Latest news with #Evelyne
The Star
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
KL folk fear green spaces going down the drain
ONCE crucial to Kuala Lumpur's sanitation system, decommissioned sewage treatment plant (STP) sites across the city are slowly being turned into prime real estate for profit. Previously operated by Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) to process sewage from surrounding areas, these sites lie vacant after being replaced by centralised systems. Now fenced off and lying idle, many are lucrative plots targeted for redevelopment. According to the newly gazetted Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040), there are 60 STP sites across the city. While city dwellers have hoped these unutilised plots would be preserved as green lungs in the urban sprawl, only 10, or 17% have been designated for public open spaces such as pocket parks and urban farms. Evelyne (left) and Joshua looking at the number of STPs rezoned for commercial projects in KLLP2040. In contrast, 32 sites (53%) are earmarked for commercial and residential development, including food courts, carparks and high-rises. During the public objection period for the draft KLLP2040 last year, concerns were raised that many STP sites in residential areas had been 'discreetly' rezoned for commercial use. In areas such as Taman Gembira (Happy Garden) and Taman Bukit Indah off Jalan Kelang Lama, residents discovered that almost 10 STPs in their neighbourhoods had been rezoned. 'We were shocked when we saw the draft plan. Some of these STP plots are pretty big and are perfect for public parks which residents desperately need, but they are also a developer's dream,' said Happy Garden and Continental Park Residents Association secretary Evelyne Low. She said several decommissioned sites were located in Happy Garden, Taman United, Taman Overseas United (OUG) and Taman Bukit Indah along roads such as Jalan Nyaman, Jalan Jiran and Jalan Lazat. Evelyne said the association submitted 20 objections to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on the proposed rezonings, but only two were partially accepted in the final plan which was gazetted on May 28 and came into effect this year on June 11. Jalan Mega Mendung is often congested due to double-parking. The revised plan to build a two-storey hawker centre at the former STP here in Taman United has raised concerns about parking and waste disposal. Breathing space please Stakeholders are hoping for some of these former IWK sites to be preserved as green pockets, offering respite in a dense and fast-developing city where open spaces are dwindling. According to the KLLP2040, about 18 plots of land off Jalan Kelang Lama, mostly former sewage treatment facilities, have been converted from 'infrastructure and utility' use to 'commercial zoning'. Four others have been reclassified for low-density residential (R1), while the remaining 12 lots around Jalan Nyaman fall under 'established housing' (EH) category. 'At Jalan Nyaman 5 and 6, Lots 18188, 18189, and 18190 are combined for a low-density housing project following a Rule 7 notice issued last year,' said Evelyne. Rule 7 of the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982 covers the public participation process requiring landowners to be given notice for objection to any new development in their neighbourhood. Evelyne added that the established housing category limits developments to two or three storeys to preserve the character of stable residential areas. 'Anything above that, such as R2, R3, or R4 zoning follows a plot ratio system – allowing for higher-density projects like commercial developments.' A plot ratio is the ratio between a building's total floor area and size of land it occupies. A 1:4 ratio, for example, could permit buildings of 20 to 30 storeys, depending on design and layout. A sign marking this overgrown plot in Happy Garden, off Jalan Kelang Lama, as federal land which has been leased to a private company. Rezoning without liveability Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development Association honorary secretary Joshua Low said the group had submitted formal feedback to DBKL last year. The association, he said, strongly objected to the rezoning of some lots into one commercial plot with a high 1:6 ratio. 'Originally, the STP plot was categorised as 'infrastructure and utility – water supply', but in the draft, it was redesignated to 'main commercial'. 'We argued that it should instead have been reclassified as public or private open space. 'Jalan Kelang Lama is under severe traffic strain; it simply cannot absorb more development,' said Joshua. He added that under KLLP2040, any new development should consider location, infrastructure capacity, site conditions, and compatibility with existing land use. 'When we brought this up with DBKL planners during the open day in May, we were told the site would be limited to low-density, three-storey bungalows. 'How can we accept vague verbal assurances?' asked Joshua. In May, DBKL held an open day to show the public the revised version of KLLP 2040. Evelyne and Joshua expressed disappointment that only two of the 20 objections they submitted, last year, were partially taken into account in the final plan. Why another food court? Alvin says the former STP plot at Jalan Mega Mendung is too small for a two-storey food court. One of the more questionable cases involves Lot 19542, a narrow plot sitting along the Jalan Mega Mendung commercial area in Taman United, Kuala Lumpur. Initially proposed for a four-storey commercial block, it has since been revised to accommodate a two-storey hawker centre. 'The site is only 0.07ha. It's too small, and yet, a two-storey food court is being squeezed into the site. It's unrealistic and shows no regard for proper planning,'' said Seputeh Residents Representative Council chairman Alvin T. Ariaratnam. 'Where are people supposed to park? Where will the waste go? 'A hawker centre needs space for ventilation, rubbish collection, and customer flow, not to mention loading and unloading. It's just not practical.'' He said the area was already congested and prone to double- parking. 'This area has numerous eateries and a DBKL-run food court is just three minutes away,' he said. Tan says remaining open plots from former STP sites are some of the last few green spaces left in KL's older neighbourhoods. Alvin added that roads like Jalan Mega Mendung, Jalan Sepakat, and Jalan Sepadu were struggling under the weight of traffic from unchecked development. Urban green lifeline Federal Territory MCA deputy chairman Tan Kok Eng said the remaining open plots from former STP sites were some of the last few green spaces left in Kuala Lumpur's older neighbourhoods. 'In a city that's growing taller and denser by the day, green lungs are not a luxury, they're a lifeline,' he said. 'Once these spaces are gone, they're gone for good. We don't need more concrete towers choking our streets. 'We need places where children can play, the elderly can stroll, and communities can reconnect. 'If DBKL is serious about making Kuala Lumpur liveable, then these sites must be preserved for the public, not handed over for profit.' Salak South Village MCA branch deputy chairman Banie Chin did not hide his frustration. 'We had no idea these old sewage plant sites were being taken over. 'There was one in Seri Petaling, and now its being used for a condominium project. 'Nobody asks the residents anything, but we're the ones stuck with the noise, traffic jams, and overcrowding. 'People like to talk about mental health and community wellbeing, but how are we supposed to have a liveable city when every bit of open space gets turned into concrete?' Chin said.
New York Post
16-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NYC boutique racks up used handbag sales -- despite tariffs
Tariffs may be rattling the retail world, but they aren't stopping New York's wealthiest women from dropping $15,000 on luxury handbags — even if they're secondhand. Madison Avenue Couture is a discreet business that operates behind thick glass doors on an upper floor of a nondescript tower on West 57th Street. The Midtown Manhattan showroom is accessible by appointment only, and only after a rigorous vetting process. 'We make sure they are legit,' chief executive Judy Taylor told The Post, when asked how visitors are verified. 'This isn't a store where you can just come in and browse.' Nevertheless, business is booming. 6 The NYC showroom is outfitted with multiple surveillance cameras and panic buttons. Tamara Beckwith While much of the fashion world struggles, MAC — which specializes in pristine, previously owned Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton bags — is on track to grow 30% this year. Last year, it sold $50 million worth of bags, a 35% jump from 2023. Most of the volume happens online. Last month, during a 90-minute visit with The Post, MAC's VP of sales, Alexis Clarbour, was interrupted twice by a cash register ringtone on her phone. The first was an alert for the sale of a $4,500 Chanel clutch. The second was for a $5,450 Hermès Picotin. On April 29 alone, as Taylor and Clarbour were busy opening a new boutique in Palm Beach, Fla., Clarbour said her phone ka-chinged five times before noon – netting the company $265,000. 'We could finally relax on the beach for an hour,' Clarbour joked. 6 Madison Avenue Couture specializes in previously owned Hermès bags. Tamara Beckwith The luxury market, which exploded during the pandemic, has cooled for giants like LVMH and Chanel. But MAC continues to thrive, with a shift toward lower-priced inventory helping drive sales. Paris-based Hermès – whose coveted Birkin and Kelly bags can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $500,000 depending on materials and rarity – recently warned of price hikes in response to tariffs, although it declined to say by how much. MAC is uniquely well-positioned to capitalize, according to Taylor. She notes that sellers appear to be motivated of late. Buyers, fearing yet higher markups to come, are scrambling to snag deals now. 'We're in a sweet spot,' she said. 'A lot of our sellers might be feeling some economic pressure, while our buyers are concerned prices will go up.' 6 Judy Taylor is the CEO of MAC, which just opened a show room on W. 57th St. Tamara Beckwith During the massive stock market sell-offs after Liberation Day on April 2, 'there was a shock factor' when bag sales paused, Taylor said. But it only lasted 'for a couple of days and then people were buying again.' Before the pandemic, MAC's average sale was $26,000; now, it's $14,000. Smaller items — like Hermès Picotin bags for $3,600, Evelyne bags for $3,750, and even wallets under $1,000 — are flying off the shelves. 'We decided to go into smaller, lower-priced bags, and that's driven more sales,' Taylor said, adding that these items are increasingly hard to find at Hermès stores. 6 Some bags that customers sell to MAC still have personal notes inside the bags from the previous owner. Tamara Beckwith As for MAC's showroom, it's located in a district where smash-and-grab robberies terrorized posh Fifth Avenue boutiques during the pandemic – so security is tight. Prospective clients must submit to background checks, LinkedIn vetting and government ID verification. Once upstairs and buzzed in through the thick glass doors, clients still face surveillance cameras and associates are armed with bank-teller-style panic buttons. The precautions aren't deterring shoppers. Since April, MAC's two new showrooms in New York and Palm Beach have been fully booked, serving 15 private appointments a week. Guests are pampered with Veuve Clicquot while they inspect bags they've pre-selected online – usually around five during a given visit. 6 Neatly stacked boxes of Hermès bags in a temperature-controlled facility. Lisa Fickenscher/NY Post Accessories are brought in for customers from a nearby facility that evokes an overgrown, lavishly stocked, walk-in closet on Park Avenue – albeit one that's impeccably organized, well-lit and housed in an office building. Shelf after shelf of rare handbags — many of them carrying five-figure price tags — lurk inside neatly arrayed boxes in various dimensions. The black boxes contain Chanel bags and the orange, of course, are Hermès. 'Pre-owned Hermès Birkin 35 Argile Swift Gold Hardware,' read the label on one large, orange box turned on its side, surrounded by dozens more. As of last week, the $16,000 item was marked 'out of stock' on MAC's website. For the truly privileged, the experience is seamless — but not everyone makes the cut. 'It's a very high-net-worth clientele,' Taylor said. 'A lot of them work for investment banks, hedge funds, law firms — and they're active in philanthropy.' 6 MAC's warehouse is filled mostly with Chanel, Hermès and Louis Vuitton bags. Lisa Fickenscher/NY Post Every handbag tells a story — sometimes literally. When MAC acquires a bag, its authenticators occasionally find personal notes tucked inside: Valentine's Day love letters, Mother's Day notes, and birthday greetings. The most touching ones are memorialized on MAC's kitchen refrigerator. 'Happy Birthday! May this bag go on many new adventures with you,' reads one note. Another says simply, 'To my dear friend and bestie.' They're reminders that while luxury bags may change hands, the sentiment — and the value — endures. And despite tariffs, crime fears, and a rollercoaster economy, the ka-ching of Clarbour's phone is proof: New York's appetite for luxury is as insatiable as ever.
Telegraph
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
How to choose the right pair of glasses for your face
When Andrew Garfield wore his glasses to the Golden Globes awards ceremony in January, the power of great eyewear was confirmed. Distinctive glasses that truly suit your face can have a transformational effect on your appearance. And yet opticals are an often overlooked element when it comes to personal style. Far too many of us play it safe with a purely practical choice, when something more considered has the potential to refresh, modernise and enhance your look. Take Cate Blanchett, who teamed sugar-pink aviators with a sequin slogan tee – and the internet is going wild for the small metal frames worn by Jonathan Bailey in the upcoming release of Jurassic World Rebirth. Bold styles are a particular favourite with the fashion pack. Stylist Sarah Corbett-Winder is known for her stand-out specs on Instagram and refers to her glasses as 'armour'. She admits: 'I could easily use contact lenses but I love my glasses. It's like my approach to party dressing, I want to make a statement.' If you've wondered whether bold frames would suit you too, apparently they're relatively easy to wear. Managing director at Cubitts, Katie Dolby, says: 'Larger frames compliment various face shapes and the rules of proportion mean that bigger frames make your features appear more delicate in comparison.' Beyond bold, to define what face shapes suit which glasses, we enlisted The Telegraph team as guinea pigs while dispensing optician Evelyne Jeyarajah from Auerbach & Steele was on hand to offer her expert advice. Lisa Markwell Face shape: Round [Left] Amaya glasses, £460, Barton Perreira at Auerbach & Steele; [Right] Fairfax glasses, £385, l.a. Eyeworks at Auerbach & Steele Evelyne says: 'The larger frames leave more lens space around Lisa's eyes, which has the effect of pushing them together. In comparison, the smaller pair frame her eye sockets perfectly, as there isn't so much room around them. This shade also makes the colour of Lisa's eyes pop.' Lisa says: 'I was drawn to the larger, translucent frames because of their colour and would never normally pick up the others as they're so small. But it makes sense to consider what people looking in can see. It's nice to feel like your eyes are being seen!' Sophie Tobin Face shape: Oval [Left] Trendsetter glasses, £99, Bloobloom; [Right] Twiggy glasses, £135, Ace & Tate Evelyne says: 'You want people to look at you without having a frame in the way. The left shape works really well with the features of Sophie's face but there's a gap between the top of the rim and the brows. On the right, the gap is filled. These frames sit higher, so her eyes drop down slightly lower in the lens and therefore look more central.' Sophie says: 'These both echo my usual glasses shape and show that if you get the frame shape right, choosing a lighter and heavier version allows you to switch between them.' Kamal Ahmed Face shape: Oval [Left] Crawford glasses, £145, Finlay & Co.; [Middle]: Hemingford glasses, £150, Cubitts; [Right] Kaiser glasses, £355, Evelyne says: 'For Kamal, the thicker, bolder shapes have a great juxtaposition between the harshness of the outside lines and the softness of the roundness inside. If there's any opportunity for him to show his personality and wear something more interesting, this shape accentuates this.' Kamal says: 'As a journalist you don't want everyone to look at you – that's not your role. I think many men only have one pair of glasses but I like the idea of having glasses that you can mix and match, like you would with clothes and shoes. These frames are definitely more fun.' Jade Conroy Face shape: Heart [Left] Darren glasses, £135, Jimmy Fairly; [Right] Eleanor glasses, £125, Ace & Tate Evelyne says: 'The black frames are a cool statement piece. Although if they're too much to wear every day, the transparent frames have a cat-eye shape, which match the arch of Jade's brows and almost disappear on her face.' Jade says: 'I've wanted clear glasses for summer, because I wear my hair up and my earrings are on show. Black or tortoiseshell feels too heavy as my face is quite small but the clear frames are more subtle. I love them! Francis Dearnley Face shape: Rectangle [Left] Blakey glasses, £385, l.a. Eyeworks at Auerbach & Steele; [Right] Côté glasses, £325, Mondelliani at Auerbach & Steele Evelyne says: 'The square frames are serious and enclose Francis's eye socket, which feels too limiting. Whereas the second frames still have the strong lines of the square shape – the angular lines suit his face – but the softened edges are interesting and lend character.' Francis says: 'Typically, I would focus on my face shape, hair colour and skin tone when choosing specs. Today, I've focused on eye colour and seen the impact that it has. The unusual tortoiseshell frame throws in some blue, which emphasises my eyes. The emphasis on the slightly bigger frames draws you in, rather than feeling like you're being shut out. And who would want to be shut out?' Liam Tooher Face shape: Square [Left] Kara glasses, £300, Matttew at Auerbach & Steele; [Right] The Spiaggia glasses, £150, Jimmy Fairly Evelyne says: 'If you have a really strong jawline or a strong set of cheek bones, you want to offset those strong lines with something softer and rounder in shape. One of these frames are super round (named the Harry Potter shape) but you also need to take the eyebrows into consideration. The top of the tortoiseshell-rimmed frames are flatter and meet with Liam's brows, which suits him better.' Liam says: 'The small circle frames put too much focus on my ears and don't really fit the shape of my face, whereas the bigger ones frame my face much better.'
