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

[PeFe]

I really think that the tram to North Adelaide should be built next (wait, wait, don't say he's posting in the wrong thread) so that the media can say "tram to no-where!"

Because in Adelaide terms that means "development" is immediately activated in this area...…

So if we have a North Adelaide tram suddenly the Le Cornu site will be developped....

[SBD]

It looks like 9-10 stories in several buildings on Brougham Place. Why would they not want to have a signature building of at least 12 stories on a large site right in the middle of North Adelaide?

Is the airport final approach actually over the Le Cornu site and require a lower absolute height than is allowed a few blocks further south? Or do planes actually fly over the parklands and Torrens then turn? Even so, there seems to be ten stories on Strangways Terrace in the direct line, so a couple stories higher would still be below any glide path that clears that one.

[claybro]

I'm almost inclined to say the ACC should purchase the site and turn it in to a permanent green space/ public square. Only problem is, it would then be landscaped with dead native grass, a few scraggly eucalypts, and some awful indigenous interpretative paving. It would become another space for homeless squatters, that will be encouraged to stay put by well meaning charities. Perhaps this would be justice for the urban elites like Anne Moran. Maybe some large metal words that spell out "forest of nightmares" to complete the picture.

[Honey of a City]

From "Your Say" (Adelaide City Council newsletter)

"Eighty Eight O'Connell
Submissions for the Expression of Interest (EOI) phase for the development of the site closed on 30 November. Council is pleased that a number of submissions were lodged, indicating strong interest from a range of potential local, national and international developers.
Evaluation of the proposals is occurring now, with an update being provided to Council after this phase is completed."

[how good is he]

I have heard a rumour that Maras has been chosen [or is at least the front runner] to develop this site.

[Patrick_27]

I have heard a rumour that Maras has been chosen [or is at least the front runner] to develop this site.

That would be f**king right. Maras was the reason that Bob Wallis from Wallis Cinemas couldn't never anything going on this site, and why Makris struggled in the early days of owning the site to get planning approval. Maras was forever in the ear of the ACC, trying to prevent anything too large-scale from a retail perspective from happening which is why the ACC kept pushing for a multi-level carpark.

[Jim]

I'm almost inclined to say the ACC should purchase the site and turn it in to a permanent green space/ public square. Only problem is, it would then be landscaped with dead native grass, a few scraggly eucalypts, and some awful indigenous interpretative paving. It would become another space for homeless squatters, that will be encouraged to stay put by well meaning charities. Perhaps this would be justice for the urban elites like Anne Moran. Maybe some large metal words that spell out "forest of nightmares" to complete the picture.

Drove past recently and the lawn area actually looks nice. Perhaps Adelaide’s next town square?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[YellowRoad]

Maybe they could build a bunker on the site, to act as a safe space for the good folk of North Adelaide the next time a rock and roll band is a tad loud or the lights of the AO are a little too bright?

891ABC on Wednesday morning just gone announced that any development of the site is "atleast 3 years off" & everyone's favorite city counciler Anne Moran plans on putting forward a motion for a change of use of the site to carparking (until such time as it's developed) at the next city council meeting. The logic behind this phenomenal idea is basically the more car parks available = the more people that'll head down to O'Connell street for a few $10.50 pints.

[Smithy85]

Commercial and General have been chosen as the developer.

[Mpol03]

Hang on... same design or is this being resubmitted ?

[rev]

Hang on... same design or is this being resubmitted ?

Who knows.

C&G building it, almost certainly lock this one away as going ahead imho.

[SRW]

Hang on... same design or is this being resubmitted ?

Do you mean Makris's design? Definitely not. The only other designs we've seen were concepts not part of an official bid. So this will be something completely new.

[how good is he]

I am guessing that C&G has a hotel operator planned for part of this site. I remember seeing the Marriott brand on the North Tce/Lot 14 site when they were involved. Marriott’s other up market brand - St Regis, is also starting a national rollout and they have no representation here, so this site could be ideal. The other likely operator could be Sheraton which was originally planned for this site.

[rev]

So how about this old LeCornu development? Let's stay on topic please.

So C&G are appointed to build "it", who are the architects?
C&G have done a number of the recent developments in the city.

[gnrc_louis]

After 20 years, more waiting to see latest Le Cornu site development plan
Local

The public could be forced to wait until May before seeing the Adelaide City Council’s plan for the old Le Cornu site in North Adelaide.

Stephanie Richards
@stephrrichards
Print article
The old Le Cornu site has remained vacant for over 20 years. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

City councillors and staff met behind closed doors last night to receive an update from their chosen developer for the site at 88 O’Connell Street, which has remained vacant for over 20 years.

The council is currently in a non-binding heads of agreement with the developer – understood to be Adelaide-based firm Commercial and General – and both parties have signed a non-disclosure agreement that prevents the release of information to the public.
Advertisement

Ahead of last night’s discussion, the council’s associate property director Tom McCready said confidentiality was required as elected members would be presented with “significant information” relating to intellectual property.

He said the latest date the council could make the plans public would be May 23, but the council “intends to wrap things up a lot earlier than that”.

“That date is linked to a State Government commitment,” he said.

“That is contingent upon information that relates to the State Government that elected members would be aware of.”

The council agreed to purchase the old Le Cornu site for $34 million in 2017 following 20 years of vacancy.

The sale, which InDaily revealed was up to $14 million above the site’s professionally assessed value, was assisted by a $10 million State Government grant.

A spokesperson for Planning Minister Stephan Knoll said there was “nothing to stop the Council going public with their plans unless they have an agreement with the developer not to”.

The spokesperson said when the State Government signed its funding agreement it required the city council to meet certain criteria before May 23 to receive the $10 million in funding.

“They have to satisfy those requirements by May 23, which they are understood to be on track to do.”

McCready clarified to InDaily in a statement this afternoon: “The State Government’s financial commitment towards the 88 O’Connell Street redevelopment has a requirement (under the funding agreement) to progress with an executed development agreement”.

“Council is confident of meeting the requirements of the funding agreement and progressing this exciting opportunity to revitalise such an important gateway site into the city,” he said.

Area councillor Anne Moran and north ward councillor Phil Martin argued against the council holding last night’s meeting behind closed doors, claiming that the discussion was in the public’s interest.

They also criticised the anticipated public release date for the plan as “too late”.
Advertisement

“We decided this a long time ago and it’s really embarrassing not to be able to say anything to the people who actually own the land and are paying for the development,” Moran said.

“We’re not talking about spies or spyware or something like that.

“We’re talking about a publicly-owned piece of land, we’re talking to the lucky proponent that got our nod – or majority nod.

“What are they going to tell us that Joe Blow ratepayer doesn’t deserve to hear?”

Councillors Phil Martin and Anne Moran. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Martin added there was “sufficient speculation in the media” about the council’s chosen developer to warrant open discussion.

But the council’s governance manager Rudi Deco said information published in the media was “totally irrelevant”.

“You can move to discuss everything in public but there will be consequences for that and these consequences will be ultimately adverse to the community who will be hit in the pocket really, which is ratepayers’ money,” he said.

The Advertiser reported in November that the council had settled on Commercial and General as its preferred developer following a worldwide expression of interest process, but the council has refused to confirm the report.

During last night’s meeting, the council’s growth director Ian Hill denied that council staff had leaked the name of the developer to the media.

“It’s a small town (and) obviously speculation is speculation but from our perspective we didn’t release any information around proponents on this project and nor do we intend to until we get to a development agreement point,” he said.

InDaily later spotted what were understood to be Commercial and General staff entering Town Hall ahead of last night’s confidential session.

Furniture retailer Le Cornu owned the O’Connell Street block for 134 years before it was sold in 1989.

Property mogul Con Makris last proposed developing a $200 million apartment, retail and hotel complex on the site in 2014, but that proposal – like several before it – fell through.

SA Best MLC Frank Pangallo last year called on the State Government to buy the Le Cornu site off the city council to speed up what he described as a lengthy development process.

The council expects to start construction at the site next year.

https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2020/ ... ment-plan/