Latest news with #urbanrenewal
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Greener streets, cooler city: How Penang plans to refresh Unesco-listed George Town
GEORGE TOWN, July 20 — In George Town's historic core, one of Penang's oldest roads is about to get a major facelift, not just for heritage, but for the climate. Beach Street, once a waterfront artery for commerce and now a bustling financial centre, has been selected as the starting point for Penang's ambitious plan to cool down its inner city and return its streets to people, not just cars. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is launching a RM24.7 million pilot project that will transform a 1.76km loop around Beach Street into a climate-responsive, pedestrian-friendly zone. MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the aim is to reclaim public space and combat the heat island effect caused by concrete, tarmac, and the dense rows of old shophouses. 'We want to bring down urban temperatures by planting more trees and at the same time, increase the walkway width while reducing the carriageway,' he told Malay Mail in a recent interview. A map of the area identified for the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative, courtesy of MBPP The project is partly funded by a World Bank Adaptation Fund grant under the Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Programme for Urban Areas of Penang Island (PNBCAP), with MBPP covering the other half. 'This can be replicated in other streets in the city and it can be a model for other cities to replicate to bring down urban heat and improve walkability,' Rajendran said. He said stakeholder engagement sessions have so far been positive and the council has already awarded the contract, with work slated to begin on September 1 and complete by February 2027. The planned works will go beyond cosmetic upgrades. What to expect Footpaths will be widened, more trees planted, and new pocket parks added to encourage walking while reducing temperatures. The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, now surrounded by a traffic roundabout, will be transformed into a focal point for a pedestrian pocket park with safe street crossings. To make space for the changes, Beach Street and Church Street Ghaut will be converted into one-way streets, while the number of roadside parking spaces in the loop will be reduced from 293 to just 100. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP The project will also introduce clean energy solutions. These include solar panels to power street lights and phone charging stations, and a kinetic walkway that captures energy from footsteps to power low-energy infrastructure. Soil cell systems – underground structures that help trees grow healthy roots without damaging pavements – will be used to support the new trees. But for all its future-looking ambitions, this project is deeply rooted in George Town's past. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Here is a closer look at the streets involved. Roads affected Beach Street, laid out in 1786 along with Light Street and Chulia Street, was among the first roads drawn up after Francis Light arrived in Penang. Originally hugging the eastern shoreline, it lost its coastal view after major land reclamations in the late 19th century pushed the sea further east. Today, it remains one of the busiest streets in George Town, lined with banks, offices, and heritage shophouses. But the upgrade will reach beyond Beach Street to the adjacent roads – each with their own layered stories. Weld Quay, for instance, was born of the same 19th-century land reclamation that distanced Beach Street from the sea. Named after Sir Frederick Weld, a former Governor of the Straits Settlements, the road once connected George Town to its thriving port and continues to serve as a vital link to Swettenham Pier, the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal and RapidPenang's bus terminal. Chulia Street Ghaut, once a simple sandy track to the shoreline, emerged from that same wave of reclamation as an extension of Chulia Street, directly linking to Weld Quay. It now traces the old footprint of Yeoh Kongsi, a clan house once open to the waterfront. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Pesara King Edward (also known as King Edward's Place), a short but significant stretch, connects Light Street to Weld Quay and was created during land reclamation between 1880 and 1904. It is home to early 20th-century godowns and post-war office buildings, and leads directly to Swettenham Pier and Penang Port Sdn Bhd's headquarters. Downing Street, inspired by its London namesake, was once the seat of British administration in Penang after land reclamation in the early 1880s. Though many of its colonial buildings were lost during World War II, the road remains a key part of the city's administrative memory, now occupied by a large parking lot. Church Street Ghaut was added as a reclamation-era extension of Church Street, historically lined with warehouses that supported George Town's maritime trade. Today, those old godowns are being revitalised as trendy cafés, art galleries and boutique lodgings. China Street Ghaut, once a boundary road for the Chinese tradesmen community, shares a similar story – created during the late 19th-century reclamation and now part of the city's heritage grid. Victoria Street, once mudflats along the coast, was built between 1880 and 1904 and earned the local Hokkien name hai kee sin lor, meaning 'new road by the sea.' Only a short 200-metre section of this nearly 1km-long road will be included in the redevelopment, but its transformation is no less symbolic. An artist's impression of the PNBCAP @ Beach Street initiative that will introduce wider walkways and more trees into George Town, Penang. — Picture courtesy of MBPP Across the entire loop, the MBPP aims to not only reduce surface temperatures but also bring back vibrancy through greener, safer streets. With climate change looming and urban temperatures rising, Penang hopes the new Beach Street can be both a nod to the past – and a blueprint for the future.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Colorado city of Englewood reimagining what parts South Broadway will look like
The City of Englewood recently launched an effort to re-imagine what parts of South Broadway will look like. It's part of the South Broadway Revitalization Project which focuses on just over two miles from Jefferson Avenue to Belleview Avenue. South Broadway runs through the heart of the city that lies just south of Denver, and that stretch of the road already features small local businesses, an arts district and community events. But those who work, live and play in the area want it to be more pedestrian-friendly and welcoming for people and businesses alike. "It's not walkable for a number of reasons," said Ryan Kelly, the owner of Hum Furniture. "It feels like a lot like, almost like a highway. People are zooming past. It seems more geared towards cars getting to their next destination than serving the community around us." Many added it often feels like a commuter stretch, especially in the area about a mile away from downtown Englewood. "It can make walking here a little bit dicey. I've also noticed that this area of Englewood is not an area that people look at as a destination or a place to spend a lot of time," said Whitney Bradford, who opened Western Sky Bar & Taproom nearly four years ago. Surrounding Bradford's business are some vacant buildings, some other small businesses and another bar across the street. "This is a really good example of where there could be some more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure," said Bradford. "I don't know how many times I've seen people dart across Broadway to go from Western Sky to the Englewood Tavern, and it's pretty scary." With the South Broadway Revitalization Project, the city hopes to make improvements by focusing on nine strategy areas, including safety, economic development and redevelopment. The city has also created strategy groups, in which Bradford is part of several. "I would also like to see some food options, a coffee shop, something like that, to where we can really try to become like a cohesive business community and support each other through this corridor," said Bradford. "So, to get it done, we probably need a couple of destinations where communities that are surrounding it can come and enjoy," said Kelly. "If the city could do something like that, I think it would be amazing." The project also includes adding more amenities and public art and hosting more signature events, with the overall goal of bringing more vibrancy to the area that some say is overlooked. "That's something that I'm really excited about, and getting more people to be able to come together on this side of town and meet their neighbors and have a good time," said Bradford. "I'm excited to hopefully see some new businesses being enticed to the area, some more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, more greenery, a facelift and more color. I'm just really looking forward to this, this area kind of getting into their untapped potential." The revitalization project is still in the early stages. The City of Englewood is now asking the community to weigh in and share their thoughts on the future of the corridor through community surveys and public meetings. For more information about the project or to share your thoughts, visit
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Telegraph
How to make London great again, according to 10 of our writers
London has lost its mojo. This is evident in the sorry state of its streets, the creaking infrastructure, the shuttered nightclubs, the dodgy candy shops, and the rise of phone-snatching moped gangs. And the world has started to take notice, with the city struggling to attract tourists since the pandemic compared with its European rivals. So how can the city plot a path back to prosperity? What might boost visitor numbers? Which way lie the sunlit uplands? Here are 10 suggestions that could help shatter the malaise. 1. Pedestrianise the West End Isn't the answer staring us in the face? It's time London stopped dilly-dallying and fully pedestrianised not just Oxford Street, but the whole of the West End. From a visitor point of view, pedestrianisation makes for a safer, more relaxed environment in otherwise hectic city centres. From an economic point of view, it would boost footfall and reduce store vacancies at a time when high-street shops are in combat with online retailers. We wouldn't be alone. Parisians have recently voted to pedestrianise 500 streets in the capital, while campaigners in Berlin are planning to ban cars in an area equal to 34 square miles. Bruges, Prague, Madrid, Copenhagen and Vienna have already pedestrianised their city centres to excellent effect. It's a complex subject. Traffic flow would have to be thought through carefully, as would accessibility for specific groups. And then there's the cost. But in the long term, for public health, for liveability, for the economic resilience of our capital, this is imperative. And look! The precedent has already been set. In December 2022, the pedestrianisation of Aldwych, on the Strand, was completed. Noise and air particulate matter are down, and businesses have reported a boost in trade. And, guess what? The city continues to operate just fine. Greg Dickinson 2. Improve the phone signal If you've tried to use your phone in central London recently only to end up staring at the 'wheel of death', you're not alone: London's mobile signal is abysmal, even by the UK's already poor standards. A lack of phone masts across the city and Glastonbury-level concentration of revellers in the West End mean that mobile data ends up being rationed like bread in a workhouse lunch hall. Having to wait for messages to load isn't just annoying; it also causes real-life problems: West End theatres struggle to get the audiences seated on time as it takes so long to check tickets (which, of course, have been digital-only since the pandemic). Meanwhile, all those unfortunate tourists who resort to waving their phone like a divining rod in an attempt to connect become sitting ducks for the phone thieves who plague much of Zone 1. Do us all a favour and fix it pronto. Robert Jackman 3. Learn to deal with any type of weather I'm not talking about just installing air conditioning in every building (though that would be nice too); rather, I am advocating for a city in which everything – the trains, the roads, the sewers – does not break, stop or disintegrate as soon as we get some heavy rain or a reasonably warm day. During heatwaves, the bending (and sometimes buckling) of tracks makes for Tube chaos – and when the trains do run, commuters find themselves wilting in the sort of temperatures in which it is illegal to transport cattle. Likewise, when the heavens open, floods abound (often due to blocked road drains), shoddily mended potholes shrug off their inferior fillings, and emergency sandbags appear at every subterranean station. London's infrastructure is ancient, I understand. Nevertheless, far larger cities – Shanghai, Tokyo, Los Angeles – deal with weather equally (and, in some cases, far more) extreme, but manage not to grind to a halt (they also have ice-cold, air-conditioned metros, storm drains and, evidently, higher pothole-fixing standards). It's possible; we, clearly, just haven't mastered it yet. Gemma Knight-Gilani 4. Make visitors sign a pledge to follow the rules The answer to London's woes lies in the tiny nation of Palau, a clutch of islands in the Pacific Ocean's remote Micronesia archipelago. On arrival, Palau asks – nay, demands – that all tourists sign a pledge in their passports, promising to 'tread lightly' and 'act kindly' during their visit. That's what we need for London, to ensure that everyone sticks to our own fundamental rules – such as escalator etiquette, no dawdling, and respect the holy sanctity of the queue. Talk quietly (or on the Tube, not at all), avoid eye contact, and for heaven's sake use headphones. Tip, but not too much (it makes the rest of us look bad); never complain (unless weather-related); and always apologise (even if it's not your fault). How nice it would be if we all knew the commandments – and stuck to them. Of course, if you didn't, there would be consequences. 'Capital punishment', if you will. If caught transgressing, the penalty would be suitably harsh: a trip to Madame Tussauds at peak time, or a ride on the Central Line at rush hour. For repeat offenders: jellied eels. 5. Plant more trees London in the summertime feels more like downtown Dubai these days. And if you're feeling hot under the collar in this latest heatwave, don't expect things to improve soon. Report after report has warned that London – along with most of the UK – is woefully unprepared for rising temperatures. It's time we took a literal leaf out of Medellín's book. Planners in the Colombian city have gone on a tree-planting frenzy in recent years, criss-crossing the concrete jungle with dozens of 'green corridors'. This urban tree canopy has been attributed with cooling neighbourhoods by an average of 2C. It looks pretty, too. The good news for the English capital is that the eponymous London plane – which already lines many of the city's streets – showed remarkable resilience to extreme heat in a recent study. Planting more of them is an idea that should land on fertile ground, given London is one of only four national park cities globally. Gavin Haines 6. Stay open past 11pm I've had some magical evenings on holiday – clattering over the cobbles of Rome in high heels for a midnight gelato in the summer heat; post-theatre chats in Edinburgh coffee shops; lingering meals in Málaga restaurants that come alive only after 11pm. At home in London? Not so much. There are clubs, of course, but those require youth and commitment, of which I have neither. Beyond those, it seems we are a city of Cinderellas. 'Why Did London Start Going to Bed so Early?' bemoans one Reddit thread. Last week, having tried in vain to find a bite to eat after a concert in Hyde Park, I was forced to admit defeat and get the train home for a slice of toast. Obviously that was before midnight, when most rail and underground services shut (the night Tube operates on certain lines on Fridays and Saturdays). Otherwise, I would have been on the night bus, an experience tourists would do well to avoid. But with so many people now working from home combined with pricier utility bills, the snoozefest seems set to continue. It's a real shame for tourists hoping to make the most of those long – and latterly sizzling – summer evenings. Amanda Hyde 7. Charge foreign tourists to visit our museums This summer, the British Museum is teeming with large tour groups, and even on a cloudy day, the place feels like a sauna. Time your visit poorly, and you'll find a crowd 10-deep trying to glimpse the Rosetta Stone. Would it really be so unreasonable to charge non-Britons during peak season to distribute the spread of visits more evenly throughout the year and ease the strain caused by oversized groups? (Technically, there's no cap on tour sizes, although some rooms in the museum are off-limits to groups to avoid clogging passageways.) In Cairo, an Egyptian pays the equivalent of just 45 pence to enter the Egyptian Museum, while I'd be charged £8.25. The Met in New York charges £22, but nothing if you live in New York state. Imagine if the British Museum charged non-British residents £20 per visit between, say, June and September. It could fund much-needed ventilation for a start, and support other projects across London. A modest seasonal fee could make a real difference, while keeping the museum experience more enjoyable for everyone. Will Hide 8. Banish surly service I get it. I really do. Long days, low pay and hot, cross guests who can, no doubt, sometimes be rude. But I've lost count of the times I've walked into pubs/cafés/restaurants with a cheery 'hello!' to be met by a dead fish stare, or a head bowed over a screen, studiously refusing to acknowledge my arrival. It's easy to remedy, with some very simple training and a few simple rules: 1) Make eye contact. 2) Smile. 3) Say something such as: 'Your table will be ready in five minutes, may I get you a seat/drink/menu?', 'Sorry, we're short-staffed, but here's your table and I'll bring menus/water,' or, 'If you're really rushing, perhaps try elsewhere?' It means happier clients and possible tips. Sophie Campbell 9. Give us more medium-sized music venues The Elizabeth Line may have vastly quickened the process of travelling across the city, but it chalked up a notable casualty when the construction work carved a great hole at the point where Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road meet. The compulsory purchase and demolition of the Astoria – the former cinema which, between 1985 and 2009, was a dingy but much-loved gig venue – erased one of London's most vital spaces for live music. While the opening of the @sohoplace theatre (almost) on the same footprint in 2022 ensured the site is still devoted to the arts, it is no substitute for what was a crucial stepping stone for acts clambering the ladder to the biggest stages. The Astoria held 1,600-2,000 souls. It was a halfway house en route to Brixton Academy (4,921 people) or Hammersmith Apollo (up to 5,000). Its removal from the live-music ecosystem has been another blow to young bands struggling with the loss of record sales in the streaming era, and the practical difficulties of touring in Europe post-Brexit. A replacement would be a gift to the city, but is unlikely to happen. The closing of adjacent venue the Borderline in 2019 (a victim of soaring Soho rents) only added insult to injury. Chris Leadbeater 10. Embark on a campaign of beautification It's certainly not an original observation, but we seem to have collectively – both the governors and the governed – abandoned the notion of civic pride. Living amid wall-to-wall ugliness cannot be good for the soul. Yet Londoners are forced to spend much of their lives staring at garish blue wheelie bins, eyesore shopfronts, a surfeit of largely unnecessary road signs, scruffy and litter-strewn front gardens, and pavements patched up without care for aesthetics. It shouldn't be too much to expect local councils to force retailers to swap sore-thumb colour schemes (we're looking at you, The Works) for something easier on the eye (like, say, Gail's). Nor to spend some of their ample income via record levels of taxation on things such as public topiary, smart wooden benches and more than one litter collection per fortnight. But each of us also needs to take personal responsibility – by putting up a geranium-filled window box, by promptly weeding our driveways, and by picking up that selfish person's discarded beer can, rather than simply tutting at the sight of it. Begin your own campaign of beautification, and set an example for others to follow. Oliver Smith
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucester's Clapham Court could be replaced with new family homes
Fresh plans to demolish an 11-storey tower block in Gloucester and replace it with new family homes will "improve living conditions for residents".A planning application by Gloucester City Homes to replace Clapham Court was refused last year, because of concerns about parking and the new plans include a revised layout with fewer homes and extra parking Executive, Guy Stenson, said Clapham Court "no longer meets current housing demand". Clapham Court, in Alvin Street, is Gloucester's only tower plans would see it demolished and replaced by a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom will also be parking, along with a new pharmacy and play area. "Clapham Court is more than 60 years old," Mr Stenson said."Our aim is to ensure that the new scheme will provide better quality housing and a design that respects the conservation area."Removing the outdated tower block would also enhance the area's appearance and improve living conditions for nearby residents," he added."We are committed to working with the council, residents, and stakeholders to mitigate the concerns raised by some members resulting in the decision to refuse planning permission."We remain dedicated to creating homes that improve lives and the community in Kingsholm." A consultation event at the building gave people the opportunity to find out more about the resident, Simon O'Brien, lived at Clapham Court for more than six years. "I had a brilliant view. I could see the rugby ground so didn't have to buy a ticket. I could watch games from my bedroom," he said."But the roof on the tenth floor was leaking all the time."The plans are alright, I'd like to come back." Tanina Visaranta said she had known the building "all my life". "I had friends here that I visited many times," she added."I will be sad to see it go, because it's so iconic. But I do recognise that some of the materials used to construct it need replacing and I understand the need for family homes," she said."I came to find out more about the timescale, how it's financed and the affect it would have on local schools and GP surgeries."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two Newcastle parks given back Green Flag awards
Two city parks have won back their Green Flag status, a year after losing the prestigious and Walker parks, both in Newcastle, have reclaimed the Keep Britain Tidy accolade for green spaces after missing out a year 150-year-old Leazes Park was the subject of a row over damage caused after it hosted a music festival in May 2024, while there were concerns over anti-social behaviour and arson at Walker Flag judges said "great strides have been made" to improve the parks over the past year. Newcastle City Council took control of the city's parks when management charity Urban Green Newcastle (UGN) was put into liquidation. The return of the flags at the two parks, as well as the existing awards retained at Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene, means Newcastle has four parks that hold the status with the environmental charity. Judges said there had been "huge improvements" in order to "return Leazes Park to a very attractive, well-managed green space much enjoyed by a great number of visitors". The Victorian park was not even entered for the 2024 awards, while locals had complained of the historic attraction being "damaged beyond repair" under UGN's Hay, the Labour-run council's deputy leader, thanked volunteers and friends groups, as well as businesses and the public, for their support and time which has lead to the "fantastic achievement".He said: "Urban Green Newcastle achieved a great deal during its five years, and the progress we've made since March shows we are building on that strong foundation. "The news that four of our parks have met the high standards required for Green Flag accreditation is a credit to the hard work and commitment of the teams who maintain them, making sure they remain enjoyable for both residents and visitors." Blakelaw councillor Marion Williams, of the Friends of Leazes Park, said the community had "worked hard" alongside the city council to win back the Green Flag through measures such as litter picks, and there were plans to plant a new warned it would "take time" to make major repairs, but there was now a "working relationship" between friends groups and parks chiefs. Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
