lkiller123
February 23rd, 2011, 08:53 AM
No work done for more than 20 years...:bash:
Mega Tower改名合和中心二期
2008年8月1日
【明報專訊】合和(0054)個灣仔「Mega Tower」項目，搞廿幾年到依家影都未見，於是乎要搞搞新意思。噚日合和聯席董事總經理胡文新同小琴講，「Mega Tower」已經唔存在啦，咦，乜合和放棄？非也，原來胡公子講佢已決定改名叫「合和中心二期」 。佢話覺得「一期」、即依家幢，80年代落成時已成為香港地標，又搞活堅尼地道同皇后大道東一帶人流，畀人個感覺唔錯，希望有呢個好名，以後可以順順利利啦。
至於「二期」幾時有進展，佢話要等立法會選舉之後再講。依家合和係沿用番一早被屋宇署批個舊方案，即一幢過，起93層高酒店，佢話個圖則會有微調，但唔會大改。又話有兩家紐約酒店營運公司香港同佢傾過有無合作機會，因為佢都對個項目有興趣。
Source: http://www.mpfinance.com/htm/Finance/20080801/News/ek1_ek1c1.htm
lkiller123
February 23rd, 2011, 08:55 AM
合和二期樓面大縮三成
(星島)2008年11月20日 星期四 05:30
(綜合報道)
(星島日報 報道)政府全力推動工程項目上馬，以增加就業機會。爭議多年的灣仔「合和中心二期」，在政府和發展商磋商下，終決定大幅削減發展密度及高度，由原來的九十三層減到五十五層，建築面積削減三成一，總投資額不少於港幣五十億元，爭取明年底動工，料創造四千個就業機會。發展局局長林鄭月娥 亦讚賞，從未試過有發展商作出如此大幅度縮減規模，履行了社會責任，政府表示支持。
記者：周嘉莉
合和昨日宣布，前稱「Mega Tower」的「合和中心二期」發展規模將大幅縮減，新修訂方案將以九四年的核准方案為基礎，總建築面積將縮減三成一；建築物高度由原來的九十三層減至五十五層，較現時的合和中心低十層，亦會在山脊綫之下。相對九四年的計畫，酒店房間數目減少一半，只有一千多間，但公眾休憩空間則沒有改變，仍佔五千八百平方米。
高度山脊綫下 沒減休憩空間
合和董事總經理胡文新指，合和二期的總投資，包括建築成本及補地價，不少於五十億元，預計明年底動工，二○一四或一五年落成，而工程將可創造四千個就業機會，相信可紓緩本港的失業情況。胡文新強調，削減方案的修訂過程中，並無受到政府壓力，「項目拖延了三十年，合和一直希望為香港、為灣仔出一分力，現時香港受金融海嘯衝擊，合和二期盡快展開可創造就業職位，帶動香港經濟發展。」他補充，在聽取區內居民及社會各界聲音後，才決定修訂規模，同時亦是爭取在最短時間內動工。
胡文新：政府無施壓
對於不少市民關心合和二期範圍內的樹木，合和將動用不少於二千萬元，對地盤內的五百一十棵樹及十二棵石牆樹進行保育及移植的工作。胡文新認為，新修訂方案已盡量回應香港旅遊業、就業及市民的訴求。他否認「縮水」方案損害股東利益，並指規模減少後，公司投資也可相對地減少。
雖然發展規模大幅縮減，但當中耗資四億的道路改善工程將沿用九四年獲批的舊方案，包括擴闊堅尼地道、增加行車綫和天橋等。合和稍後會將新交通評估報告交予運輸署 審批；而新修訂方案亦將於明年一月交予灣仔區議會 討論。
林鄭：前所未見，政府支持
由於該項目為綜合發展項目，合和持有項目地段上五成九的土地，其餘土地由政府持有，因此必須以補地價方式換取物業發展權，胡文新指，現時尚未與政府商討補地價的問題。
發展局局長林鄭月娥表示，今次合和的修訂正面回應了社會保護山脊綫的訴求「從來未試過有發展商決定作出這樣大幅度的縮減，今次證明發展商聽取了市民的訴求而作出修訂，屬前所未見，履行了社會責任，政府亦表示支持。」。她強調，磋商的過程中，政府並無施壓，只是向合和反映市民的關注。林鄭月娥指，根據發展局內部的評估，今次的修訂毋須提交城規會審批，但仍需徵詢法律意見。而保育及活化南固臺是合和主動提出的，並非縮減發展規模的交換條件。
Source: http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/081119/3/9bqb.html
lkiller123
February 23rd, 2011, 08:56 AM
Downsized Hopewell Centre II may get nod
By Peggy Chan (HK Edition)
Updated: 2008-11-20 07:39
There's finally hope for Hopewell Holdings to expand its Wan Chai kingdom, as the construction of Hopewell Centre Phase II may gain approval after a proposal to downsize the project.
The government welcomed the developer's move after 30 years of controversy in the community.
Over the past six months, the Development Bureau and Hopewell Holdings engaged in discussions to address public concern and the possibility to reduce the project's development intensity.
"Both parties are satisfied with the amendment result, and the developer has implemented its social responsibility," Secretary for Development Carrie Lam told reporters yesterday.
Under the new proposal, the Hopewell Centre II - a conference hotel project previously called "Mega Tower"- located between Ship Street and Hopewell Centre I in Wan Chai, will comprise only 55 stories instead of 93. This will lower the building height by 105 m to 210 m while saving the ridge line.
The plot ratio will be reduced to about 10.3 from about 15, with the total gross floor area trimmed by about 31 percent.
Hopewell also halved the number of hotel rooms to only 1,024. There will be convention facilities for 1,000 people.
To enhance quality of life in Wan Chai, the company will construct a 5,880-sq-m park for public use.
The developer will also spend about HK$20 million to preserve and transplant 510 trees.
Despite Nam Koo Terrace being located outside the plot, Hopewell Holdings set out to preserve and revitalize it, as well as develop the nearby land for tourists. Nam Koo Terrace is a 90-year-old Grade I historic building.
To alleviate traffic congestion after the construction of the conference hotel, an extra lane will be built near Wah Yan College, along with the road-improvement project cited in its initial proposal in 1994.
The developer will submit the traffic-assessment report to the Transport Department.
"We are confident of the approval," said co-Managing Director Thomas Wu.
Long time coming
The developer worked up an expansion plan as early as 1978, when the construction of Hopewell Centre I was completed. The proposal was approved by the Town Planning Board (TPB) in 1994.
But opposition from residents in the district and groups concerned with its height and intensity, as well as its view blockage to buildings in Kennedy Road, held up the proposal until discussions resumed this year.
"It will now be 10 stories lower than Hopewell Centre I, and it's no longer a skyscraper," Wu said. "The revised plan strikes a balance between economic development and environmental protection."
He disagreed with the view that the government did not respect contract spirit.
"It (the government) didn't give us any pressure. We've consulted legal advice saying it's the best way to go forward after taking into account different views," Wu said.
Lam added that she only suggested that the public would find the project more acceptable if the ridge line could be kept intact.
"To be frank, I've never seen any developers make such a large adjustment," she said, suggesting there is no need for the TPB to examine and approve the revision. "But we need to consult legal advice first as it trims so significantly."
The five-year construction will likely commence by the end of next year if everything goes smoothly, Wu said.
The cost, including construction and land premium, will be at least HK$5 billion.
Wu admitted that revenue from the tower will decrease in line with its smaller size.
"Yet, revenue is not the only consideration in the project. Hopewell Centre II will be our long-term project and will not be sold," he said, adding that the company wishes to support Hong Kong amid the financial turmoil.
"We hope to further enhance the development of Hong Kong's meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry," he said.
The company will also bring in an experienced world class hotel brand to manage the hotel facility.
The project will create more than 4,000 jobs, with 1,900 jobs at the peak construction period. After the completion, there will be 900 permanent hotel jobs and about 300 jobs in the retail shops.
Hopewell Holdings will introduce the project to the Wan Chai District Council to seek support in January.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2008-11/20/content_7221634.htm
Kaitak747
February 23rd, 2011, 02:10 PM
The old rendering of Mega Tower is much better than the current one
old
http://f20.yahoofs.com/hkblog/GVMIniyBHh_H4f9qllLWL54-_8/blog/ap_20090831052823974.jpg?ib_____DMao8zZ6C
new
http://thestandard.com.hk/newsimage/20081120/6_2008111922280763671hopewell2.jpg
Rachmaninov
February 24th, 2011, 02:38 PM
What?? Y-shaped??
_00_deathscar
February 25th, 2011, 06:22 AM
They both look putrid.
Braillard
February 25th, 2011, 06:22 PM
The new render is really crappy.
So they want to build 1)lower 2)uglier.....?!
lkiller123
February 26th, 2011, 01:52 AM
New render is just horrid.. But it doesn't seem that the first solution is probable, not enough land.
EricIsHim
February 26th, 2011, 04:47 PM
I think both are about the same height and floor space (max. out plot ratio), but the first two-building layout takes up more footprint than the second one with more open space on the ground, which requires more site work and hill (trees) cutting on Kennedy Road. That's why the Wan Chai District Board strongly objected the proposal; and Hopewell then went with one that has a smaller building footprint option.