Taipei's much-hyped street sunshades will not be ready until deep winter, an embarrassment for the city government and no help to residents sweating through this summer.

• The city planned eight shade canopies at five Xinyi District intersections, each costing NT$7.44 million.
• Officials promised the first ones by the end of August, but paperwork shows construction only began July 20 with a 180-day schedule and a January 15 completion date.
• Councillor Chen You-cheng called it either a rushed publicity stunt or bad planning, noting residents keep asking where the umbrellas are.
• The canopies were sold as summer relief, each seating 30 people and built to withstand typhoon-strength wind — now arriving in the cold.
• The public works office says work is being sped up but gave no reason for the delay or a firm opening date.

Outlook: Steel frames are still being fabricated, so the shades look set to open in winter, while the city weighs letting companies sponsor more of them in the Neihu tech park.