The Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields which has been at the centre of a development dispute is expected to be a gazetted heritage site, said city Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib.The 110-year-old building, which is located on private land, was supposed to have been redeveloped into a high-rise residential complex but the plan by the ashram's board of trustees came under intense public criticism.
"We have been informed by the National Heritage Department that they are considering declaring the ashram a heritage building," Ahmad told reporters today.
Ahmad in November last year said City Hall was still considering the application by the ashram's board of trustees to develop the heritage site.
After the public outcry, the ashram board of trustees’ chairman said critics should be giving donations to support their charity work rather than protest against plans to sell the land.
Tan Sri Dr K. Ampikaipakan had said that the board of trustees had decided to sell and redevelop the 0.4ha plot of land because it needed funds for the schools and charities under its care.
The redevelopment plan included a 23-storey apartment tower on the land.
The façade of the ashram, and a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, however, would be preserved for heritage purposes.
The redevelopment plans have called into question the issue of striking a balance between heritage conservation and funding of community needs, as the trust owns and manages four schools – SJK (T) Vivekananda, Brickfields, the Vivekananda primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and SJK (T) Thamboosamy Pillai in Sentul.
The ashram's followers opened their first Tamil school in 1914, before launching other schools, a hostel and kindergarten for the Tamil community over the years. –January 15, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/heritage-status-for-brickfields-ashram-likely-says-kl-mayor#sthash.Lf6kRjVQ.dpuf
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