Another of the Macau establising shots is an oblique angle of the famous Ponte No. 16 along Rua das Lorchas. This structure was built in 1948 (by Fu Tak Iam I believe - the controller of the original gambling monopoly before he was ousted by Stanley Ho and Henry Fok et al). Thankfully it's still around, or at least was the last time I was here about 3 years ago.
The 1948 Ponte 16 builing is now surrounded by scaffolding and demoliton is in progress. It looks like the facade and clock tower may survive, however. Some affiliate of STDM owns the 2 (currently empty) sites to the south and has been wanting to develop them for decades, so my guess is that whatever's left is destined become part of that parcel. Eventually.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, Dave. Keeping the facade seems to be the only compromise developers are willing to make these days. There's a curved corner shop house in Cheung Sha Wan that is undergoing a similar process as we speak. Phil
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