Urban Decay

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Urban Decay Urban Redevelopment
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At present, there are about 9 300 private
buildings in the Metro Area (i.e. Hong Kong
Island, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing) which
are 30 years' old and above. In ten years' time,
the number of buildings over 30 years' old will
increase by 50.
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What are the problems of urban decay?

• 1) Old Housing Poor living condition
  Buildings are overcrowded and provision of
  facilities are sub-standard.
• 2) Poor environmental conditions
• e.g. narrow streets, poor drainage, congestion
  and pollution.

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• 3) Poor pedestrian linkage system
• Such as insufficient pavements, intrusive
  vehicular traffic poor pedestrian network
  liking housing areas with commercial and
  community facilities.
• 4) Concentration of poor people and new
  immigrants
• The poor conditions cause richer people to
  move out of the area, leaving low-income people
  and immigrants behind.
• Lack of open space

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Urban Renewal Target Areas

• Ma Tau Kok
• Tai Kok Tsui
• Sham Shui Po
• Yau Ma Tei
• Kwun Tong
• Sai Ying Pun
• Wan Chai
• Tsuen Wan
• Yau Long

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In what ways can urban redevelopment solve the
problem?

• The policy of URA is based on the people-oriented
  approach
• Four Directions of Urban Renewal in Hong Kong

? Redevelopment ? Conservation ? Revitalisation ?
Rehabilitation
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Redevelopment

• The sites with old, dilapidated buildings with
  poor living conditions will be replanned and
  rebuilt to achieve clear environmental and social
  benefits such as open space and community
  facilities.
• Restructuring the local road and transport
  network and open spaces, to achieve a better
  utilization of land and improve the overall
  district environment.

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URA's early launch project the Fuk Wing
Street/Fuk Wah Street project in Sham Shui Po
after redevelopment
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Conservation

• to retain and enhance Hong Kong's unique culture
  and heritage. This will include the preservation
  of buildings with historical, architectural and
  cultural value and the retention of the local
  colour and character of different districts.

The preserved Western Market with its unique
Edwardian architecture
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Revitalisation

• strengthen the design and quality of local
  features in run-down districts such as by turning
  streets into pedestrian districts with different
  themes.

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(No Transcript)
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Rehabilitation

• seeks to prevent the decay of the built
  environment of Hong Kong by promoting and
  assisting the maintenance and improvement of
  individual buildings by owners.

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Example of a Pre-war Building before
Rehabilitation
Example of a Pre-war Building after
Rehabilitation
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The problems related to urban redevelopment

• Difficulty in property resumption
• - difficult to buy all the buildings needed for
  redevelopment because of the complex land and
  property ownership in these areas
• Residents objection
• - Fear loss of their present business or jobs as
  they are often poverty-stricken
• - The rent and living expenditure will be higher
  if they move out the region
• - The aged residents want to preserve the social
  bonds and the neighbourhood
• High cost of redevelopment
• - Involves a lot of time and money in
  compensation, which delay the renewal projects

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References

• http//www.ura.org.hk/
• http//www.info.gov.hk/planning/index_c.htm