URA starts the sixth redevelopment project in Tai Kok Tsui
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) announced the implementation of a $371 million redevelopment project at Anchor Street / Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, bringing the number of URA redevelopment projects in the district to six.
Announcing details of the new project at a press briefing, District Development Director, Mr Joseph Lee, said: "Tai Kok Tsui is one of our nine target districts for urban regeneration. It is not only home to six URA redevelopment projects since early 2002, but also a target service area for 32 rehabilitation projects so far. Together they bring general improvements to the living conditions of some 5,800 households."
"Tai Kok Tsui is a district where the owners and tenants have been very forthcoming in supporting the URA's initiatives in both redevelopment and rehabilitation. Working hand in hand with them, the URA hopes that the consistent and accumulated efforts to regenerate the old district will gradually make Tai Kok Tsui a more pleasant and vibrant place to live in," Mr Lee added.
Presently located at the 726-square metre (about 7,800 square feet) site are six buildings built in 1958-1960 where some 63 families comprising about 180 residents make their homes. The general condition of the buildings is poor and unsatisfactory which makes rehabilitation exceedingly difficult and uneconomical.
Mr Lee said: "Upon statutory approval for the project, the URA would make acquisition offers for a total of 74 property interests and provide compensation or rehousing for the tenants.
The total development cost of the project is estimated at about $371 million, including $192 million for acquisition and rehousing expenditures.
In accordance with section 23 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO), a notice announcing the commencement of planning for the project is published in the Gazette today and continues for a period of two months.
The project will be implemented by way of a development scheme under section 25 of the URAO. URA will submit a draft development scheme to the Town Planning Board for consideration shortly.
A plan delineating the boundary of the project plus a general description will be put on display for public inspection at the URA headquarters (10/F, Low Block, Grand Millennium Plaza, 181 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan), the URA's Tai Kok Tsui Neighbourhood Centre (G/F, Bedford Tower, 68 Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui) and the public enquiry service centre of Yau Tsim Mong District Office (G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mong Kok).
The URA's plan is to redevelop the site into a hotel of less than 200 rooms with ancillary commercial uses after taking into consideration the market needs and environmental factors. Landscaping with tree planting around the project will be considered to improve the overall walking environment. Vertical greening is also proposed to provide further visual relief in this dense built-up urban environment.
A team of 30 URA staff members today conducted a "freezing survey" to ascertain the exact number of residents affected by the project. Briefing sessions will be arranged shortly for the affected owners and tenants concerning the statutory planning approval procedure and URA's compensation policies.
An urban renewal social service team commissioned by the URA and staffed by professional social workers of the Salvation Army (telephone no. 2391 6733) will provide counselling and practical assistance that the residents may need. Affected residents can also call the URA's Hotline at 2588 2333 for enquiries.
This new project brings to 37 the number of redevelopment projects that the URA has implemented since the commencement of its redevelopment programme in 2002, including eight undertaken in association with the Hong Kong Housing Society. The total development cost of all projects is estimated at about 68.4 billion. Besides, the URA also implements its other 3R (namely rehabilitation, pReservation and revitalization) projects in a balanced approach in undertaking its urban renewal mission.
(ENDS)