Photo: Deya Bautista

We were due to give you an update on the latest (and best looking) chinatown construction. So, here you have it: The all new and completely finished Swatow Plaza. Looking sharp, looking proud. It even looks sexy, if that can be possible for a building. There is only one tenant moved in, and so far it looks like the rest of the building is pretty much empty. Not sure what kind of shops will be occupying the shopping plaza, let’s just hope it isn’t going to be another import-type of business. Looking forward to new restaurants, boutiques and  whatever higher-endish business they can come up with.

This is a sneak peek of the first tenant, an antique furniture store. Not yet 100% settled in, but the owner Mr Cheung seems quite accommodating.

Will be posting on the new shops as they move in. Any additional info you may have on the new shops coming to the Plaza please share them on the comments section!

The new development of the commercial building in Chinatown has symbolically adopted the name Swatow,

“Swatow, a city significant in 19th-century Chinese history as one of the treaty ports established for Western trade and contact, was one of the original Special Economic Zones of the People’s Republic of China established in the 1980s, but failed to blossom like other cities such as Shenzhen, Xiamen and Zhuhai.”

I find the name Swatow is appropriate for this new development, it symbolizes the beginning of a new commercial center in this neighbourhood which can stimulate more economic activity.

This construction style may start a new trend, with further projects taking on a modern design with a traditional Chinese flair.

The 20 million dollar project was anticipated to be finished at the end of 2008, although they did not meet their deadline, at the speed they are going now, I would not be surprised to see it finished before the end of this summer.

What this project has to offer: Office space, Store fronts, Restaurants and two underground levels of parking.

Read additional info on this project at MtlUrb Forum