URA appears to be property developer renewal authority
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) insists that negative opinions on its projects are merely misconceptions ('Key elements in Wan Chai market will be preserved', January 20), when your correspondents' comments have in fact presented an accurate picture of the negative impact the URA is having on our urban landscape. Rather than an agent for renewal and conservation the URA is an efficient tool of property developers to push through mega developments that generate billions in profits.
With no independent supervision of the projects, the URA and developers use legal procedures to legitimise changes made to approved designs. Political parties and district representatives take no active interest in the URA debates. The media publishes URA plans, but does not follow up on the progress of the projects, even when there are significant variations to the original plan.
People concerned about URA projects should come to Tsim Sha Tsui and compare the Hanoi Road redevelopment with the original plan.
They will find that the promised 1,200 square metres of open public space, a core element of the redevelopment, is in fact a covered corridor, a significant portion of which will be used for vehicle drop-off facilities and commercial activities.
The most glaring example of the indifference of the URA towards preservation is the ridiculous plan to build a tower on top of Wan Chai market.
A unique building like this should be left undisturbed and this can be achieved through a land swap. The redevelopment will degrade one of the few remaining Art Moderne buildings in Asia.
