Chea Sophara Considering Ban on Sidewalk Seating
Phnom Penh police recently stopped by the Wagon Wheel restaurant off Sisowath Quay to tell owner Gerd Kuhley to repaint his business and remove the roof—a move he says would force him to shut down.
When Kuhley asked for an explanation from police, they said they were unsure why the roof had to be removed, but added they would return and take it out if he ignored the order.
“No one will want to sit in the sun,” Kuhley bemoaned.
The order to remove the roof is part of a massive city beautification project to tear down illegal construction, remove signs and repaint buildings and homes starting with major thoroughfares such as Monivong, Mao Tse-tung and Sihanouk boulevards.
Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara said the government is considering whether to ban outdoor seating and sidewalk vendors along the riverfront.
“We want to keep the city beautiful and welcome the Khmer New Year…and to attract tourists,” Chea Sophara said.
He said the first part of the project will be to remove illegal construction along the main streets, because “it’s not so nice, and some people have construction in front of their houses and people cannot walk.”
He noted many buildings have not been painted in more than 30 years. The government wants people to repaint their business or home every five years.
He said this is a request by the government and not a law, and people won’t be fined if they decide not to paint their homes and businesses.
Mann Chhoeun, the municipality’s chief of cabinet, said all houses are to be painted a light ivory color, while government buildings will be painted dark ivory.
Several shop owners along Sihanouk Boulevard say police arrived last Tuesday and demanded that awnings, roofs and walls above 180 cm be torn back to the previous building structures. Police spray painted their orders on buildings when the residents were not home, witnesses said.
Residents of properties targeted for improvement received a letter, dated Dec 26 and signed by Chea Sophara, which reads “Phnom Penh is a precious stone in Asia and in order to welcome the upcoming Khmer New Year, Phnom Penh Hall would like to inform homeowners and building managers to please paint the front of their houses and gates with hope to show that Cambodia is a prosperous nation.”
One shop owner said police told her to tear down an overhanging roof and repaint her business. They said if she didn’t, officials would do it for her and then fine her, the shop owner said.
“The sidewalk is higher than the businesses in many places, so during the rainy season water floods the building. That’s why people built these roofs in the first place,” she said.
Steve Nyirady, owner of the Riverhouse restaurant along Sisowath Quay, was told to remove his awning.
“Cambodia has a terrible rainy season and a hot dry season, and if you don’t have…any shade all these outdoor cafes will lose half of their business,” Nyirady said.
He said police have been clearing the sidewalks for weeks, pushing outdoor seating back, confiscating plants and even seizing a sidewalk vendor’s cart.
In a meeting at city hall, two officials representing the Prampi Makara and Chamkarmon districts said people there are too poor to pay for removal of additional building structures.
“Some families do not have enough money to paint their house,” said Pheng Heng, deputy director of the municipal cabinet. “But they will do their best for the beauty of themselves and the nation.”
