Developer seeks judicial review to loosen Mid-Levels restrictions
9 October 2007
South China Morning Post

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/toothpick-map.jpg

Swire Properties is seeking a judicial review to ease town planning restrictions to facilitate the building of a luxury residence in Mid-Levels.

It is the second judicial review launched by a Swire subsidiary, International Trader Limited (ITL), for a proposed residential tower of more than 50 storeys on Seymour Road and Castle Steps.

ITL had earlier launched a judicial review application against the Building Authority for blocking the development. Ms Justice Anselmo Reyes upheld the authority's decision in April of last year.

Yesterday, lawyer Benjamin Yu, representing ITL, argued for a separate judicial review of the Town Planning Appeal Board's dismissal last December of an appeal the company launched. It was against the Town Planning Board's refusal to relax the plot ratio and building height restrictions for the area.

Mr Yu contended before Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, sitting in the Court of First Instance, that the appeal board's decision was unlawful because it wrongly took into account traffic and visual considerations, which were not relevant.

He told the court that in the first judicial review, ITL was seeking a relaxation of the plot ratio restriction and the height restrictions in the area.

Yet the board was of the view that such a relaxation could cause traffic congestion, the court heard.

The planned building at the junction of Seymour Road, Castle Road and Castle Steps would take up an area of 2,132 square metres.

Vehicular access was no different from the adjacent Robinson Place on Robinson Road, Mr Yu argued, but the zone where Robinson Place was located was free from such planning restrictions.

The court was told that part of the site was restricted to a plot ratio of five, or the existing plot ratio, whichever was greater. The maximum building height was 12 storeys, or the height of existing buildings, whichever was greater.

The hearing continues today.

Board challenges approval for tower
Mid-Levels residents hail planners' move
24 November 2007
South China Morning Post

The Town Planning Board will appeal against a judicial review ruling that permits a 54-storey building to be constructed on Seymour Road and Castle Steps, in Mid-Levels.

The decision came after two hours of closed-door discussions yesterday morning. Board chairman Raymond Young Lap-moon said it had been backed by the majority of the board members, adding that the controversial ruling last Thursday would have a significant impact on the board's work in future.

"We hope to clarify some directional issues in the appeal, such as what would be taken into consideration [by the court]," he said.

But Mr Young did not spell out how the ruling would affect the board.

The board's decision was welcomed by about 3,000 people - including residents, who signed a petition in favour of the appeal.

A Swire Properties spokesman said the company acknowledged the right of the board to appeal but hoped the matter could be settled soon as the town planning process had dragged on for four years.

High Court judge Andrew Cheung Kui-nung ordered the board to reverse its decision blocking the relaxation of height and plot ratio restrictions on a block of land abutting Castle Steps for the development by a subsidiary of Swire Properties, International Trader Limited (ITL).

He said the Town Planning Appeal Board had wrongly taken traffic and visual considerations into account.

The ruling sparked public outcry from Mid-Levels residents, district councillors and green groups, saying that the high-rise would create a wall effect and put pressure on traffic in the area.

The board had dismissed ITL's applications for relaxation twice. It maintained that a maximum of 12 storeys with a plot ratio of no more than 5 should be built. Another 57-storey high-rise was proposed by the same developer for an adjoining site.

After the court ruling, a much-wider 54-storey high-rise can be built across the two sites.

A source close to the board said the move was to bring the case to the consideration of three High Court judges instead of just one.

The source also said it was necessary to clarify the circumstances under which a relaxation should be allowed during the town planning process.

University of Hong Kong assistant law professor Eric Cheung Tat-ming said the traffic factor had not been a legal issue for planners.

The emphasis placed on the factor, as upheld by the board in its two rejections, might have been the result of a change of public sentiment.

He dismissed worries that developers would increasingly abuse the legal system by seeking judicial reviews, saying that the court was fulfilling its obligation instead of taking over the town planning decision.

Professor Cheung urged the government to expedite its review of the outline zoning plan to clarify the planning intention.

More than half of Hong Kong's 108 outline zoning plans do not have planning parameters specifying heights, plot ratio and maximum gross floor areas.

Some rendering of the 50-storey proposal:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2783035371_d6a57092bc_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2783035415_c7a606ab6b_o.jpg

It is said in the website http://www.dln.com.hk/ (Project > Living > Third Column / Fourth Row) that it is 210.93 metres tall.

Hey, this is innovative. It is certainly atypical Hong Kong.

This is supposed to be the 210m building?

Would make quite an impact on the skyline then.

Planning board appeals against order to OK Mid-Levels 'toothpick'
4 December 2008
South China Morning Post

The Town Planning Appeal Board is appealing in the High Court against a judgment that ordered it to grant a Swire subsidiary permission to build a controversial development in Mid-Levels.

The judgment, made by Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung in the High Court in November last year, directed the board to reverse its previous decision blocking the plan, saying that factors it had considered, such as traffic and the visual impact of the development, were irrelevant.

But the board has appealed, arguing that it had the statutory power to take those factors into account because they were in the public interest.

The appeal was launched yesterday before Mr Justice Frank Stock, Mr Justice Michael Hartmann and Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling, sitting in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Justice Cheung ruled last year that the board had to reverse its decision blocking the relaxation of height and plot ratio restrictions on a block of land abutting Castle Steps, which would have cleared the way for a development by International Trader.

International Trader wants to build a 54-storey building - nicknamed "the toothpick" by its opponents - on a parcel of land comprising the disputed block and several others on Seymour Road.

The board, by a majority of three to two, had refused the company's application to remove the 12-storey limit on the site because of traffic and visual considerations.

But Mr Justice Cheung found that the explanatory documents of the Mid-Levels West outline zoning plan indicated that relevant restrictions related to access for fire services and refuse collection, and there was little to indicate that traffic issues were behind the board's decision to limit development on the site.

He ruled that traffic and visual considerations were not relevant to International Trader's application for relaxation of restrictions on the site.

On the first day of the appeal against the November judgment, Mr Keith Lindblom QC, acting for the board, contended yesterday that the board had exercised its statutory discretion in considering those factors.

He said the board had the power to consider traffic and visual effects, even though it was not within the scope of the zoning plan, as they concerned the environment of the sites.

"These considerations concern public interest," Mr Lindblom said, noting that it was in the public interest to include considerations regarding the development's impact on its environment.

"This is absolutely crucial to the development control task [of the board]."

Mr Lindblom said it was the general principle in town planning for the board to identify considerations material to decision making. "It is not right to regard the scope of considerations as being confined by the plan itself."

He pointed out that the two considerations in question related to the issues of how the development plan would affect the local environment and the impact on the people who lived in the area.

The hearing continues today.

How come 'visual impact' never comes into consideration when the hundreds of ugly towers are put up everywhere?

I think 'visual' has little to do with the objections. It's the massive increase in height that's catching everyone's attention.

The point still stands - they let hundreds of massively tall ugly towers spring up everywhere, yet ONE that could be a decent addition to the skyline gets chucked out.

looks interesting!

Planners lose appeal on 'toothpick tower' limits
28 February 2009
South China Morning Post

Town planners are being too picky about Swire's "toothpick tower" plan for Mid-Levels, a court said yesterday.

They had no right to consider the visual impact and effect on traffic of the development, a three-judge panel ruled.

The Court of Appeal judges upheld a lower court ruling that the Town Planning Board had been wrong to insist on a 12-storey height limit on part of the site of the 50-storey block of flats in Seymour Road, which critics have dubbed a "toothpick tower".

A spokeswoman for Swire said it would start work on the tower as soon as possible.

People living near the site of the proposed tower said the court had ridden roughshod over their concerns.

"I am very unhappy about the ruling," said Elina Li, of Goldwin Heights in Seymour Road.

"The traffic is too heavy here and there are too many construction sites in the area. These cause pollution," she said.

Jason Yee, of Robinson Place, Robinson Road, said the ruling constituted a "mammoth relaxation" of planning rules.

"Thousands of people are against such a toothpick structure that will ill serve an area already plagued by traffic congestion, poor ventilation, restricted sunlight and a host of health concerns," he said.

The rights and wishes of the community had not been respected, he said.

Yesterday's judgment by Mr Justice Frank Stock, Mr Justice Michael Hartmann and Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling stemmed from an appeal launched by the board in December against a 2007 Court of First Instance ruling in favour of Swire.

The board had based its decision on explanatory notes attached to the outline zoning plan containing the 12-storey height limit for land adjacent to Castle Steps - a steep, stepped street.

But in his ruling, in November 2007, Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, of the Court of First Instance, said the explanatory notes were concerned only with the site's accessibility and there was little to indicate that traffic issues were behind the board's decision to limit development on the site.

He ruled that the development's effect on traffic and its visual impact were irrelevant to the board's consideration of Swire's application and ordered it to relax the 12-storey height limit.

Swire had sought to build a 54-storey tower, but has only received approval for one 50 storeys tall.

A Swire spokeswoman said it would develop the site according to the planning and building approvals it had received.

A board spokeswoman said it would study the possibility of a further appeal against the Court of First Instance ruling.

Planners let 'toothpick tower' go ahead
21 March 2009
South China Morning Post

The Town Planning Board will not appeal against a court ruling in favour of a Swire development in Mid-Levels, clearing the way for construction of what critics call the "toothpick tower" to begin.

The unanimous decision came after the board consulted senior counsel and the Department of Justice, and met behind closed doors yesterday. The deadline to appeal expires at the end of the month.

The board has been going through the courts in an effort to scale down the development. Last month, the Court of Appeal ruled that the board, in considering the developer's plan, should give regard to the intention behind the outline zoning plan for Mid-Levels West. The panel of three judges ruled the board should not go beyond it by considering visual and traffic impacts of the development - which some residents have expressed concern about.

The board spokesman yesterday said the site had a "unique zoning history", and agreed with the court that the board could have relaxed development restrictions given that the site was a combination of low and high density sites.

The Court of Appeal judgment "would not have significant implications on the planning system, the board's function and operation", he said. The board would continue to review outline zoning plans to ensure it best performed its legal requirements, he said.

In its ruling, the court said the board had been wrong to insist on a 12-storey height limit on part of the site of the 50-storey apartment block in Seymour Road.

Swire Properties' subsidiary International Trader Limited wanted to build the block on a site combined from one zoned for high density and the other for low density. The low-density site was so zoned because it had no street access, what planners call landlocked.

The judges said the rationale to make the site low density and impose a height limit had to be reconsidered once the site was combined and the landlock issue is solved.

Residents in the area had complained the development would bring heavy traffic and poor ventilation to the area.

Elina Li Mee-nar, chairperson of the owners' corporation of Goldwin Heights, said she was deeply disappointed about the board's decision.

"I am confused why the board said the judgment would not affect the planning system. How is the board supposed to function?"

A Swire Properties spokeswoman said the developer would pursue the development as planned.

toothpick? :hahaha: any names aside from that? :ohno:

Another twist in saga over 'toothpick tower'
1 February 2009
South China Morning Post

A Swire Pacific subsidiary behind a controversial project in Mid-Levels is again seeking a judicial review to quash the Town Planning Board's decision not to ease the height restriction on a plot of land.

International Trader wants to build a 54-storey block of flats in Seymour Road on a parcel of land that includes one plot - abutting Castle Steps - which is limited to a 12-storey building. Other plots on the site, involved in the development and owned by the same company, have no height restrictions.

The plan for the "toothpick tower" was turned down by both the planning board and its appeal board.

The company won its first victory in 2007, when Mr Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung in the Court of First Instance ruled that the appeal board should reverse its decision to block the plan. He ruled that it had considered irrelevant factors, such as traffic and the development's visual impact.

Two months ago, the board sought to overturn Mr Justice Cheung's ruling, arguing that it had the statutory power to take those factors into account since they were in the public interest.

On Friday, International Trader filed an application in the High Court for a judicial review in a further effort to get the height restriction lifted.

Its application said the board did not apply for a stay of execution of Mr Justice Cheung's judgment, and that his findings were not challenged during the appeal heard in December before Mr Justice Frank Stock, Mr Justice Michael Hartmann and Madam Justice Carlye Chu Fun-ling.

International Trader's application noted that a portion of Caine Road had been rezoned, changing its height limit. The justification for that rezoning applied equally to the Seymour project, it argued.

The rezoned land in Caine Road is located at Leung Fai Terrace, a site abutting a stepped street with no direct vehicular access - which was also the justification behind the zoning restriction along Castle Steps.

International Trader also seeks an injunction to restrain the board from submitting the Caine Road amended draft zoning plan to the Chief Executive in Council for approval.

Very nice design specially the bottom part !

Swire plans to focus on building homes in HK
15 May 2009
South China Morning Post

Swire Pacific said it would focus more on developing homes in Hong Kong over the next three years while building up a large investment portfolio on the mainland.

Group executive director Martin Cubbon said Swire planned to offer the residential project at Seymour Road for sale in two to three years.

"The residential market is where we want to expand in future. We will have more activity in the residential segment and have some potential [projects] going forward, but not everything is in place," he said.

"We have been expanding our portfolio [on the mainland], while we are still very interested in the Hong Kong market. The market has gone through quite a rocky period in the past five to six months, but we can see that it is picking up again."

Swire plans to increase its investment properties to 24 million square feet by 2013, of which 8 million sqft will be on the mainland and 16 million sqft in Hong Kong.

The company now owns 15 million sqft of office and retail properties in Hong Kong and 1 million sqft in Beijing.

Mr Cubbon said no formal decision had been made on the development plan for the Tai Sang Commercial Building in Wan Chai.

Swire's property unit acquired the building at an auction in December 2007 for HK$1.36 billion or HK$7,334 per square foot, extending the footprint of its Pacific Place in Admiralty.

Commenting on Swire's office rentals, Mr Cubbon said demand for office space remained strong.

"Rental is off its peak, which appeared in the middle of last year. The rate of decrease in rental is not as significant as what the market has been talking about," he said.

Chairman Christopher Pratt said the company had no immediate plan to seek a listing on the mainland stock market.

Strong demand for luxury flats in Mid-Levels
17 July 2009
South China Morning Post

Demand for new luxury high-rise properties, with clubhouse facilities, in Mid-Levels continues to be strong and an increasing number of buyers are coming from the mainland, according to Centaline property agency.

For some people, living close to SoHo and Central is essential for business and entertainment.

And the Central-Mid-Levels escalator has made newly built, luxury high-rise flats, with members-only amenities along Robinson Road, more popular among young professionals in recent years.

The one-year-old 31 Robinson Road has been a hot favourite. The 30-storey building has two to four units on each floor - 84 units in total.

There is a mix of three-bedroom and four-bedroom flats, all come with a balcony and sizes range from 1,172 to 2,665 sqft.

The development has an outdoor swimming pool, sky garden, jacuzzi and gym, spa and snooker tables. Estate agent Centaline completed a transaction at the development last week.

A 2,665 sqft four-bedroom unit, with views over Victoria Harbour, sold for HK$65 million. The property was valued at HK$24,390 per sqft. The buyer was from the mainland, according to Centaline.

Another 2,665 sqft four-bedroom flat at the same address sold for HK$41.8 million (HK$ 15,685 per sqft) last month.

Centaline district manager Raymond Li said the estate agent had sold about 20 units this year - all were new. He said prices had been stable throughout this year and last.

Rents throughout Mid-Levels have also been stable during the same period, at about HK$28 to HK$30 per sqft. Mr Li said most buyers were end-users.

Buyers interested in owning flats at 31 Robinson Road will now have to turn to the secondary market because all flats have been sold. Available properties are being valued at HK$13,000 to HK$18,000 per sqft.

Steve Lam, Savills's director of residential sales for Hong Kong, said that there was further potential for developing high-rise luxury properties in Mid-Levels. Wheelock Properties has one development, The Babington, scheduled for launch later this year, although there have been private placements where some flats have been offered at HK$17,000 to HK$18,000 per sqft.

There are two sites being developed into luxury residential properties on Seymour Road by Swire Properties and Singapore's Wing Tai Holdings Hong Kong-listed subsidiary USI Holdings.

Another relatively new development, with exclusive facilities for residents in Mid-Levels favoured by city workers and property investors, is 80 Robinson Road, which was launched in 2001. The eight-year-old development has two towers with four flats on each floor, ranging from 1,124 to 1,409 sqft. The development offers two-bedroom or three-bedroom flats, and duplex and penthouse units.

The development also offers clubhouse facilities, gym, playground, sauna, squash courts and a swimming pool.

A 1,136 sqft three-bedroom flat recently sold for HK$11.3 million. The original buyer bought the flat for HK$8.81 million in 2001.

Another transaction last week, at 80 Robinson Road, was for a 1,398 sqft rented three-bedroom flat which was sold for HK$16 million.

The buyer of the property was impressed with rentals, HK$56,000 a month, giving a rental yield of 4.2 per cent, according to Centaline.

太古料豪宅樓價升約一成 司徒拔道項目主打大單位
19 June 2009
星島日報

自金融海嘯過後，本港物業市場逐步回穩，太古地產行政總裁郭鵬表示，在眾利好因素支持下，預期住宅樓市將穩步上揚，尤其是豪宅樓價，料於下半年將有半成至一成的升幅。而司徒拔道項目，將為集團下一個推出的住宅項目，主打大面積單位。

郭鵬表示，集團對本港市場有信心，並有多個不同項目正在發展，預期未來住宅樓市走勢造好，並不再會有重大的調整。隨着市場資金充裕、低按揭利率、鄰近內地，以及受惠於內地資金等利好因素支持下，市場信心將於短期內恢復，帶動整體物業市場。

郭鵬續稱，集團在本年內，將不會有全新住宅項目推出，而旗下住宅項目，包括位於西摩道、西灣臺及司徒拔道等項目。

而下一個推出的住宅項目，將為司徒拔道五十三號項目，該盤設計將主打大面積豪宅單位。預期本港豪宅樓價，於下半年將有半成至一成的升幅。

將投入更多資源於內地

內地市場方面，郭鵬指出，集團未來將投入更多資源及時間，於內地的項目，當中包括廣州、上海及北京等地，目前集團在內地仍有多個項目正在發展，其中北京三里屯商業項目，當中南區已經啟用，目前出租率達九成二，北區將於今年下半年啟用。位於廣州的太古匯，目前正進行興建工程及招租。

郭鵬續指，集團支持政府有關放寬收購門檻的建議，而集團會繼續透過收購及合作，作日後發展項目。隨着經濟的增長，料九龍區亦具發展為商業中心的潛力。

西灣臺計畫改建單幢式

太古地產董事及總經理白德利表示，本港對建築物的高度限制，對物業本身及周圍環境帶來一定影響。而系內西灣臺項目，計畫將三座十七層高的設計，改成單幢式較高的物業，以減低對周邊住戶的影響。

但受制於高度限制，發展會對鄰舍的景觀及環境通風帶來更大影響，故集團正計畫去信發展局表達意向。

另外，西半山西摩道項目，現時已完成地基工程，為針對區內需求，項目將主打大面積單位，預期於二○一二年前推出。至於系內北角港濤灣，公司營業經理何穎之表示，該盤自從推後已售出約五十伙，平均呎價一萬一千元，其中部分高層海景單位，呎價更逾一萬三千元；而項目現時僅餘約三十伙待售。

太古西摩道准建52層住宅
22 July 2009
文匯報 (香港)

【本報訊】(記者 梁悅琴)屋宇署於6月共批出25份建築圖則，太古地產於西摩道25A至B,27至29A,31,33至35號及衛城道14至16號獲批興建1幢52層高住宅連會所，住宅樓面約165,794呎。

http://l.yimg.com/fe/p/news/mingpao/20090228/14qglsa012jvf0-i0.jpg

Builders in rush to beat new rules
23 September 2009
SCMP

Developers are in a race to win approval for ambitious building projects before the government resumes a campaign to lock in tighter planning restrictions over building heights and densities.

Opinions on tighter development controls differ widely and an accelerated campaign by the government last year that saw stricter controls introduced in 13 districts won wide applause from green groups and the general public who are opposed to raising building density in Hong Kong, already one of the world's most densely populated cities.

But the campaign, aimed chiefly at setting limits to building heights and plot densities to ensure adequate air flow and sunlight for surrounding buildings, also unleashed a flood of objections from developers and homeowners.

Wong Nai Chung was among the most controversial cases, triggering 441 objections and putting the brakes on the policy. As a result, only Chek Lap Kok, Mid-Levels East and Ma On Shan have had building height restrictions imposed so far this year.

The slowdown provided a window of opportunity for developers to push through individual approvals before the government tightened district-wide controls, said a surveyor.

Dennis Law Sau-yiu, the managing director of small development company Yu Tai Hing, said: "The private sector can't do much about the policy. We can only try to get approvals for the building plans of our projects as soon as possible before the government imposes development controls."

Where district-wide restrictions have not yet been spelled out in an outline zoning plan, individual approvals may be secured from the Buildings Department. Swire Properties is among those that found this way to avoid height restrictions.

It won approval from the Buildings Department in 2007 for a redevelopment project at 25-35 Seymour Road in Mid-Levels to build a 52-storey residential building. A year later, under an outline zoning plan, the Planning Department issued a directive that would have restricted Swire to constructing a 30-storey building on the site. But armed with its approval from the Buildings Department, it escaped this provision.

But this route was not available on all sites, Law said. "We cannot be sure in the beginning about how many old buildings we may acquire and how big the site may be. So how can I produce a building plan? And if I wait until I have acquired sufficient development sites before I apply for a building plan, the government may have imposed development controls by the time I am ready," he said.

Edwin Leong, the managing director of another developer, Tai Hung Fai Enterprise, agreed that trying to rush building plans through the approval process with the Buildings Department was the only way to beat the tide of tighter controls. But this would not be easy, he added.

"It is difficult to acquire development sites in an urban area. Acquiring old buildings is one of the ways for developers to replenish their land banks. But securing a sufficient number of units in old buildings is a painful process and then we may still have to face tighter development controls when we finish," Leong said.

Meanwhile, both developers and the government must deal with the mounting opposition to high-density housing projects from the public and green groups.

MTR Corp faced the wrath of action group Green Sense when it invited development tenders for its residential project at Che Kung Temple Station in Sha Tin last year. Green Sense said the project design would block air flow and views for existing residents in the area.

It also lobbied the Town Planning Board to reduce the development plot ratio of MTR's Tsuen Wan project from five to three and the number of towers from seven to four last year.

Neither of the objections was upheld, but they provided the MTR with a foretaste of the mounting opposition to high-density living in Hong Kong and this year it hastened to secure approvals from the Buildings Department for three other development projects already on the drawing board and not yet subject to outline zoning plans.

The rising density of Hong Kong's residential towers prompted Katty Law Kar-ling, who has lived in Mid-Levels for 30 years, to set up the Central and Western Concern Group with several neighbours in 2005 after the government put the former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters on the land application list.

"A lot of tall buildings have been built in the district over the last 10 years. The redevelopment projects blocked views and worsened traffic jams. We believe the government should keep the former quarters for community use rather than residential use. The district lacks open space," she said.

Other residents, however, are more concerned about higher values for their old apartments.

Alex Lo, a resident of an old building at Seymour Road, received an offer from a developer to buy his flat for HK$11,000 per square foot last year. While he and other residents were considering the deal, the government imposed a height limit on the site. "We haven't heard another word from the developer and the market price of my flat is HK$6,300 per square foot only," Lo said.

I'm seeing this rendering as well. Is it the same project?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/3827617747_20663bedde_o.jpg

First posted by 鄧麗欣之戀 from skyscrapers.cn.

Press Release
27 October 2010

Swire Properties Names Brand New Mid-Levels West Residential Project “AZURA”

Swire Properties announces that its latest residential project at 2A Seymour Road, Mid-Levels West has been officially named “AZURA”. With panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, AZURA sets new standards for architectural design and management excellence, offering residents the twin luxuries of a tranquil yet accessible home.

The name “AZURA 蔚然”, in both English and Chinese, reflects the clear blue sky, emphasising the views and the sense of space at the new development. The living environment at AZURA combines the elegance of Swire Properties’ minimalist design concept with a meticulous focus on enjoying life in peace and privacy.

Adrian To, General Manager, Residential at Swire Properties said: “As one of the few residential projects in the highly sought-after Mid-Levels West area, AZURA is set to bolster our long-established brand reputation. This property is located in a prestigious location similar to our earlier landmark development, The Albany. It is close to the Central commercial business district as well as to Soho’s cultural and entertainment neighbourhood. Mid-Levels is a well-established high-end residential district where the supply of exclusive properties is rare. AZURA will be the new icon in the area and will set a new benchmark for quality living.”

Offering 126 spacious units ranging in size from 1,650 to 2,100 sq ft, the 50-storey property adopts a modern, understated design that exudes timeless elegance. Each floor offers three units of three or four bedrooms, the latter including two en-suites. The development’s leisure and entertainment facilities provide a welcome sanctuary after a busy day in the city.

The residence also features three exquisite penthouses on the top floor with private pool and three unique apartments with flat roof. The wing-like architectural design of the building offers the widest possible view for all units.

The expected completion date of AZURA is Q4 2012.

Are developers being to creative on building names these days that they no longer make any sense geographically?

source : http://simg.sina.com.hk/images/nwlogo/coBrand_mingpao.gif

http://simg.sina.com.hk/cp/0/0057/4967/2/p.jpg

Mid-Levels flats seen at $31,000 psf
The Standard
Thursday, October 28, 2010

Swire Properties will base its selling price of flats in Azura at Mid-Levels West on nearby sister project The Albany, where the asking price now averages HK$31,000 per square foot.

Residential general manager Alex To said the 50-story Seymour Road project will have 126 units.

"The economy is strong and interest rates low," To said. "We're confident about Azura, which is situated at a traditional Mid-Levels residential area."

According to Midland Realty assistant associate director Victor Chong Shu-kan, the 20-year-old Albany has seen only three deals this year. A 6,830-square-foot penthouse fetched HK$338 million, or HK$49,488 psf.

Two typical units sold for an average HK$26,807 psf in April.

Azura, which is 87.5 percent owned by Swire and 12.5 percent by Henderson Land (0012), will have 80 three- bedroom units of 1,650 sq ft each, 40 four- bedroom units at 2,100 sq ft and six special units.

Set to be ready by end- 2012, the project will have a gross floor area of 200,000 sq ft.

Also on Hong Kong Island, K. Wah International (0173) will launch a 24-unit Stubbs Road project in mid-November.

Elsewhere, Henderson reveals details of its Jade Suite in Jordan today, while Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) put four more units on sale at Yoho Midtown yesterday, with prices ranging from HK$6,810 to HK$9,668 psf - a 3-5 percent price rise.

It looks like a big commie block.

It looks like a big commie block.

Not the one in the back, but the one in the front still wrapped in green under construction.

Cooling Trend Hits Hong Kong
Moves to Damp Home Prices Appear to Have Slowed Sales Pace of Some Projects
22 December 2010
The Wall Street Journal

HONG KONG -- Signs are mounting that government measures aimed at taking the speculative heat out of Hong Kong's residential-property market are pushing some buyers to the sidelines, hitting sales of some big new projects.

The government's moves to combat surging home prices, including hefty taxes for selling an apartment within two years of its purchase, took effect a month ago. The measures, the latest in a series of market-cooling moves, came after the International Monetary Fund in November urged the government to take action if asset-price inflation continued, warning that it saw increasing risk of a property bubble in Hong Kong. The curbs were also prompted in large part by an influx of hot money from China -- speculative capital that evades Chinese regulators, who keep tight controls on the currency.

Property prices in Hong Kong have surged in response, especially in the luxury sector. Home prices rose 15% through September, after a 30% jump in 2009, according to official data. Data showing the impact of the new measures aren't yet available, but a dropoff in activity is already apparent at some projects being sold.

That includes Festival City II in the Tai Wai section of Hong Kong's New Territories, one of the largest residential developments launched in the autumn. People in the market are taking their time, says property consultant Jay Leung: "They're stopping to think" before making a purchase.

Festival City II's developer, Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd., sold 216 of its 1,386 units when sales began Nov. 19, the day before the cooling measures took effect, according to Credit Suisse. Since then, Credit Suisse estimates the developer has sold only 25 more flats. Cheung Kong declined to comment.

Similarly, Swire Properties has seen a slowdown in sales for its high-end residential project Azura in the Mid-Levels district of Hong Kong island. The development, which launched Nov. 20 and saw one apartment fetch 58 million Hong Kong dollars ($7.5 million), sold 28 of its first batch of 51 units within the first two days, according to Swire's records, but has sold only three since. Swire declined to comment on its sales.

Since the cooling measures were announced, prices for mass-market residences have declined 3%-5%, says Ricky Poon, executive director of residential sales at Colliers International in Hong Kong.

In the luxury market, prices have remained steady, Mr. Poon says, as owners turn from selling to leasing in order to avoid cutting prices.

Data from real-estate agents are mixed. Centaline Property Agency Ltd. says mass-market sales this past weekend were 11% higher than those of Nov. 13-14, the weekend before the stamp duties were enacted. Midland Realty, another big agency, says mass-market sales were down about one-third from where they were before the measures were announced. Neither agency tracks sales in the luxury market.

A Centaline spokeswoman says asking prices have remained stable, and the increased volume can be attributed to wary consumers beginning to buy in the secondary market again.

In theory, purchasers of lower-priced homes who hold their properties for the long term aren't affected by the new measures, which among other things restrict credit for apartments valued at HK$12 million or more. In addition, owners are liable for stamp duties of as much as 15% of a property's sale price if it is bought and sold within two years.

But even ordinary home buyers who fall outside the scope of the measures are reluctant to pull the trigger if they believe prices will slide.

"I foresee housing prices will keep on dropping," says Blondy Leung, a 29-year-old who started looking to buy in October, when her landlord raised the rent on her Kowloon apartment by about 10%. Several weeks after she started her hunt, the government announced the stamp duties, and she put her purchase on hold. Now she is renting again, in another neighborhood, hoping to make a purchase within the next year.

Analysts believe some developers may choose to shelve new launches rather than lower prices.

Already, launches for two projects in Hong Kong's New Territories, Para Nara in Yuen Long and Avignon in Tuen Mun, have been pushed back from their original end-2010 target dates in reaction to the stamp-duty increases, says Cusson Leung, a Credit Suisse property analyst.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., the developer for both projects, is waiting on government approvals to begin marketing them, says spokeswoman Brenda Wong.

Some developers may decide to wait it out, too. "You're going to see them holding back a little until they can be sure of a sales strategy," Nomura's Mr. Louie says, adding they would have to lower prices 15%-20% to make it attractive enough for people to buy right now.

Representatives for Cheung Kong Holdings, Henderson Land Development Co., Swire Properties, Sun Hung Kai Properties and Kerry Properties declined to comment on their strategies in the wake of the new measures. According to a November Citigroup report, these developers have 16 projects in the pipeline for 2011.

At least one big developer hasn't had to make any decisions about coming projects for now, because it isn't expected to enter the market soon.

Barbara Ho, head of property sales for New World Development Co., says the company's next project isn't expected to come to market until next summer. "By that time, we will know whether people are buying," she says.

Construction nightmare in Mid-Levels Residents face never-ending pile-driving noise and dust amid building boom
11 February 2011
South China Morning Post

Roger Ho Yao-sang paces back and forth in his dining room. He packs a sandwich, a bottle of hot water and some medicine in a shopping bag as if preparing for a major hike.

Ho is about to go for his daily walk, a ritual since being discharged from hospital after an operation nearly two months ago. But although he lives in one of the most coveted areas of Hong Kong - Mid-Levels - he refuses to take that walk along his own Caine Road.

He wants to get away from the dust and noise, the traffic jams caused by trucks loading and unloading, the footpaths narrowed by construction material that take up half the walkway.

There is a building boom in Mid-Levels. And for the first time in 30 years, Ho feels deprived of a liveable environment.

"It is impossible to take a proper rest at home," says Ho, a 40-something author of books on heritage conservation. "It is too noisy here. Apart from the noise, the whole building is shaken by piling work. The park is a bit further away from the construction work. It is the only place where I can have peace.

"Whenever I am at home I feel like I am experiencing a minor earthquake."

Developers including Henderson Land, Swire Properties and Cheung Kong have eight projects in the works in the Caine Road, Seymour Road and Conduit Road neighbourhoods.

Prices of new projects continue to soar. Phoenix Property Investors, an investment fund, sold most of the flats at its Gramercy on Caine Road at an average of HK$19,000 per square feet in November. A month later, Swire Properties' Azura project fetched HK$21,500 to HK$24,700.

The construction won't end after these eight projects are finished. Developers are busy snapping up old buildings for at least six redevelopment projects. The Urban Renewal Authority is buying properties in Graham Street and Staunton Street. Henderson Land has an acquisition project in Robinson Road.

Never mind that the environment is deteriorating. Prices are still rising.

"Mid-Levels West is close to Central. Residents of Caine Road can go to Central on foot. It also has many elite schools. Therefore the neighbourhood is attractive for buyers," says Alnwick Chan Chi-hing, executive director at real estate firm Knight Frank.

While Ho chooses to escape to a nearby park, Katty Law Ngar-ning's solution is to keep the window closed.

"The living environment is worsening with so many developments and new ones under construction," Law says.

A long-time resident of Mid-Levels, Law formed the Central and Western Concern Group after watching the environment of the neighbourhood deteriorate.

"I considered leaving here but I would miss the neighbourhood if I left," she says. "My children also do not want to leave this place."

She believes redevelopment will still be going strong years from now, especially with a new law affecting buildings that are at least 50 years old. Developers can force the sale of remaining flats in a building once they have acquired 80 per cent of the property interests in it, down from the previous 90 per cent threshold.

"Demolition and construction will be never-ending. More old buildings will give way to high-rises and the road will be more congested."

Although the Town Planning Board imposed height restrictions in Mid-Levels in early 2008 to make redevelopment projects less lucrative, in 2007 developers rushed to get approval to build skyscrapers on Mid-Levels sites they did not fully own - partly spurring today's boom.

Swire Properties is building the 50-storey Azura in Seymour Road and two projects in Caine Road. Henderson Land is redeveloping Merry Terrace in Seymour Road. At 38 Caine Road, the Gramercy is being turned into ever-pricier flats. Down the road is another redevelopment combining the site of the former Grand Court and Kension Mansion.

Dr Hung Wing-tat, a transport expert at Polytechnic University, says the Transport Department should conduct a comprehensive study on traffic in Mid-Levels.

"Although developers have to conduct a traffic impact assessment, they are only responsible for providing an assessment of their own project. It is important to have a study on the cumulative impact of all the projects. But no one is doing it now."

Rebecca Ng, who lives in Conduit Road, says: "At least the government should make sure the pavement is not occupied by construction materials. The situation is dangerous. We are forced to compete with vehicles for space."

I'm seeing this rendering as well. Is it the same project?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2088/3827617747_20663bedde_o.jpg

First posted by 鄧麗欣之戀 from skyscrapers.cn.

Seems like that's the latest rendering. It is seen on the sale brochure on the Swire website.

A boring design compared to the first rendering...:ohno:

Home-buy hopefuls can take heart in rush
8 April 2011
The Standard

There is some good news for home buyers as developers prepare to put 11 residential projects on the market this month.

Kerry Properties (0683) will sell the first 50 of 968 flats at Lions Rise, a new residential project at Wong Tai Sin. Pricing is around HK$12,000 per square foot.

Despite promoting the project in the mainland, the developer expects 80 percent of the buyers to be end-users and the remainder investors from across the border.

Sensing the opportunity for a quick profit and after seeing some aggressive pricing at Lions Rise, around 10 percent of the home sellers nearby are hiking the prices of their flats by 3 to 5 percent, according to Midland Realty.

In Mid-Levels, meanwhile, Swire Properties listed 93 flats at Azura on Seymour Road for initial sale out of the 126 flats there. However, the developer managed to sell only 53 flats at an average price of HK$23,000 psf. The remaining 40 unsold flats are now priced at an average of HK$18,000 psf.

Swire said it has no plans to cut prices as the interest rate hike has not driven away potential buyers from the property market.

``After the hike, the interest rate is still low, and buyers are still looking at ways to spending their money,'' said Wendy Ho, senior sales manager of Swire Properties.

Another developer, Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016), plans to sell flats in its luxury Imperial Cullinan in West Kowloon by the end of this month.

The first batch of flats will have areas between 1,600 and 1,700 sq ft and be priced at around HK$20,000 psf.

The project has been marketed in the mainland and Hong Kong for the past two weeks. There have been more than 10,000 inquiries - 3,000 from Shenzhen and 7,000 from Hong Kong. The developer has also received around 1,000 inquiries from overseas buyers.

Out of a total of six towers, the developer plans to put the first two on sale.

Setting the stage for more action, the Lands Department has given its pre-sale consent to the Uptown project from Cheung Kong (0001) in Yuen Long.

Flat sales in Uptown can be expected to be under way before Easter. Four-room flats are being priced at a minimum HK$7 million, or HK$5,600 psf.

I did some quick research...

http://www.azura.com.hk/en/floorplan.php

TYPICAL STOREY HEIGHT (FLOOR-TO-FLOOR HEIGHT) IS APPROXIMATELY 3.11M. FLOOR-TO-FLOOR HEIGHT REFERS TO THE HEIGHT BETWEEN THE TOP SURFACE OF THE STRUCTURAL SLAB OF A FLOOR AND THE TOP SURFACE OF THE STRUCTURAL SLAB OF ITS IMMEDIATE UPPER FLOOR.
THE INTERNAL CEILING HEIGHT WITHIN SOME UNITS MAY VARY DUE TO STRUCTURAL OR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.

This one could very well break the 200m mark. :cheers2:

EDIT: http://www.azura.com.hk/document/split_pdf/SalesBrochure01.pdf

Height of entrance lobby (floor to ceiling): 4.3m
Floor height (Floor to Floor): 6-50/F (excluding refuge floor 27/F): 3.11m
51/F: 3.41m
52/F: 3.58m
53/F: 4.26m

Clubhouse: 3/F, 4/F, 5/F
Carpark: 1-3/F

Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Hong_Kong

Someone on Wiki states a height of 211m, providing 4 sources. Could be true. :|

Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Hong_Kong

Someone on Wiki states a height of 211m, providing 4 sources. Could be true. :|

All 4 sources did not provide a final height figure.

By fatshe :
9/17

http://api.photoshop.com/v1.0/accounts/11e5fbb8309740b9aa8ad5872ce63dff/assets/a25e94b89cf6480ba93db89e0f91952d/renditions/1024.jpg?md=1316337656000

By fatshe on 3/31 :

http://api.photoshop.com/v1.0/accounts/11e5fbb8309740b9aa8ad5872ce63dff/assets/4cc6b935ecae401e91f33102d7e1d954/renditions/1024.jpg?md=1333195482000

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/121021s_086s.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/121021s_093s.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/121021s_091s.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/121021s_096s.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Genuine007/UC/121021s_097s.jpg
__________________
Buildings that don't get posted often (HK) Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=211362) or here ( http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=209576) | Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212436) or here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212435) | Part III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=316338) | Part IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366314) | Part V (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=13282175)
Artistic decorations inside and outside of the buildings (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=319077)