Long wait for new lease of life

TIRED of living next to an abandoned white elephant for the past four years, residents heaved a sigh of relief when it was reported that the SStwo Mall in Petaling Jaya had been bought over by the DK Group of Companies last year.
Residents were also happy that the developer had installed spotlights and put up hoardings around the abandoned building.

Six months have since passed and residents want to know what is next.
In September 2018, there were news reports DK Group was planning to build a 250-room hotel and serviced apartments.

The retail space – from its current net lettable area of 460,000 sq ft – would also be reduced to between 260,000 sq ft and 300,000 sq ft. The land area is 3.16ha.
Residents are eager for the building to be redeveloped as they fear the dilapidation will get worse the longer it is left vacant.
The last thing residents want is to be left with a monstrous eyesore that will affect the area’s property value.
They also fear the empty building will become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes and a magnet for undesirable elements.
Residents living in Jalan SS2/72 and Jalan 19/30 said before the hoardings were erected, vandals who broke into empty shops to steal recyclable materials inadvertently preyed on nearby houses as well. They claim to have lost shoes and underclothes.
The empty building was also becoming a haunt for drug addicts.

Read more: https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news...--lease-of-life