Views are being sought on the Urban Renewal Authority's Mallory Street revitalisation plan in Wan Chai, a pilot project to foster development of cultural and creative industries.

Occupying 8,400 square feet, the site houses two rows of Tong Lau comprising 10 Grade II listed buildings.

Grand plan: The Mallory Street project will see six blocks retained and renovated to provide partitioned units for cultural and creative industires, and there will be a public garden.

Project investment $100m

Subject to Executive Council and Town Planning Board approval, the authority proposes to invest $100 million to redesign, restore and refurbish six four-storey buildings on Mallory Street to provide 20 partitioned units of 650 square feet.

The remaining four buildings on Burrows Street, which are in a very poor condition, will be demolished to make way for a 3,000-square foot theme garden for public enjoyment. But efforts will be made to retain the facade of the Burrows Street buildings, if technically feasible.

Works start next year for completion in 2008. Of the $100 million development cost, $62 million is estimated for acquisition and rehousing. It is targeted that the project will be self-supporting in day-to-day operation.

As there is a limit to the number of operators the project can accommodate, the authority will carefully select users.

Unprecedented move

Authority board member and the project's Special Committee Chairperson Maria Tam said it will greatly improve the living standard of residents, provide a custom-built environment for cultural and creative business operators to try innovative ideas and create a positive rippling effect by catalysing more economic activities and interests in the neighbourhood.

"The project is such a new and unprecedented attempt that we consider it very important to widely consult the general public and the prospective operators," she said.

The consultation will last until November 30. Views and suggestions on the project's architectural design, rent level, and mode of self-supporting operational management from both the public and operators in the cultural and creative industries are welcome.

"We do not have any pre-conceived idea of precisely what the trade mix should be and how the project should be run. We are completely open to any sensible and practicable theme, variety of cultural and creative industries and mode of management that may be proposed, as long as they are deemed sustainable and compatible with the goal of fostering cultural and creative industries," she said.