Community workshop on Peel Street /Graham Street (H18) Project
Views and aspirations of the community are today (Saturday)
articulated in a workshop on the future design of the Peel
Street/Graham Street project of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA)
in the Central and Western District.
Jointly organized by the Central & Western District Advisory
Committee (DAC) of the URA and the Concern Group on Urban Renewal
Projects of the Central & Western District Council, the
workshop is part of URA's ongoing efforts to collect public views
on the future design of this project.
Mr Edward Cheng, Chairman of the URA Board, described the workshop
as an effective way to enable a wide cross-section of the community
to actively participate in shaping an important part of their
future habitat.
"Through this workshop, the URA will not only have a firm grasp of
the vision and aspirations of the local community but also
establish a much closer mutual understanding between all interested
parties and the URA on the constraints and opportunities of this
project," Mr Cheng said.
"This is not simply a URA project, but one for the local community
which is full of interesting historic features. It is
therefore essential that we forge a close partnership with all of
our stakeholders. We will make every possible attempt to come
up with a development plan that will reflect their suggestions and
aspirations."
"The URA's design concept aims to redevelop the area in a holistic
and coherent manner, so that the existing traditional streetscape
and local cultural character may be preserved and the old area
revitalized with synergy and vibrancy."
Comprising three sites with an area of about 0.54 hectare, the
redevelopment area is generally characterized by buildings with
commercial and residential uses above ground level.
"As with our other major projects", Mr Cheng said, "here we adopt
our 4R strategy of redevelopment, rehabilitation, preservation and
revitalization to improve the living environment as well as provide
more greenery and quality open space.
"In addition to preserving the local physical street character and
its atmosphere that features a variety of hawking activities, we
aim to strengthen the pedestrian linkage and create focal points
from east to west, connecting with the various historic spots, such
as Pak Tsz Lane, in the vicinity of the redevelopment area."
"Our initial thinking also includes the option of conserving a few
pre-war buildings at Graham Street which will be fully
rehabilitated for public use. Street beautification works will also
be carried out to retain street vibrancy through promoting public
arts, performances and exhibitions in open-air venues," Mr Cheng
added.
Mr Barry Cheung, Chairman of the Central & Western DAC and a
URA Board member, said the workshop provided an early opportunity
for participants to discuss possible options for the initial
development design concept.
"Furthermore, participants are able to appreciate the practical
problems inherent in the design planning process, such as the
choice between building height and open space as well as the
difficult task of integrating the new with the old," he said.
During the workshop, the participants divided themselves into five
groups. Discussion of each group was facilitated by an academic
staff member of the University of Hong Kong. Each group eventually
came up with its own suggestions as to how best to go about the
project.
Over 60 participants took part in the discussion today, including
Mr Chan Tak-chor, Chairman of the Central & Western District
Council, other community leaders, residents' representatives,
members of professional institutes and officials from various
government departments.
As part of the URA's endeavour to identify views and aspirations
of the community on the project design, an exhibition featuring the
initial design concept of the project was also staged at "The
Center". Over 1,500 visitors have been recorded with more than 500
completing a questionnaire on their expectations over the project
during the two-week exhibition beginning on 12 June.
"We would consolidate views and suggestions from the workshop as
well as those we have collected earlier during our exhibition," Mr
Cheung said.
The Peel Street / Graham Street project is a redevelopment
projects announced but not yet commenced by the URA's predecessor,
Land Development Corporation, in 1998. The URA has included the
current project in its first Five-year Corporate Plan for priority
consideration and the intention being to commence it before the end
of March 2007.