any case, as the SAP process is close to completion, the Penang Forum Steering Committee called for the Local Plan to be expedited as the situation is urgent.

If the argument is that higher density projects are needed for affordable housing, we have already seen quite a few high-density projects. Do you really think that high-density projects will translate to more affordable housing – or will it simply result in increased profits for developers?

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