Heritage Hotel / Café at Penang

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Santorini Cafe





http://thefoodisgood.blogspot.com/20...fe-review.html

Address: 94 , Jalan Burma , Georgetown , Penang, 10050 Pinang George Town, Malaysia · Get Directions
Phone:042292776 / 0164416039

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Friends of George Town Heritage appreciated
Posted on 2 April 2012 by Jimmy Leow Beng Hock



The Friends of George Town Heritage programme was devised to bring together a group of volunteers, provide them with the necessary training they need to become familiar with the World Heritage Site and its history and culture.

Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng thanked the volunteers for a job well done at the ceremony held at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang.

Video by Jimmy Leow

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Think City – Catalyst for revitalising George Town


Illustration: Lau Su Lin. Photography by Daniel Lee, Think City and Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

In a new age of cities, George Town’s future looked uncertain as quiet crumbling decay set in. Since 2009 a small organisation has been quietly and systematically transforming George Town’s cityscape and the community’s mindset. PM speaks to Think City’s executive director, Hamdan Abdul Majeed to discover why the city’s future is so embedded in its past, and why this fact is the key to its survival.

By Rosalind Chua


Hamdan Abdul Majeed, executive director of Think City.
Photograph: Daniel Lim

“When we looked at George Town we thought, how could this city be transformed, how could it become economically vibrant, more liveable and sustainable?”


Hamdan Abdul Majeed has reason to celebrate, the day of the interview also marks his fifth year working on what Khazanah Nasional [1] has ambitiously dubbed the “Penang Initiative”. He arrived late, caught in George Town’s treacherous weekend traffic, direct from a closed-door meeting with the managing director of the World Bank, just one of the many global movers and shakers flying into Penang to see first hand what all the fuss has been about.

Currently, there is a sense of optimism and purpose in Penang that has gone a long way towards banishing the despondency of the late 1990s. The most visibly obvious indicator of change has been the physical revitalisation of George Town, not so long ago a city synonymous with urban decay, a city on the periphery that had lost its way.

“The ‘Penang Initiative’ was created in 2007 to see how Khazanah could unlock Penang’s true potential. The view we took at that point in time was contrarian. We saw Penang stuttering, as opposed to the generally held belief of ‘business as usual’. Penang needed a new vision if it wanted to develop beyond being a low cost producer. I think this has become synonymous with what the middle income challenge is,” explained Hamdan.

One of the major concerns was that Penang’s international linkages built up over 200 years could be lost within decades without focus and pin-point economic stimulus. The state’s cosmopolitan DNA – which was once shaped by its history as a thriving port city and modern technological hub – is an immense asset that could inspire the next wave of growth, not just for Penang but also the surrounding hinterland. Therefore, the success (or failure) of the “Penang Initiative” will have important repercussions for Malaysia and the future of national urban regeneration projects.


A workshop on shophouse restoration held in August 2011.
Photograph courtesy of Think City.

Off the drawing board
Intervening in Penang would always be a delicate, balancing act. Hamdan, a Penangite himself, was all too aware of what he called the “contrarian” nature of most Penangites.
He explained, “Khazanah plays three roles – investor, facilitator, convenor – we felt that in a brownfield environment such as Penang it was not just about putting in money. It was about creating the right dialogue and facilitating it. The creation of Think City Sdn Bhd as one of Khazanah’s special purpose vehicles (SPV) was to focus on urban renewal within George Town and catalyse change through an innovative RM20mil George Town Grants Programme (GTGP) which provides financial incentives for physical conservation and community-oriented projects.

George Town was an obvious test bed for this initiative, given its position as Malaysia’s oldest city, yet a city desperately in need of an overhaul. “When we looked at George Town we thought, how could this city be transformed, how could it become economically vibrant, more liveable and sustainable?” Hamdan stressed. The challenge that lay ahead was to create a buzz and to empower the community to shape its city, only then would it be possible to attract the attention of potential investors as well as policymakers.

The small Think City team quickly set about reaching out and establishing the new organisation as a focal point for urban transformation, by building links with the state government, the local councils, communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). “We didn’t want to create a top-down environment, the people know what to do, we’re just creating an environment that allows their energies to be directed to make a difference,” Hamdan explained. “In order for Think City to be a catalyst we had to take an inclusive approach, in the sense that we can’t go to someone’s house and tell them to replace their plumbing, repaint their walls, etc. We need to get the homeowner to invite us in and to feel that they want to do the renovations. When we work in partnership, we can create the outcomes that both parties want.”


Think City provided finding for the restoration of Masjid Kapitan Keling's dome.
Photograph courtesy of Think City.

As fate would have it, Khazanah’s arrival coincided with George Town’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site and the new Think City team had to figure out the intricacies of urban regeneration within a World Heritage Site. The challenge was now to take advantage of George Town’s World Heritage Site status while ensuring that the tangible and intangible heritage that led to the listing was not lost. “At the same time we wanted to infuse new activities into the city, hence the GTGP to spur community-led renewal, by funding many new small projects.” [2]
George Town – becoming a future-proof city
To encourage further discussion and thought about the future of George Town, Think City regularly brings in international experts through its own links to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), AusHeritage, the British Council, Unesco and Fundacion Metropoli. Sharing knowledge and information is a huge step towards gently persuading government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and concerned individuals to share the vision. In theory it’s like herding cats, in practice the Think City team seems to have achieved a small miracle – to create neutral spaces where different (and sometimes indifferent) stakeholders can meet, talk and make things happen.

“In 2010, we published a joint study with the World Bank (Cities, People and the Economy) on positioning Penang, this document has contributed towards shaping national policy on the need for growth to be concentrated in cities and how managing cities has become important. Well managed cities create a positive development outcome,” said Hamdan. “Urban transformation is difficult, it’s easier to create something new – changing something you have to become better is not that easy.”

Shaping George Town’s urban environment to encourage and enable the community to become “actors” is all part of the process of empowerment that Think City is seeding. There are visible signs that change is taking place, as the city’s built heritage is being spruced up and people are paying top dollar to own heritage properties; as for the software, it’s probably still too early to say. When the older generation of craftsmen and artisans eventually close shop, who will take their place? Will there be a new creative influx? Who will make up this influx?

For now, Think City is focused on taking advantage of the spotlight that has fallen on Penang. Hamdan is adamant that, “doing more of what we’ve done in the past is not going to take us up to a higher platform. This is not just about more FDI (foreign direct investment), more infrastructure, etc. These are enablers which are a prerequisite, a given! The differentiating factor is whether we have enough people with the right knowledge, skill sets, capabilities. Do we have an urban environment that is interesting? That is unique? A place that people will fall in love with… this is what differentiates George Town (and Penang) from other cities in the region and ultimately attracts talent.”


The Tapestry of Cultures street event held during last year's George Town Festival. Think City sponsored the costumes.
Photograph courtesy of Think City.

Hamdan is the first to admit that the GTGP is not a perfect model, but a work in progress that can only improve. “For us it’s also a pathway of discovery, but we are saying, rather than waiting for a perfect environment, let’s go and do it together. Then we can shape it. It’s all about achieving a collective outcome, it’s not about Think City, it’s about the people and about making sure that they have a better outcome. We’ve done our part by lighting fires – Penang’s journey is continuous, we’re just people who have come in and added our bit.”

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From George Town, Penang FB:
The House of Yeap Chor Ee’s Galleries with new permanent exhibition is Now OPEN!

The galleries are located on the first floor, above the Sire Restaurant located at No. 4 King Street. Visiting hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Admission fee is chargable at RM8, and audio guide rental at RM10.

[Bruno Mars]

lovely interior

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Roommates Penang










17-B, Lorong Chulia,
10200, Georgetown, Penang
T: +604 2611 567
Email : roommatespenang@gmail.com

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The Boutique Residence




















133 Pitt Street, Georgetown, 10400 Penang
Tel: 04-2639133
Fax: 04-2637133
http://theboutiqueresidencehotel.com.my/

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Old Street Taiwanese Delicacies





http://www.kenhuntsfood.com/2011/10/...ies-8-row.html

Address: No. 2, Jalan Krian (8-Row), 10400, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact Number: 017- 407 8633
Email: oldstreettaiwanesedelicacies@hotmail.com

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Old Budget Hotel








46 Jalan Macalister
Georgetown, 10400 Georgetown, Penang
04-226-3122
oldbudgethotel.com‎

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Harvest Wok





http://sunflowerfarm84.blogspot.com/...rvest-wok.html

48 Moulmein Road, 10350 Penang
Tel: 012-482 2656 / 604-226 3482

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A Bite of Taiwan













44, Jalan Moulmein, George Town, Malaysia 10350
Phone: 04-2273471
Email: abiteoftaiwan@gmail.com
Website: http://www.abiteoftaiwan.blogspot.com

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Quay Cafe














Address: No 2, Church Street Ghaut,10300, Penang
E-mail : quaycafe@gmail.com

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Kaapcai Cafe










https://www.facebook.com/kaapcai
Add: 399, Lebuh Chulia, Georgetown, 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 0184692998

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Monocle: Property Prospectus: Georgetown

http://www.monocle.com/sections/edit...s-George-Town/

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Red Chef Sizzling House





http://crazynickonthego.blogspot.com...eorgetown.html

Red Chef Sizzling House
161C, Jalan Argyll, 10050 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang.

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Wednesday April 25, 2012

Penang council tears down renovations



USING power tools, a team of Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) personnel tore down walls and other structures of three buildings in Jalan Muntri, George Town, which were being renovated without council approval.

There was no commotion as the owners, who were planning to turn the three building into guesthouses, cooperated during the 90-minute work.


Enforcing the law: MPPP workers tearing up the extensions of the buildings in Jalan Muntri, George Town, yesterday
Thirty MPPP workers and policemen were involved during the operation which started at about 10am yesterday.

One of the owners, who declined to be named, said he had invested about RM400,000 to renovate the buildings since November last year and had also spent some money to buy beds and air-conditioners to get the guesthouses ready next month.

When contacted, Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) building director Yew Tung Seang said the MPPP did not received any application for the renovation of the three buildings.


Enforcing the law: MPPP workers tearing up the extensions of the buildings in Jalan Muntri, George Town, yesterday
“All alteration works on buildings in the World Heritage Site can only be carried out with the council’s approval,” he said.

Yew added that the renovation works should also be in accordance with the safety guidelines set by the Fire and Rescue Department.

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...6959&sec=North

[Vince]

This is awesome: more like what a city council of a developed country would do. In 3rd world countries, a little rasuah (bribe) would probably settle the issue. Keep up the good work!

This would also teach a lesson to the errant owners and tell others that they have to abide by city bylaws when they do renovations to their buildings.

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Originally Posted by Vince

This is awesome: more like what a city council of a developed country would do. In 3rd world countries, a little rasuah (bribe) would probably settle the issue. Keep up the good work!

This would also teach a lesson to the errant owners and tell others that they have to abide by city bylaws when they do renovations to their buildings.

yes, I like it too, although their investment is important, law should be uphold 1st

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wonder how many heritage hotels / cafe etc in the making..

saw another few (apart of the cases at Muntry street). Lebuh Melayu alone has 5 heritage building under renovations, lorong Ikan has another one....seriously this trend is moving fast..

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Western Spices @Green Hall








Location No.1, Green Hall Road (off Light Street), 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Phone 42611553
Email westernspices@gmail.com