URBAN DECAY IS an unfortunate phenomenon. Without proper policing it can happen to the best of areas, and once gleaming edifices crumble into dereliction.
Baguio Villa may never have been the best of areas, and it is certainly not derelict, but any lustre it once had seems to have faded. Completed in the mid-1970s, the high-rise development combined modern apartments with tranquil surroundings and soon proved to be a popular destination for expatriates and locals.
Much of its charm derived from its surroundings. Overlooking the peaceful waters of Telegraph Bay and flanked by lush vegetation, it was presumably meant to emulate its Philippines namesake. Situated above and below Victoria Road, it was split into two parts, Upper and Lower. With Pokfulam country park within easy reach and Mount Davis towering over it, Baguio Villa was something of a rural delight.
The 1980s saw Baguio's profile rise further as the development became the preferred area for diplomats and government executives. Along with the increasing influx of foreigners, however, came an unsavoury reputation for being a 'hot spot' for wayward expatriate teenagers and rumours of drug abuse were rife.
Tragedy struck Baguio Villa in 1992 when two people died after heavy rain caused a retaining wall and part of a fill platform to fall. Sustained landslides forced the evacuation of a number of residents and questions were raised about the safety of the slopes.
Indeed, Baguio has had its share of accidents - nine workers were trapped by collapsed scaffolding in 1999 and had to be rescued by firefighters. Building work has been a feature of Baguio Villa for much of the past decade, with internal road closures and scaffolding often inconveniencing residents.