Penang launches heritage arts district in heart of George Town

Penang is set to have its very own Heritage Arts District on a 2.2ha land in the heart of George Town, which will also feature a RM30 million museum, to be called the Ilham Penang.

Chief minister Lim Guan Eng, who today witnessed the signing ceremony between Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Haji Zainuddin Foundation to set up the museum, said that the privately funded public art museum would be a catalyst for urban regeneration in George Town.

“Penang is extremely excited with this new proposed development because every renowned international city in this world has within its walls a collection of iconic and illustrious art museums,” Lim said in his speech.

“Ilham Penang, when completed (in 2018), will certainly go a long way towards making Penang an international destination of choice.”

The project, dubbed “Sia Boey: Reborn project”, will see the development of the abandoned Sia Boey market in the Prangin area in George Town costing the state some RM100 million to implement.

The Haji Zainuddin Foundation will invest RM30 million to build Ilham Penang, which will cover 45,000 square feet of space, making it the largest art gallery in Malaysia.

“Besides this, PDC will be investing an additional RM70 million to make Sia Boey, the Penang Heritage Arts District.

“In line with George Town’s World Heritage status, the dilapidated heritage shophouses will not be torn down but will be meticulously restored, to be occupied by art galleries, studios, schools and work spaces.

“We have never done this before. But we are boldly going ahead and treading where we never ventured before,” Lim added.

Also present at today’s launch was Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua – one of the brains behind the project, and Ilham Gallery’s creative director Valentine Willie, who praised the state government for allocating the prime land for the project.

“This is an extraordinary act by the state government to give back prime land to its people,” he said.

Source: TheMalaysianInsider.com

Another proposed mixed residential development by Tinggian Development Sdn. Bhd. (subsidiary of Hua Yang Berhad) in Bukit Minyak, Penang. It is located next to Taman Bukit Minyak, just a mere minutes drive to AEON Big hypermarket.

The proposal comprises a mixed of strata landed (gated & guarded) and highrise properties:

• 3-storey terrace (28 units)
• 2-storey terrace (62 units)
• 41-storey condominium (268 units)

More details to be available upon project launch.

Project Name : (Pending approval)
Location : Bukit Minyak, Penang
Property Type : Residential
Land Tenure: Freehold
Total Units: 90 (landed), 268 (condo)
Developer : Tinggian Development Sdn. Bhd. (Hua Yang Bhd.)

Orchard Garden, a small residential development by Jade Valley Builder Sdn. Bhd. in Balik Pulau. It is strategically located along Jalan Pondok Upeh, next to Jade Garden. This development is only 1km away from Chong Teik Primary School, just a few minutes drive to Balik Pulau town center.

This project consists of 24 units 2-storey terrace and 1 unit of 2-storey bungalow houses.

Project Name: Orchard Garden
Location: Balik Pulau, Penang
Property Type: Landed
Built-up Area: (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price: (to be confirmed)
Total Units: 24 (semi-d), 1 (bungalow)
Developer: Jade Valley Builder Sdn. Bhd.
Contact: +6012-495 3968

Location Map:

The chart below shows the top 50 most popular projects in Penang, based on the total number of project page views we have received in the past 90 days (01 June – 31 Aug). If you own one of these properties, you may be interested to know how popular is your investment and what is being discussed today.

For developers, if your project is not in the list, most likely you haven’t done enough to market your project in the past 3 months.

 

Housing affordability has been a hot topic across the country in the last few years, and Penang is no exception. It explains why affordable housing projects are always at the top of the list. But that is never the same for the affordable housing in mainland. Despite selling below RM250,000, it doesn’t seems to be generating much traction among Penangites. Undoubtedly, many are still not willing to compromise location brand for affordability.

 

There will be colour at the dilapidated Sia Boey Market in George Town this Sunday when the Penang government launches its RM100 million Sia Boey: Reborn project.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the 5.5-acre project will regenerate and rejuvenate the market, the long-neglected Prangin Canal and its vicinity, and transform the area into a centre for art.

He said the Penang Arts Society, Penang Chinese Brush Painting Art Society, Penang Oil Painting Society and local galleries will be showcasing their artworks at the launch ceremony.

To mark the start of a new era, Lim said there will be a week-long exhibition to celebrate the past, present and future of Sia Boey at Prangin Market from this Sunday.

“The public will be able to delve into the rich history of Sia Boey and view the plans for this landmark.

“We invite everyone to come and witness how Sia Boey will transform Penang into the premier destination for artists and art lovers, for locals and tourists,” he said at a press conference at Komtar today.

Part of the plan for Sia Boey is the centrepiece Ilham Penang, a privately funded public art museum. ‘Ilham’ is the Malay for inspiration.

Lim said the state will also ink an agreement with the future sponsor of the museum for an expected RM30 million.

Also in the pipeline is the restoration of shophouses in the area, which will house art galleries, studios, schools, workplaces, restaurants and cafes.

The Victorian Prangin Market will show off another famous Penang art form: its street food. Meanwhile, Prangin Canal will be upgraded to complement a two-acre public park with sculptures and installations.

The entire project, which aims to make George Town an internationally arts and culture destination, is scheduled to be completed by 2018.

Source: TheEdgeProperty.com

READ MORE: Penang LRT Central Station to be built at Sia Boey