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Yoma Central

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Yoma Central
LocationDowntown Yangon, Myanmar
Coordinates16°46′49″N 96°09′28″E / 16.780222251968844°N 96.15784036135761°E / 16.780222251968844; 96.15784036135761
Statusunder consturstion
Groundbreaking2017,jan,16
Estimated completion2026
Demolished2 old FMI center buildings
Websiteyomacentral.com
Companies
ArchitectCecil Balmond OBE
DeveloperYoma Land
Technical details
Cost700$million
Buildings4towers and 1three storied building
Size9.5 acres (3.8 ha)
Leasable area2,440,000 square feet (227,000 m2)
No. of residents112apartments at peninsula resident

Yoma Central is a major mixed-use development project in Downtown Yangon, Myanmar, located at the intersection of Bogyoke Aung San Road and Sule Pagoda Road, beside Bogyoke Aung San Market.[1] The development entails a number of buildings, including the historic Myanma Railway headquarters first built in 1877, two new office towers, luxury residencies, and a business hotel.[1] The development will eventually encompass 2,440,000 square feet (227,000 m2).[2] Groundbreaking was held on 16 January 2017.[3] Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, construction of the site, including a hotel, was paused in June 2021.[4][5]

The build–operate–transfer project is being developed on land owned by Myanma Railways.[6] The project is being developed by a joint venture comprising Yoma Strategic (48%), FMI (12%), Mitsubishi (30%), the Asian Development Bank (5%), and the International Finance Corporation (5%).[6]

Controversies

The focal point of Yoma Central, the former Myanma Railways headquarters, is listed on Yangon City Heritage List, meaning it cannot be modified or demolished without approval.[6] The developers nonetheless gutted the building's interior, leaving only the external facade intact.[6] Further work in July 2018 caused the collapse of an exterior wall.[6] The developer's approach to conservation has been criticized by the Yangon Heritage Trust.[6]

Yoma Central has also been the source of ongoing labor disputes. In March 2020, construction workers at the site protested the lack of paid leave during the Thingyan holiday.[7] In January 2021, hundreds of Yoma Central construction workers protested the late payment of wages and unpaid social security allowances.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Yoma Central". Sedgwick Richardson. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  2. ^ "Yoma Central and The Peninsula Yangon to be built by Construction Giants, Bouygues Construction and Taisei". AsiaOne. 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  3. ^ "Yoma Central breaks ground in downtown Yangon". Mizzima Myanmar News and Insight. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  4. ^ "Peninsula Hotels' Myanmar project to resume depending on 'economics:' CEO". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  5. ^ "Myanmar's Yoma to restart Yangon project by year-end". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Myanma Railways seeks consultants to supervise Yoma Central". Frontier Myanmar. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  7. ^ "Workers protest at Yoma Central construction site". The Myanmar Times. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  8. ^ "Myanmar Workers at International Joint-Venture Construction Site Strike for Unpaid Wages". The Irrawaddy. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.