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Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East

Table of Contents

1. Executive summary. 3
2. Introduction. 4
3. Key statement – Sustainable Issues Raised by the Three Parties. 5

3.1 Key Statement Raised by Environment – Green Groups. 6

3.2 Key Statement Raised by the Local Communities/Residents. 7

3.3 Key Statement Raised by Private Businesses. 8

4. Evidences to Support the Arguments of the Three Parties. 8
5. Conclusion. 13
6. References. 15

1. Executive summary

Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East is a project that involves creating environmentally friendly areas for pedestrians to use. The report analyses major concerns raised by three parties who are affected directly by the project namely the local residents, private businesses and environmental green groups. This report analyses the process and importance of pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East and the significance of the process to sustainability.  Lastly, it provides evidence to support the issues raised by each of the three parties affected by the project. There are three main strategies that could be used to pedestrianize Tsim Sha Tsui East, namely full-time pedestrian street, part-time pedestrian street and traffic calming street strategy.

Sustainability is critical in pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East as it will ensure the benefits generated from the project once completed will be enjoyed by current and future generations without the risk of the sources of the benefits declining. If the project is implemented without taking into account sustainability issues, the benefits will only last for a short period of time after which they will decline. The study analyses some of the indicators of sustainability in the Tsim Sha Tsui East pedestrianizing project such as motion, social, leisure and economic indicators among others. This paper analyzes the process and importance of pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East while considering the sustainability aspects and the existing land use features viewed from a sustainability viewpoint.

Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East

2. Introduction

Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East, which is a region between the Polytechnic University and the Cultural Centre, is an idea whose time has come. Bounded at the north by Austin Road and in the east by Cheong Wan Road and Hong Chong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land that was reclaimed from Hung Hom Bay which is now located east of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong.  This paper critically analyzes the process and importance of pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East while considering the sustainability aspects and the existing land use features viewed from a sustainability viewpoint.  Due to the prevalence of many high-end shops, bars, pubs and restaurants including being the host of many museums, Tsim Sha Tsui East is a major tourist hub in Hong Kong (Iglesias, 2017).  Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui is in line with the current trend in Hong Kong and other cities in the world of improving the overall pedestrian environment.  For instance, in an effort to keep cars outside of the city center, Boston undertook a project that cost billions of dollars and many years to complete. Soho and Covent Garden in London which is bustling with trees and the underground city in Chicago are some of the best examples of pedestrianized cities (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).

Sustainability is critical in pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East as it will ensure the benefits generated from the project once completed will be enjoyed by current and future generations without the risk of the sources of the benefits declining. If the project is implemented without taking into account sustainability issues, the benefits will only last for a short period of time after which they will decline (Aura-Luciana, Bosák, Nováček & Slach, 2020). Tsim Sha Tsui has enjoyed the material rewards of economic growth, just like other parts of Hong Kong. However, the need for protection of the natural environment has become a sensitive issue in recent years. The need to balance economic growth with sustainability issues to ensure the pedestrianizing concept achieves its objectives economically, socially and environmentally among others is important (Tillie, Judith Borsboom-van Beurden, Doepel & Aarts, 2018). The project must be designed while taking into perspective sustainability issues which could affect it. Environmental green groups, socially inclined local communities / residents and economic concerns as relates to private business are some of the groups whose concerns on sustainability must be taken into account to gain their support for the project. Environmental green groups are concerned with the impact of the project on the environment (Iglesias, 2017). The group is concerned with strategies which would reduce reliance on fossil fuels to fuel vehicles, solid waste management and use of renewable sources of power among others.      Local communities/ residents will be concerned about how the project will impact their abilities to continue maintaining their social groups, networks and behavior sustainability or whether the project will be disruptive to their way of life. Private businesses are concerned about the impact of the project on their economic interests currently and in the long term (Aura-Luciana, Bosák, Nováček & Slach, 2020).

3. Key statement – Sustainable Issues Raised by the Three Parties

Pedestrianizing areas in cities involves putting more emphasis on the interests of pedestrians by adopting an environmentally friendly approach in managing traffic and transport matters.  There are three main strategies that can be used to pedestrianize Tsim Sha Tsui East and they include full-time pedestrian street, part-time pedestrian street and traffic calming street strategies (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).  In full-time street pedestrianizing strategy, pedestrians are given absolute priority on the streets in a pedestrianized area. In this strategy vehicular access is restricted to emergency services only. Nevertheless, during specific periods and for specific locations, service vehicles may be allowed access into the pedestrianized area (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).  In part-time street strategy, only in specific periods are vehicles allowed into pedestrianized areas while on-street parking is not allowed in order to minimize vehicular access. In part-time street strategy the authorities are required to provide loading areas where loading and unloading can be undertaken (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).  Traffic calming street strategy is the last pedestrianizing strategy that can be applied in Tsim Sha Tsui East. Traffic calming street strategy involves widening footpaths and reducing on-street parking as far as is practically possible. Stands for minibuses and taxis are only provided if it is found that it is not practical to relocate them to areas outside the pedestrianized area.  Since vehicular access is not restricted, vehicle calming measures are implemented to slow down vehicles such as gateways, narrowing roads, sharpened corners, speed tables and kerb-built outs among other measures (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).

3.1 Key Statement Raised by Environment – Green Groups

The environmental green groups are concerned with how best to balance pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East with care of the natural environment to ensure the quality of life is not affected in the area for current and future generations. In pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East three issues emerged which would affect sustainability and were of concern to environmental green groups namely urban living space, renewable energy and solid waste management (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018). Solid waste management is one of the key sustainability concerns in pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East (Iglesias, 2017). The entire community will have to be roped in to facilitate achievement of sustainable solid waste management solutions.   Research has shown that on average every individual in Hong Kong disposes 1.36 kilograms of municipal solid waste every day into the environment. Given the large population in Tsim Sha Tsui East area and the projected rise in the number of visitors to the area once the pedestrianizing strategy is implemented, the amount of solid waste generated in a day will be enough to fill more than one Olympic-sized swimming pool (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).

Due to the growing threat of climate change, the continued reliance on fossil fuels to provide electricity or as a source of fuel for vehicles is slowly running out of fashion. There is need to look into the issue of building renewable energy sources capacities in Tsim Sha Tsui East and by extension the larger Hong Kong area (Iglesias, 2017). Sources of renewable energy include turning waste- into –energy, wind, solar, thermal and hydro-electric power sources. Air pollution is one of the main issues of concern in Tsim Sha Tsui East. To create sustainable pedestrianizing environment, the issue of controlling air pollution is very important otherwise pedestrians will be unable to enjoy the environment in the pedestrianized area (Mehta, 2019).

Environmental green groups are also concerned with how pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui will affect sustainable urban living environment.  The pedestrianizing project should be able to deliver an attractive built environment The amenities should offer an amiable environment which enhances the quality of life of residents and visitors alike. The pedestrianizing plan should deliver comfortable and attractive living environment in the Tsim Sha Tsui East (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).

3.2 Key Statement Raised by the Local Communities/Residents

The local communities/residents are concerned whether the pedestrianizing project will create sustainable living space in a densely populated area which preserves the rich biodiversity and socio-cultural heritage which local communities enjoy presently.  The local communities are concerned with how the project will deal with the older and often dilapidated neighborhoods to ensure the urban living environment is upgraded while preserving existing social networks in the area (Iglesias, 2017).  The local residents are concerned with measures that the project will implement to optimize scarce land resources’ economic value and ensure the resultant urban landscape does not alienate residents and visitors alike. Residents are also concerned with the building design, building heights and particularly where they block the view to important views such as the harbor and the surrounding hills (Koohsari, Nakaya & Oka, 2018).

3.3 Key Statement Raised by Private Businesses

The local business community has raised various sustainability issues relating to the economic impact of the project. Private businesses are concerned with whether the new land uses designated by the pedestrianizing project will bring new economic opportunities in the area. The principal economic opportunities which private businesses are concerned about include leisure and related amenities such as new hotel establishments, retail and commercial developments which could create new opportunities for employment among others (Iglesias, 2017). Private businesses are concerned whether the project will bring new facilities for tourism, leisure and entertainment. Private businesses are concerned with whether the project will increase tourism and business activities as well as an increase in the number of events in the area. The local businesses are concerned about the net economic benefits which would accrue to businesses operating in the area (Rupprecht, 2017).

4. Evidences to Support the Arguments of the Three Parties

There is overwhelming evidence to support the position taken by all the three parties who are stakeholders in the Tsim Sha Tsui East pedestrianizing project.  Research indicates that the gross floor area for buildings in Tsim Sha Tsui East stands at 842,585.105m2.  Pedestrianizing the area therefore will create a high population density per square kilometer in Tsim Sha Tsui East since land is a major constraint (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018). Planning for the pedestrianizing project must, therefore, be done meticulously taking into account pedestrian capacity and footways existing in the area. Planners must take into account shops and other places of interest which would attract a high traffic flow of pedestrians and create sufficient footways and resting places to avoid congestion.  Local traffic must also be taken into account including access to offloading and unloading activities and the impact on the pedestrianizing project must be determined (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).  The municipal planners should also ensure the pedestrianizing project does not end up creating serious traffic and environmental problems on other roads and areas in the vicinity of Tsim Sha Tsui East. If traffic congestion results in roads in the vicinity of the pedestrianizing project once the project is implemented, then there will be no net gain to the community as that will be shifting traffic and environmental problems from one location to another (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).

Pedestrianizing the area will include increasing living and working spaces within a short duration of time. This will result to influx of tourists both local and international to the area. A high development density will hence result which need to be controlled to enhance environmental sustainability in Tsim Sha Tsui East.  Environmental green groups are concerned with the impact of the project on long term environmental sustainability within the area (Iglesias, 2017).   It is estimated that every individual in Tsim Sha Tsui generates 1.36 kilograms per day of municipal solid waste which when the entire population is considered results in enormous amounts of solid waste released into the environment every day. The project planners should be in a position to implement conventional waste collection methods which would address the problem of solid waste sustainably (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018). Acquiring sustainable solid waste solutions will require the cooperation of every inhabitant. Use of environmental sustainable energy resources are also matters that must be taken into consideration. In the area, most of the power used to fuel vehicles is fossil based fuel which affects the environment adversely and is a major contributor to pollution and global warming. There is need therefore to develop renewable sources of power which is ecofriendly (Iglesias, 2017). Local weather averages 21 degrees centigrade and fluctuates substantially during each year which shows that the issue of global warming is affecting the area adversely. There is therefore a need to invest in renewable sources of energy to reduce reliance on burning fossil fuels (Parvez, Hazelton & Guthrie, 2019).

Local communities are concerned with the impact of the project on their societal interests and concerns.  Local communities are concerned with whether the development will lead to loss of valuable sights such the current views of the harbor and the hills surrounding Tsim Sha Tsui East. Local communities are very important in realizing the goal of sustainability in Tsim Sha Tsui East.  They will have to be involved in decision making and be consulted before major decisions affecting the project are made (Iglesias, 2017). Local communities are important in managing solid waste in the area. Since each community member discharges 1.36 kilograms of solid waste to the environment, it’s important to involve the local community in crafting a solution to the problem of solid waste management (Iglesias, 2017). The local community will be critical in realizing the goal of achieving quality environment which controls pollution and ensures clean air is attained. Community leaders should therefore be consulted in every decision that impacts on the societal wellbeing of residents. In order to support sustainability efforts, the Hong Kong government has set aside HK$100 million to support initiatives which help to make local communities aware of sustainable development and which encourage residents to embrace practices which support sustainability (Iglesias, 2017).

There are various indicators which will measure the sustainability of the pedestrianizing project. Private businesses within the project location are majorly concerned with the economic sustainability of the project.  The related economic indicator identifies various benefits to sustainability.  Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui will include various commercial activities which will take up retail space as well as space for offices in the area. Employment opportunities will be created by these activities as well as in the hotel establishments which will come up in the area (Iglesias, 2017).  An approximately 6,885 job opportunities are projected to be created in the area which relate to the Tsim Sha Tsui pedestrianizing project.  According to official government statistics, employment opportunities will be in the range of 2 per hotel room, 1 per 25m squared of retail space and 1 for every 15m squared of office space which will be created during implementation of the project (Iglesias, 2017). The next indicator on economic sustainability is the increased business opportunities. The project will increase the number of business opportunities in the area as it will increase the number of visitors into the area as well as opportunities for employment (Iglesias, 2017).  This will activate an otherwise dormant area which will enable the creation of an environment where an emergence of live-work environment will be witnessed.  The pedestrianizing project will therefore generate positive benefits to the general economy and enhance sustainability of the area involved in planning (Iglesias, 2017).

On natural resources indicator of sustainable development which is of concern to environmental green groups, it is important to note that the project will generate wastes from commercial sources as well from domestic sources. The project implementation team will adopt conventional waste collection strategies to address the rising waste that will emerge.  Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East will generally improve and expand the quality of open space and champion elements of landscaping (Iglesias, 2017).  For the benefit of residents and local community, linkages will be provided to enable easy access to amenities. New recreational promenades, luxury parks recreational waterfront spaces to be enjoyed by both local residents and tourists will be created by the project. On environmental quality indicator which is of interest to environmental green groups, the project will ensure sources of noise in the project will be limited to traffic and noise emanating from marine activities only (Gültekin & Erenoğlu, 2018).  The proposed development will be designed to ensure no negative consequences will affect air ventilation assessment in the area.  All unwanted facilities will be removed and that will include any incompatible land uses that are found to be in conflict with the pedestrianizing strategy. Removal of unwanted buildings and land uses will be effected within 1-2 years during project implementation (Falk, 2017).

On culture and leisure indicator which will be of concern to local residents, the pedestrianizing project will construct facilities for leisure, sports and recreation which are vibrant and which are expected to increase the number of people who participate in activities of leisure, sports and culture. Waterfronts will be created which will be set next to recreational facilities and also leisure facilities to create a memorable experience for residents as well as visitors (Aldieri & Vinci, 2018).  The quality of open spaces and leisure facilities will be greatly enhanced and they will be made easily accessible to both local residents and tourists.  The split between active and passive recreation will be maintained at 50/50 for open spaces in the area (Iglesias, 2017).  The new areas of open spaces and recreation facilities which will be provided will enhance the resources available to the community which will enhance sustainability and get the community to support sustainability initiatives. The project implementation team will ensure that upwards of 18% of total area designated for planning will be set aside for public spaces which will be accessible easily by the local residents and tourists alike (Iglesias, 2017).  The project will decrease the number of local residents living in Tsim Sha Tsui East who have little or no access to environmentally friendly open space. The new development will also create private open spaces for the benefit of employees as well as public open spaces for local residents and visitors.  The promotion of certain cultural activities is expected to create a sense of culture and heritage among the community and the project implementation team will seek to make that a reality (Dočekalová & Kocmanová, 2018).

On mobility indicator of sustainable development and of concern to local residents, the project will enhance community infrastructure by enhancing connectivity to external transport systems. The possible Yau Ma Tei to Hung Mom link will probably enhance connectivity to the region and will most likely benefit Tsim Sha Tsui East pedestrianizing project.  Safe and convenient access to all areas in Tsim Sha Tsui will be enhanced by pedestrian connections in the area.  The project will create value to vacant sites at the moment as new employment generating projects will be created (Iglesias, 2017). New passive and active open spaces will create a whole range of recreational opportunities which will bring about new employment generating developments. Active work environments will be created by the new employment generating developments which will be made possible by the project.  New hotel establishments which are expected to be constructed in the area will promote tourism and other related activities which will assist in supporting the new commercial and retail activities all of which will enhance the local economy (Aura-Luciana, Bosák, Nováček & Slach, 2020).

5. Conclusion

Pedestrianizing major areas and streets within cities is one of the ways that municipal authorities use to create pedestrian friendly areas in major cities. These areas normally have reduced or no vehicular movement as the main focus is creating open spaces and environmentally friendly amenities that can be accessed by pedestrians. Sustainability issues are of major importance in pedestrianizing cities. Pedestrianizing Tsim Sha Tsui East must therefore take into account sustainability issues to ensure the benefits that will be created by the project will be enjoyed by current generation in the area as well as future generations.  All stake holders that will be affected by the project must be consulted and their concerns taken into account as they will have a huge impact on sustainability of the project