Is private parking coming to Park Island?
The Chinese Park Island chat-site www.parkisland.no-ip.org has had Park Island residents speculating as to whether the new phase of luxury villas will come with private parking.
The rumor and speculation is that Sun Hung Kai is holding off selling the villas until its application for car parks is approved. And that process in turn is apparently being held up by a powerful former Ma Wan village chief, who still has influence over such matters.
Below is a picture of the new villas, and one can quite clearly see how car parking would be feasible, with direct road access to the villas.
The discussion on the abovementioned Park Island chat site is speculating that prices for the villas would be significantly higher if/when parking is granted, and that Sun Hung Kai stands to make significantly more if they can sell the villas with such facilities, hence the delay in starting sales.
In the Chinese website, there seems to be overwhelming support for limited parking, with most residents realizing that this would lead to increases in property values (something always welcomed by people in HK!). On the other hand, there are a small number of vocal opponents, who support the environmental friendliness of Park Island, and who argue that people who bought on Park Island "should not try to change things". A good response to that, I thought, was if such people don't want change, why don't they just turn the island back to a small fishing village, and move back into village houses!
My own personal view is that a good compromise would be to release 500 or so private car parks, only available to private residents, either for rent or for sale. I would probably get a carpark, and then endulge in a car, and look forward to flying over the Tsing Ma bridge expressway on the way into Central for work.
One of the reasons we moved to Park Island was because there are no cars here! Even though our property price will sky rocket, to me it will impair my standard of living.
ReplyDeleteIf they do allow cars then at least don't allow them into PI, maybe leave them parked at the entrance where the taxis goes. Thinking about it more, I would seriously join a protest if they started to allow private cars in !
Not every homeowner is money grabbing or wants to drive.
Hi Alison. I also have mixed feelings about this. Like you, I moved to PI because I was sick of belching busses, fumes in HK, and wanted a cleaner, healthier environment.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I can fully appreciate that property owners would like to see prices rise, and indeed some people I suspect have invested in the hope of making significant gains in value each time traffic restrictions are relaxed.
My feeling is that a very good compromise would be to have a limited number of private parking, ONLY FOR OWNERS, directly after you first arrive at PI (just past where the current taxi roundabout drop-off point is, or perhaps on the undeveloped part of land under the Tsing Ma bridge). This would help satisfy the demand for cars from those who want it, lead to prices increases for owners, and at the same time hopefully not affect the very nice environment we now have on PI.
Speaking of the Tsing Ma bridge, do you happen to know if there is pedestrian access to the bridge from Park Island? I'm moving to PI in a few weeks, and it looks like it would make for a spectacular morning jog along that bridge - IF there is a good pathway.
ReplyDeleteIf the cars don't actually come into PI and walking my dog around I never have to see them or worry about traffic etc then I don't really care if they just go to the entrance or whatever, if anything I would appreciate it as obviously my flat would increase in value! But that is because I plan to leave HK at some point so I want to sell and make as more profit as possible, if I knew I was staying in HK forever? I might not want it to happen at all price increase or not, after all, the increase in price only matters when you sell and currently as it is, I can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else in HK than PI !
ReplyDeleteI would be worried about the demographic of people living in PI however, I have friends who rent here & I would be sad to see them leave because of rent hikes and so far, I quite like the people here already, people seem friendlier than where I used to live, if mega rich people moved in? Maybe it would change? I don't know, just speculating.
Regarding "Speaking of the Tsing Ma bridge, do you happen to know if there is pedestrian access to the bridge from Park Island? I'm moving to PI in a few weeks, and it looks like it would make for a spectacular morning jog along that bridge - IF there is a good pathway."
ReplyDeleteWhat you can do is go along the beach, and then take a path UNDER the bridge. That is quite a fun walk/hike, and you can mix it up by either going along the path (its kind of a natural path just created by others who have wakked there), or jumping rock to rock. Awesome sea views and a great way to start the morning.
I can understand why the introduction of parking and private car access to Ma Wan would be attractive to owners and Sun Hung Kai (because of the upward impact on property values).
ReplyDeleteHowever I cannot see how it would be a good thing for the island, the majority of residents, or even HK in general (as regards the credibility of the planning dept and a continuing slack attitude on behalf of the govt towards pollution and green issues).
Even the "modest" compromise you suggest could cause chaos. Imagine 500 cars making a beeline for the roundabout and Tsing Ma bridge sliproad around 8.15, all desparate to get to work at the same time. The result would be gridlock, also ensnaring the buses to Tsing Yi and those who can't afford a car & rely on public transport. One of the main attractions of Park Island is the absence of such snarl ups today.
Whilst it may be true to say that if no changes were ever allowed, Ma Wan would still be just a fishing village, I think that misses the point. The development as originally conceived (and approved) was for a forward thinking & environmentally aware project, offering something different to most other places in HK. To sell out on that ambitious plan just for the sake of a value cash-in does a disservice to everyone else who won't directly benefit, and also smacks of hypocrisy: having played the green card to begin with, and then pretty much tearing it up when it suits the vested interests to do so.....
Thanks Karlos - its a very interesting perspective you add. I can definately see merit in your points. I guess, if/when is comes down to a decision on the issue, there will definately be people who strongly advocate exactly the views you have outlined.
ReplyDeleteI must say, the longer I live here, the more I relly enjoy the absence of cars.
I am sure there are apartments in other locations in HK where owners would actually be prepared to pay EXTRA for a prohibition on noisy and polluting traffic. Especially people who care about their health, the health of their children, and the environment in general.
But the irony is, that probably owners could make a nice profit if cars are allowed as prices would rise. So which is going to take priority? We are in HK after all, where money is a major motivating factor for people!
I do wonder though, if over time, the very fact that Park Island prohibits cars will actually lead to an PREMIUM on prices, as people start to value this unique feature of the Park Island development?
Im still hearing rumors about parking coming but always short of exact details. I think it will likely come only after the Zuhai bridge has opened. That is still some time away but it does make Park Island a very appealing investment for this potential.
ReplyDelete