Ageing warehouses, petrol stations and delivery trucks lined up outside garage doors typify the facade of downtown Wong Chuk Hang.
The main drag -a stone's throw from Aberdeen and Ocean Park and skirting the island's prestigious Southside- is not widely known as a lifestyle destination.
Yet there is a slow but sure change under way, thanks to the impending arrival of an MTR station (due for completion in 2016), Central's rising rents and lack of space.
Already, a steady arrival of lifestyle-centric small businesses -art galleries and studios, design and wine stores, homewares and fashion designers in need of space, cheaper rents and display areas- are taking early advantage of loft-style spaces, proximity to upmarket suburbs and a 10- to 15-minute drive to Central.
'The area is quite hot' for this kind of business, says Willis Mak Tze-hing, senior director of investment services for Colliers International, primarily because of the warehouse atmosphere, tourist areas such as Repulse Bay on its doorstep and the upcoming MTR station. 'I definitely see the creative aspect of it growing. But, it will be gradual.'
As in other cities, decrepit warehouse districts close to the city centre (New York's Meat Packing district, for example) provide an aesthetically antiquated, open and bright atmosphere ripe for renovation and artistic innovation. In turn, they become a hot spot for designers, artists, studios, quirky gift stores and eventually, inspired dining establishments.
