Eight months after voicing their concerns about the state of their community and how they want it to be developed, the residents of Talat Noi — an old district near Bangkok’s famous Chinatown — can now look forward to progress on a scale that will rejuvenate it on a grand scale.
The clean-up process will clear encroached areas and open up more public space for the community residents to carry out their activities. photos by Patipat Janthong
“The neighbourhood has been difficult to access for everyone, including tourists,” said Vichai Ariyarattopas, 53, who grew up in the community and runs a boutique hotel.
Mr Vichai fully supports City Hall’s plans to improve road infrastructure and set up an integrated transit system that combines land, waterways and rail.
That, he says will draw more visitors to the community.
Like many other locals, Mr Vichai wants the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to preserve the Talat Noi community. The preservation project will parallel the Bangkok Chinatown Riverfront project, under a policy to make the capital a more liveable city.
The Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts was hired in March to study the needs of the local residents and ways to improve the community. The findings will be submitted to City Hall by the end of November.
If the BMA’s executive board approves the institute’s findings, Vanchai Thanomsak, director-general of the City Planning Department, said a budget will be proposed.
The restoration of Talat Noi and its environs will increase its importance as a city business centre, Mr Vanchai said.
The aim of the plan is not to improve the neighbourhood for the benefit of outside motorists. Rather, it is to improve the lives of residents and pedestrians, said Assoc Prof Chuvit Sucha-xaya, a lecturer at Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts.
He presented the institute’s findings — drawn from interviews with Talat Noi residents — at a meeting on Oct 29 to more than 200 residents, officials from relevant agencies and members of the private sector.
“We asked them to visualise the future of the community and how they want the community to be shaped,” said Prof Chuvit, who lead the study.
The residents want piers to be improved and some canals to be restored. An improved network of walkways and bike routes topped the list, as well as upgraded pedestrian facilities and road infrastructure.
They want car parking spaces and bike racks to be provided, he said. A tourist information centre was also included on the list.
But as Assoc Prof Chuvit pointed out, the residents’ needs are endless. Therefore, the institute team chose four out of 20 projects to launch the restoration plans. These four pilot projects will require a budget of 59.2 million baht.
Two of the projects involve infrastructure improvements to the Phanurangsee and Sawasdee piers. The other two are aimed at improving walkways that link the community and the riverfront, and the provision of the direction signs within the community.
Phanurangsee Pier was chosen as a pilot project even though it is not in use, he said. The pier and its surroundings are always crowded with people who use the spot as a meeting community meeting place. Near the pier is a museum paying tribute to Dr Puey Ungpakorn is being built.
“The area needs improvements in several aspects so it can better serve the increasing number of people expected to flock to the neighborhood,” Assoc Prof Chuvit said.
Initially, public spaces for recreational activities will be created, including an outdoor sports area and space for relaxed reading. A tourist centre is proposed and a pier for tourist boats will be constructed, while bike racks will be provided. The Puey Ungpakorn museum will be surrounded by trees and plants to create a relaxing environment.
For the Sawasdee pier, Assoc Prof Chuvit said the plan was to upgrade it and make it a gateway to the Chao Phraya River. Once a bustling dock that handled cargo, the pier is now a small structure that services just one ferry operated by a private company, he said.
The pier can be expanded to increase its capacity to handle more tourist boats, he added.
Added to that will be a network of alleys and lanes to make it more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to access the community’s services. Green spaces will be added and big trees will be planted to give shade.
Setting up a tourist information centre and community centre are also part of the second plan.
The next part of the project involves improved pedestrian facilities in areas that connect Talat Noi to the Chao Phraya River’s bank.
Assoc Prof Chuvit said a path that currently links the river and the community is too narrow for people and bikes to get through.
Additional walkways and roads need to be created to provide more channels to access to the community, he said, adding Talat Noi is accessible via Yaowarat Road and Charoen Krung Road, but they are very busy thoroughfares.
The subway’s Purple and Red lines that will link the community to the city centre are under construction and set to be launched soon.
To promote cultural tourism in Talat Noi, a special and carefully designed path will be built to connect various areas, providing convenience and comfort for cyclists and pedestrians.
Parking areas will be provided for bike riders as well as rest stops that meet community needs. Alleyways in the community will be decorated with ballast dolls (tukkata up chaow), the Talat Noi community symbol.
The final pilot plan is to provide signs along walkways to direct tourists to attractions and landmarks in the community, Assoc Prof Chuvit said.
Resident Nonlanee Ungwiwatkul, 36, said she hopes the project will provide the community with a much-needed face-lift, adding areas that had been encroached upon by some residents should be reclaimed under City Hall’s restoration scheme. She accused district officers of neglecting their duty for years.
She said residents lacked the public spaces to perform activities including exercise.
Born and raised in the community, Ms Nonlanee said she hopes the restoration as part of the city’s preservation plan will open up more public space for residents.
Vorrapong Sukteera-anatachai from Chaophaya Development Corp Ltd also supported the preservation plan, and urged the BMA to improve all piers along the Chao Phraya River and especially the walkways linking the piers to the nearby communities.
Preeda Parathachariya, a resident living in Yaowarat community, said the restoration programme values the people’s way of life.
He urged authorities to boost the charm of this little gem in the city and to strictly enforce traffic regulations to improve road safety in the community.
Public space for exercise is on the community’s wish list.