Pedestrians to get priority in revitalised Chinatown

* Paul Bibby Urban Affairs Reporter
* May 25, 2009

CHINATOWN would become a bustling network of street markets with Thai and Korean influences stretching well beyond the precinct's present boundaries, under a plan being considered by the City of Sydney tonight.

The Draft Chinatown Public Domain Study envisages a significantly expanded Asian hub running from Quay Street in the south to Liverpool Street in the north, and including parts of Campbell and Pitt streets in the heart of the CBD.

Service roads and laneways within the new boundaries - currently lined with cars and garbage bins - would be revitalised with new lighting, footpaths and street furnishings designed to support regular street markets.

"In China and Hong Kong people flock into the street markets every day and that is what we want to have here," said the former president of the Australia Chinese Community Association, City of Sydney councillor, Robert Kok. "Laneways and streets like Kimberley Street and Thomas Street are really underutilised when you have so much crammed into Dixon Street."

Chinatown's business and property owners have long called for a revitalisation of the precinct, which has begun to crack under the strain of a rapid growth in business and tourist numbers.

The study - coming before the planning committee tonight - found that much of the precinct was blighted by cracked footpaths, and malfunctioning decorative lighting and little encouragement for walking and cycling. It recommends giving pedestrians priority by closing a number of streets and lanes in the area to traffic, and installing flexible street furnishings which could be used for market stalls on the weekend and as seating at other times.

"There hasn't been any real revitalisation work since prior to the 2000 Olympics. With a tourist attraction of this size, it's about time something was done," Cr Kok said.'

The council will also consider expanding Chinatown to include the emerging Korean and Thai precincts on Campbell and Pitt streets.

"Historically, Chinatown has been quite big but we only focused on Dixon Street," Cr Kok said. "Campbell Street has been a little Thaitown and Pitt Street has become a little Koreatown and it's time we formally recognised that."

The study also found a need to stop Chinatown's traditional shops and architecture - herbalists, traditional medicine practitioners and tea houses - from being swallowed up by the neon lights, quirky fashion outlets and hi-tech shops that have proliferated in the precinct.

If SCC are serious about the CBD being pedestrianised, perhaps this Chinatown project will act as a good case study on a micro level.

With so much going on (Pitt St Mall, Star City, Broadway, Barangaroo, etc) I hope they've finally realised that the 2000 Olympics are over and that Sydney needs a major facelift.

26 May 2009

Alfresco dining, theatrical spaces, stages, dramatic light shows, new paving and artboxes are among a range of exciting ideas and opportunities that could soon help enliven Sydney's forgotten laneways.

Concept plans have been created for 10 CBD laneways, which will now be considered by Council for priority capital works improvements. The works are proposed as a 6 year program to progressively upgrade laneways throughout the CBD.

"We're hoping improvements like better lighting, greater pedestrian access and new artworks will inspire the owners of buildings backing onto these laneways to create new spaces and help re-activate these unique unused spaces," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

"Enlivening our laneways is part of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision to create a more vibrant city centre and a diverse, eclectic and unique culture with opportunities for local and emerging artists, entrepreneurs and a healthy live music scene."

Ten laneways have been prioritised for capital works improvements:
· Northern CBD - Bulletin Place
· Central CBD - Angel Place and Ash Street, Hosking Place and Penfold Place, and Lees Court,
· Western CBD - York Lane
· Southern CBD - Albion Place, Central Street and Wilmot Street

Once the first priority laneways are endorsed, the City will gain public feedback on the concept plans, with design development to begin in August and construction to commence progressively from early 2010

The capital works improvements are part of Council's CBD Laneways Revitalisation Strategy which includes policy reform and development, business support, legislative advocacy, cultural events like Art & About - By George!, as well as ongoing communication.

http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/html/3900-laneways-revitalisation.asp

Pretty exciting to think that even more life will be breathed into the Sydney CBD.

Interesting too, to think how successful the laneways and small arcades are in Melbourne. It has really made the SCC and also the Brisbane City Council sit up and take notice of how to better use these small spaces.

Sydney has a lot more laneways than Brisbane and will pull off a much better 'vibrant laneways' network

"In China and Hong Kong people flock into the street markets every day and that is what we want to have here," said the former president of the Australia Chinese Community Association, City of Sydney councillor, Robert Kok. "Laneways and streets like Kimberley Street and Thomas Street are really underutilised when you have so much crammed into Dixon Street."

This guy should be mayor.

Dixon Street appears quite crammed, even at the best of times so it would be good if there was overflow spread into surrounding laneways.

Chinatown's got an 'almost' market feel to it already. Embracing and encouraging this *would* be a good idea. Being right near Central and Darling Hargbour, it's a natural place for it.

I just hope it doesn't impact on height limits though. They're already severe enough in that area!

^^
I agree. Chinatown has a lot of potential for laneway activity.

Some late night markets in the Chinatown area, and even late night Paddy's Markets, would help support the laneway activity IMO

It would be amazing to have China Town like a mini Mongkok. Late night markets, streets teeming with people... it'd be great.

What a great plan, sounds magical.

This guy should be mayor.

Agreed.

I think the plan is for Markets etc, also seen on SCC website about streetscape upgrades and they plan to embrace the chinese element and replaces trees with bamboo and have hanging lanterns for street lights and other Asian inspired art works etc.

meanwhile, not much movement is happening on the whole laneway concept. about the only place where it's coming together is ash lane and that's because of ivy. they were going to do this anyway. oh, and sussex lane is slowly progressing, but again, that was always going to happen with the westpac development.

the best pizza in sydney "made in italy" has setup shop in a little hole in the wall in york lane. not much has been done to make the lane palatable - the place is a urine spayed mess!

Ok better update these...

Get a better look HERE http://sydney-city.blogspot.com/2009/10/little-hunter-street-laneway-art.html

Little Hunter Street Laneway

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/Stf3YT7Q7yI/AAAAAAAACqg/zhNVRwL4fKM/s400/The+Meeting+Place.JPG

Little Hunter Street hosts a temporary art installation called "The Meeting Place", as part of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project. This colourful, narrowed laneway encourages participation and interaction by pedestrians walking through an urban space.
The laneway connects Hunter Street to a shopping arcade, located below a skyscraper called Australia Square.

Underwood Street Laneway

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/StgCK9D1B2I/AAAAAAAACqo/ktpxFS2Azns/s400/Seven+Metre+Bar+1.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/StgCYusuNfI/AAAAAAAACqw/6oEKjiHDe40/s400/Seven+Metre+Bar+2.JPG

Underwood Street hosts the "Seven Metre Bar", an art installation which is part of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project, which at night doubles as a bar called Grasshopper. Based on the theory that Climate Change will melt the polar ice caps and raise sea levels, Underwood Street at seven metres above sea level would drown. The artist combines the landscape of weather and an architecture of catastrophe with intense weather projections flickering and crashing in the laneway at night

Angel Place Laneway

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/St6L-00humI/AAAAAAAACtQ/MG6Qi6WX6hY/s400/Angel+Place+3.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/St6M-Z8WLKI/AAAAAAAACtg/S7nexfWILLM/s400/Angel+Place+2.JPG


Angel Place features an installation known as "Forgotten Songs", which is part of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project. It features a canopy of empty birdcages hanging in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of Sydney's lost birds which may have lived in this area, before the city including this laneway, replaced their native habitats.

Bridge Lane Laneway art

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/St52LzCQvvI/AAAAAAAACtI/jw3NCkQKXoQ/s200/Dwell+1.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/St52Lc4N4kI/AAAAAAAACtA/ASNTmv9ouss/s200/Dwell+2.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/St51pRZp9fI/AAAAAAAACsg/BitpKJHQpg0/s200/Dwell+6.JPG

Bridge Lane features what might be the most bizarre art installation of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project. "I Dwell in the City and the City Dwells in Me" comments on how we create cities and how they in turn affect us. The pink blobs of prosthetic on the walls emulate human skin, complete with hair. Human sounds like breathing, gurgling and a heartbeat make this a truly unusual experience.

Tank Steam Way Laneway

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/StVY1SFfJLI/AAAAAAAACqI/VQfAZqrzrWc/s400/IMG_1301.JPG

This temporary art installation in Tank Stream Way is called "PS:Potential Spaces" and is part of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project. The aim of the project is to enliven the city's urban spaces and also challenge us to think about our future. The laneways used are all nearby George Street, one of the main streets in the city. This installation explores possible future habitations in the city's laneways.

Penfold and Hosking Place

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/Stf0CWmc7TI/AAAAAAAACqY/GWdLMbGvNtY/s400/Infinity+Forest+1.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YGN3l86nWKw/Stfz7gQas9I/AAAAAAAACqQ/hpdRHbGaz_Y/s400/Infinity+Forest+2.JPG

The art installation on the corner of Penfold and Hosking Place is called "Infinity Forest" and is part of the Laneways: By George! Hidden Networks project. From the outside it just looks like a few trees in a wooden box (left) but when you step inside (right), the mirrored walls provide infinite reflections, which creates an illusion of being in a forest.

^^^
As cool as Chinese night markets sound, the only reason they are popular overseas is the fake stuff... which would be all seized by police if people attempted to import and sell it.

I do support these attempts at further pedestrianisation etc

One problem is the fact that Liverpool and Bathurst Sts are the main route between the Eastern beaches and the Western Distributor (as you can't cross from the Anzac Pde onramp of the ED to the CCT)

very nice that tree display sounds cool

photoes from this time last year (2008)

york lane

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture012.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture013.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture014.jpg

sussex lane

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture015.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture016.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture017.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture018.jpg

abercrombie lane

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture019.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture020.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture021.jpg

angel place

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture022.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture024.jpg

ash street

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture025.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture026.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture027.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture028.jpg

the ivy

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture031.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture032.jpg

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/ioniser18/Picture033.jpg

Sydney's Chinatown to undergo major upgrade

THREE laneways in the heart of Sydney's Chinatown is set to undergo a major revitalisation.

Under the proposals, the laneways will be transformed into more pedestrian-friendly spaces offering a range of amenities, including wider, paved footpaths, more trees, new street furniture, bike parking, stencil designs on the road and lighting unique to the character of the area.


The proposed changes include:

Little Hay Street:

- a wider, tree-lined pedestrian corridor with opportunities for public meeting spaces and outdoor cafe and restaurant seating

- upgraded street lighting and decorative lighting to improve safety at nighttime

- new street furniture including benches, bins and bicycle parking

- 15 fewer car parking spaces but retention of loading and service access to Dixon Street

- new traffic signals at the intersection of Harbour Street and Little Hay Street to provide safer pedestrian crossings

Factory Street:

- an improved pedestrian link and new public meeting place between Chinatown and Darling Harbour

- shade trees, new seating, new street and decorative lighting to increase safety and encourage nighttime use

- new traffic signals at the intersection of Harbour Street and Factory Street will provide safer pedestrian crossings

Kimber Lane:

- improved lighting- a new look pavement surface to encourage outdoor seating

- new 10 km/hour speed limit for vehicles proposed along the lane

- new graphics on the asphalt to encourage more pedestrian use within the shared zone

- Kimber Lane will be maintained as a service lane, with improved lighting, raised entries at street intersections and a new look pavement surface

"Sustainable Sydney 2030 recognises the importance of a renewed and lively Chinatown to enhancing Sydney as a global economic and cultural capital," says Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

The designs will be presented to Council for approval following the current public exhibition period and if endorsed, works could begin in early 2011.

The full Chinatown Public Domain Plan is currently being finalised and is expected to be considered by Council later this year.



http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/article/Sydneys-Chinatown-to-undergo-major-upgrade/515186.aspx

Little hay street

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6648/89399910.png (http://img155.imageshack.us/i/89399910.png/)


Factory street
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1694/46040756.png (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/46040756.png/)



Kimber lane
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5200/46017328.png (http://img444.imageshack.us/i/46017328.png/)

Plan to make the Chinatown experience even better

21 May 2010

Pedestrians will have priority, laneways will be revitalised and more opportunities will be available for markets and festivals as part of the City's proposal to transform public space in Sydney's Chinatown.



The draft Chinatown Public Domain Plan will be considered by Council on Monday 31 May, following extensive discussion with Chinatown residents, businesses and visitors.



The Plan outlines 10 individual street transformation projects as well as a range of precinct-wide upgrades including new street trees, decorative lighting, custom-made street furniture, stormwater reuse facilities and public art projects.



Additionally, construction work on three more laneways - Little Hay Street, Factory Street and Kimber Lane - will start in early 2011.



These three streets will be transformed into pedestrian-friendly spaces with wider footpaths, new street furniture, bike parking and unique lighting.



"Chinatown is a pivotal part of Sydney's role as a global city, offering a vibrant, culturally diverse, active and lively area with a rich history," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.



"During consultation for the Chinatown Public Domain Plan, the community told us they wanted more pedestrian-friendly streets, new spaces for markets, festivals and outdoor dining, and better walking and cycling connections in Chinatown.



"The Plan presents a suite of exciting projects that will renew the area's unique character to ensure Chinatown continues to thrive and provide us with wonderful experiences for many decades to come," Ms Moore said.



The proposed 10 street transformation schemes in order of upgrade priority are:

* Hay Street - to be converted into a traffic-free, pedestrian activity plaza similar to Pitt Street Mall. The tram lines will be centred to provide more open space on the Paddy's Market edge, with opportunities for new events and activities such as outdoor markets and festivals. New public art projects reflecting the area's cultural diversity and artistic creativity will be developed to enhance the general appearance of the street.
* Thomas Street - the creation of two new community gathering spaces to transform the street into a pedestrian-friendly spine through Chinatown south. A major permanent public art project will be developed, along with the planting of new street trees and the installation of new public seating. Loading provisions for local businesses will be maintained.
* Dixon Street - congestion and overcrowding along Chinatown's main mall will be reduced, with pedestrian flow and activity redirected to surrounding streets. Street furniture including public seating will be renovated, and the area will feature new in-ground lighting, improved paving and canopy thinning. Cultural activities in Dixon Street north will be broadened, including the possible expansion of the night markets, new public art projects and the investigation of a new Chinese Cultural Centre.
* Sussex Street - more pedestrian spaces will be created along Sussex Street, particularly at the Goulburn Street intersection, while maintaining loading provisions and limited on-street parking. Street improvements will allow for potential future development of light rail along Sussex Street, and widened footpaths, new paving, pedestrian lighting and street furniture will boost connections between Chinatown and the City centre.
* Harbour Street - will be closed at Hay Street and redeveloped as a "welcome mat" for pedestrians entering Chinatown from Darling Harbour and the Chinese Gardens. Here public space for large events and additional street markets will be extended, alongside widened footpaths, streetscape improvements and stormwater harvesting facilities.
* Quay Street - a new boulevard entry into Chinatown will be created, improving the connection to Railway Square to provide better links to local universities and facilities like the Entertainment Centre site. New public plazas, environmentally-friendly rain-gardens and widened footpaths will enliven the street via temporary events and outdoor dining.
* Ultimo Road - the City's Cycle Action Plan will be delivered with a dedicated cycleway linking Ultimo/Pyrmont to the heart of Chinatown. On-street parking will be maintained on the southern side of the street, while upgraded lighting, furniture and paving will enhance the distinctive cultural character of the area.
* Douglass Street and Lane, Eagar Street and Lane - this network of laneways will become a shared zone, with a raised paving, new shrub sand tree plantings and the potential for timed closures. Opportunities for public art projects will be investigated, with the goal of creating a distinctive experience that visitors can discover, remember and return to.
* Valentine Street - this small one-way street will become an important connection between George Street and Quay Street, framing the vista of the Anglican Christ Church of St Laurence on George Street and the Central Station clocktower in the distance. Continuous footpaths linking the major streets will facilitate traffic calming and encourage activities such as outdoor dining.
* Goulburn Street - stronger connections between the heart and north of Chinatown will be created through a range of pedestrian-friendly street improvements. Pedestrian crossings at intersections will be prioritised with widened footpaths, raised pedestrian thresholds, decorative intersection lighting and new road pavement surfaces.



IMAGES
dixon street
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/dixon_street.jpg
hay street
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/hay_street.jpg
quay street
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/quay_street.jpg
factory street
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/Factory_Street.jpg
little hay street
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/Little_Hay_Street.jpg
kimber lane
http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/asset/2/images/Kimber_Lane.jpg

Too many bloody trees!!! :bash:

why spend $$$ moving the tram line a few metres to the side? it's perfectly aligned as it is.

I'm hoping some more real estate in the Sussex St area becomes ready for redevelopment when the NSWALP goes the way of the Australian Democrats- out the back door :)

^ in favour of what?

^ in favour of what?

A social democrat party would be good. Or a revival of the Democats. I'll vote Green to make sure the current mob get flushed down the toilet.

Back on topic.

I think the plans for Chinatown sound great!

To me the Sydney Chinatown is the best in the country. It mightn't be as authentic looking or as old as the Melbourne one but for size and variety the Sydney one wins hands down. Considering the council now looks likely to sure up the future of Chinatown and make it a pedestrian friendly connection of laneways and public spaces, things are looking even better for this part of town. Hopefully they get cracking by early next year and have a few things to show for it by the end of the year.