[U/C] 88 O'Connell Street | 63m | 13, 13 and 15 Levels | Mixed Use

[Patrick_27]

I foresee a very vocal 'anti' campaign if anyone proposes destroying that beautiful Art Deco facade.

Wallis demolishing an Art Deco facade? That would NEVER happen in a million years.... /s

Oh, c'mon. Wallis were an active supporter of the campaign to save the Chelsea Cinema from sale and probable gutting (if sold), and Glenelg was only bulldozed because Taplin's shopping centre development next door blocked off two main fire exits putting it below safety code. You also forget their retention and re-use of Auchendarroch House in Mt. Barker.

[crawf]

I know I'll probably get shot for saying this.... but I didn't think the old Glenelg Cinema was a great loss. Piccadilly is a nicer building.

*hides*

[how good is he]

What has been overlooked is the whole site needs to be dug out 3 levels down for all the underground car parking. My estimate is with the removal of soil, construction of foundations, car park walls/structure etc they will be spending 9-12 months working on just the underground. Hopefully this part starts well before late next year. It will also be interesting to see the hours that work is allowed to go on. Does anyone know if the DAC or the ACC has the authority on this one? It's usually a condition attached to the approval.

[adsta]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-13/s ... e/6938220/

A Sheraton hotel is set to become an important part of the redevelopment of the vacant Le Cornu site in North Adelaide.

The long-running saga involving the vacant land looks to be nearing an end with the Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the company that operates Sheraton hotels, announcing plans to build its first local hotel as part of a mixed-use development by the Makris Group.

The O'Connell Street site has been empty for more than 25 years, with several proposals put up without going ahead.

The land has been vacant for 25 years and was once occupied by furniture business Le Cornu.

Late last year the Makris Group unveiled plans worth about $200 million to makeover the area which included a hotel, apartments, office space, retail area and car parking.

The Sheraton is slated to open in mid-2019.

The plans include 160 guest rooms, dining venues, and a range of facilities for guests.

Business SA chief executive Nigel McBride said the Sheraton Adelaide announcement was a boost for the local economy.

"This is great news," Mr McBride said.

"It really is another reflection that Adelaide's being seen as a vibrant global, boutique city, another reflection that people are investing in our Adelaide's future and South Australia's future, really good news for you know the amenity of the economy of the North Adelaide precinct."

[Ben]

I don't understand... slow news day... they announced this about 6 months ago, what has changed?

[crawf]

Was it confirmed six months ago though?

[monotonehell]

I don't understand... slow news day... they announced this about 6 months ago, what has changed?

Never mind that. WTF is a "boutique city"?

Closest I can guess is a city serving a sophisticated or specialized clientele.

[Ben]

The Advertiser has a fly through which looks pretty impressive.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/ ... 7607739580

[claybro]

Sorry, but I think this looks absolutely hideous. For the main boulevard this could have been so much better. But I guess this is just my opinion and given the colourbond strips that have delighted us for a decade now... I guess something is better than....

[crawf]

This is the biggest confirmation this site has ever had... Finally!!

Now the next major milestone... construction.

Sorry, but I think this looks absolutely hideous. For the main boulevard this could have been so much better. But I guess this is just my opinion and given the colourbond strips that have delighted us for a decade now... I guess something is better than....

I disagree, I believe it will look superb if high quality material is used. Will become another tourist drawcard for Adelaide and give O'Connell Street a much needed boast.

[ChillyPhilly]

After 25 years, the only thing that's absolutely hideous is the vacant block.

[ynotsfables]

This is the biggest confirmation this site has ever had... Finally!!

Now the next major milestone... construction.

Sorry, but I think this looks absolutely hideous. For the main boulevard this could have been so much better. But I guess this is just my opinion and given the colourbond strips that have delighted us for a decade now... I guess something is better than....

I disagree, I believe it will look superb if high quality material is used. Will become another tourist drawcard for Adelaide and give O'Connell Street a much needed boast.

Absolutely agree the area will be unrecognisable when this is hopefully completed.

[EBG]

Please send me a wake up email when there is a tower crane on site.
Le Cornu's actually closed in 1985.

[Ben]

No surprises here.

There are no signs of work starting on the $200m development planned for the former Le Cornu site in North Adelaide
8 minutes ago
Sarah Spencer
City North Messenger

NORTH Adelaide residents and councillors are fearful yet another plan to develop the former Le Cornu site will collect dust as not one brick has been laid on the site.

Under state planning law, projects must be “substantially commenced” within one year of approval, meaning plans for a $200 million luxury residential, retail and hotel development will lapse if work does not start by June.

The Planning Department has not yet received a request from developers the Makris Group for an extension to its building approval.

The Makris Group is yet to break ground at the site, which has been vacant for more than two decades.

Makris Group general manager Steve Ploubidis said the company was committed to the project.

He said it would apply for an extension by June, but did not say when, suggesting work would not start at the site by the deadline.

The former Le Cornu site in North Adelaide has been vacant for two decades.

Mr Ploubidis moved to hose down community concern about the future of the site.

“When you build a house it takes six months to get the slab down and that’s a $200,000 house,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“We’re talking about a $200 million development.”

Makris Group chief executive John Blunt also moved to quell concerns, saying the project was “well underway” and a legal agreement with Starwood Hotels to build the Sheraton Adelaide hotel was in place.

Con Makris (right) bought the site in 2001 from Wallis Cinemas and has long held plans to redevelop it.

“The Adelaide office of project management company RCP has been appointed to oversee the construction process, and consultants are being selected and appointed,” Mr Blunt said.

“On-site construction is planned to start by the end of the year.”

Cr Anne Moran said because no construction work had started, it pointed to another false dawn for the prime site.

"Once again it’s clearly not going to happen,” Cr Moran said.

“Substantial development means digging and laying foundation and I doubt that is going to happen in the next few months.

“I’m very sad to say I told you so.

“I urge the State Government to compulsorily acquire the land if nothing happens this time.

“It’s a prominent site holding the whole of O’Connell St to ransom.”

North Adelaide Precinct Association president David Johnson doubted any works would be started by June.

“I think Makris has got to make up his mind and if he is unable to do the development he should sell it to someone who can,” Mr Johnson said. “I think he owes it to the community.”

Mr Johnson said residents had been commenting that the artwork, which was painted on the fence surrounding the empty site, would become “a major long-term fixture”.

North Adelaide Society chair Ed Briedis said residents had switched off.

“I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened,” Mr Briedis said.

“The ball is in (the developer’s) court and they are not returning serve.

“When you hear it for the first time you get excited, but when you keep hearing it over and over again and nothing happens you tend to ignore it.”

Cr Phil Martin said the stalled development was holding up a widespread upgrade of O’Connell St.

“There is no question this is the single most important development in North Adelaide,” Cr Martin said.

“If there is no building activity by the end of June, a lot of people will be concerned about whether the development is going to go ahead in the manner we all thought.

“I will be pacing up and down the site on June 30 if there doesn’t appear to be anything going on.”

A Planning Department spokesman said the Makris Group development was given an extended completion date when it was approved.

“The time for commencement remains at one year, but the time for completion was extended to five years, ” the spokesman said.

“If work does not substantially commence within one year, and the consent has not been extended, the consent would lapse.

“It is the applicant’s obligation to seek an extension of time".

[Brando]

I had to double check what Anne Moran actually did say, because I agreed with her....