KL strata residents fear redevelopment under URA
Pangsapuri Cantik owners relayed concerns during authorities' visit
SEVERAL residents in three city strata properties have voiced worries over possible redevelopment under the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) and Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP 2040).
Pangsapuri Cantik and Pangsapuri Bukit Ria in Taman Bukit Ria as well as Flat Taman Kobena in Taman Kobena, all in Cheras, are among 139 sites identified as having potential for redevelopment under KLLP 2040.
Pangsapuri Cantik resident Lee Cheok Seng said a recent site visit by Town and Country Planning Department (PlanMalaysia) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on July 24 was URA-related.
'The visit gave us the opportunity to tell the authorities why we don't want our apartments redeveloped,' he said.
Lee told StarMetro that a company had approached residents in May last year with a redevelopment proposal that would significantly increase density.
'It proposed redeveloping Pangsapuri Cantik, which currently has four storeys and 87 units, into a 46-storey Cantik Residence with 465 units.
'However, all Pangsapuri Cantik needs is refurbishment.
'We hope the government can provide an interest-free loan for this to be carried out,' said Lee.
Another Pangsapuri Cantik resident, Sukhdev Singh Cheema, raised concerns about worsening traffic in the area if the high-density redevelopment project proceeded.
'The traffic situation has worsened through the years following several nearby projects,' he said.
'Motorists from various residential areas pass through here to access Jalan Loke Yew, especially during peak hours.
Lee (left) and Sukhdev are against redeveloping Pangsapuri Cantik. They say the four-storey apartment building only needs refurbishment.
'Imagine if several nearby strata properties were redeveloped into high-density apartments with about 500 units each. Traffic would be a nightmare.'
Echoing Sukhdev's sentiments was Flat Taman Kobena Management Corporation (MC) chairman Sathivel Kathiraveloo, who said traffic congestion was a daily affair in the area.
'DBKL should address this issue, not approve more high-density developments that could worsen the traffic situation,' he said.
Pangsapuri Bukit Ria resident Jeremy Kong called for the government to resolve strata title woes at his apartment building before considering any redevelopment proposals.
'The owners here have not received their strata titles since moving into the apartment in the 1980s,' he said.
'Without strata titles, we don't have legal ownership rights and can't vote for any proposals, including redevelopment.'
At a forum organised by Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association (KLRA+SD) last month, stakeholders raised their concerns over the consent threshold under URA.
Under the draft Bill, a consent threshold of 80% has been set for properties under 30 years and 75% for those over 30 years.
Sukhdev said maintaining the current 100% consent threshold was important to avoid gentrification in redeveloped properties.
'Without it, a minority of owners who oppose redevelopment will be forcefully displaced.
'They wouldn't be able to afford higher maintenance costs that would come with the new project,' he said.
National House Buyers Association secretary-general Datuk Chang Kim Loong had also said the 100% consent threshold must be kept.
However, Taman Desa resident James Tan Kok Kiat said it would be very challenging to achieve 100% consent in renewal projects, and keeping that threshold was not practical.
KLRA+SD chairman Tan Booi Charn urged the government to prioritise owner-initiated renewal projects.
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