Does anyone know what the plans are for the old spicey island building? I really miss that sitting out spot, it was like the heart of the village. I hope it has plans to be another lively meeting point. What a disapointment that LaLa Mamas spot became a property shop, the first part of the village is beginning to lack character now!

The property office move is temporary. I believe they are rebuilding 2 buildings: the old property office building first, and once that's completed they'll move back into their old location and then the Lala Mama building will be torn down and rebuilt.

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

That is correct. These two buildings are over 40 years old and it seems to be more expensive to do ongoing renovations than to rebuild them.

No word on who might move in there afterwards, maybe the highest bid for sale or rent?

Tearing down and rebuilding the Spicy Island/Mr Kebab building is in progress and no info on what it might become afterwards. The rumours about a future McDonald's or other fast food place are *almost* certain not to be true.

In the meantime, construction has begun or is in progress on several more buildings along Main Street and Back Street and all over Yung Shue Wan. Two brand-new village house went up just adjacent to our home in the last 4 years and a 3rd one has its foundations prepared now. The building boom continues at full steam and this year's building season is starting now...

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McDonald's sell cheap food in high volumes, there would only be enough customers here on Sundays.

Thanks Tavis, Lamma Gung and Alan, I am still hoping for a nice cafe /people watching/meet and greet corner. though i must say there are some very nice places popping up in Lamma, the new steak house is divine and what a great atmosphere!

Is this why financial institutions are leery of providing mortgages on village houses - because they only last about 40 years before falling apart?

I could be wrong about this, but I have heard that the quality of construction and building materials used was not consistently 'up to par' on the island quite a few years ago. There is no reason as far as I can (in my non professional capacity) imagine that a building properly constructed of reinforced concrete cement shouldn't last for over a hundred years. I have noticed that corroding reinforcing steel expands, cracking and splintering the cement it is supposed to strengthen. Perhaps the reinforcing steel used here in days gone by was not treated with anti corrosion materials as I believe it is now. The salty air must wreak havoc upon any exposed steel.

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
----- Margaret Mead

Use of marine sand in construction doesn't help either

I don't think it's changed. Still cheap and nasty. Maybe now they spend a bit more on the finish, nice shiny kitchen and bathroom fittings so they can double the rent, but under that the foundations and basic construction methods are still the same.

Five or ten years down the track you start to see electrical problems, rusty water, damp walls and ceilings, etc, etc.

There is no building quality or safety inspections of village housing. The only thing they check is that it doesn't go over the height and size limits.

Forgat Spicey Island....

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If you make concrete out of beach sand (or almost any island sand) the salt content will corrode the steel. Depending on salt level it can be bad for the concrete itself also (don't ever try to do anything with concrete made from saltwater)

There is some stuff going on with a residential building in HK that may have been built with beach sand - govt regs allow 0.35% chloride ions in the concrete. Not much.

I would be surprised if Lamma cement is made with anything BUT island/beach sand. I don't KNOW it, but I would bet money on it!