THE Penang government will start its Urban Regeneration Programme at the ‘5 Point Blocks’ flats in Lorong Mahsuri 10 in Bayan Baru by building its project on an empty plot of land near the flats before demolishing the old buildings.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said the plan was to start construction soon and use it as a benchmark for four other regeneration projects to come.
It is learnt that the tender process would be called early next year.
The other housing schemes identified are the Rifle Range (Padang Tembak) Flats, Taman Free School Flats, Mak Mandin Flats and Taman Siakap Flats.
The Mahsuri flats, which was built by Penang Development Corporation about 30 years ago, have 300 units with sizes ranging from 300 to 400sq ft.
Jagdeep had previously said the phase one of the new project involves building a total of 345 units of low medium-cost units (700sq ft) and 805 Type ‘C’ affordable housing units (800sq ft).
He, however, said the state government needs to make further studies for Rifle Range Flats when he was asked by assemblyman Jason Ong (PH-Kebun Bunga) in the question and answer session at the State Legislative Assembly meeting at the State Assembly Building today.
Ong had wanted to know of the state’s plans for Rifle Range Flats’ maintenance and also whether it would be rebuilt or moved to another location.
To this, Jagdeep said: “We don’t have the luxury to start a clean project like for the Mahsuri flats at Rifle Range, which has about 3,300 units.
“But we can look into other options, the PBA quarters and a factory site nearby.”
Jagdeep said the state government has spent RM281 million from 2008 to August 2021 on maintenance work at all eligible public and private housing schemes.
Of the amount, he said a total of almost RM52 million was spent on Rifle Range Flats, the bulk of which was for the structural modifications at two of the nine blocks.
To a question by Chris Lee Chun Kit (PH-Pulau Tikus) on the latest development for Gurney Wharf project, Jagdeep said it was expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year and would take three years to complete.
“The state government intends to make the Gurney Wharf project as an international standard recreation area and also to benefit Penangites,” Jagdeep said.
He said seven consultants have been appointed for the project, which is expected to cost an estimated RM200 million that would be fully funded by the state government.
The implementation of the project is divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Phase 1, Jagdeep said, would have a children’s play area, skate park, viewing deck, public toilets, promenade for pedestrians, hawker stalls, retail areas and recreation park.
This phase is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022 and would be open to the public.
Phase 2, which consists of landscapping area and recreation park, additional hawker stalls, toilets and parking areas, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and Darwina Mohd Daud