[U/C] Central Market Arcade Redevelopment | 130m | 39 levels

[Will]

from realestate.com:

[adsta]

Does anyone know what is happening in the Chinatown food plaza? Took this photo yesterday and most stores are now closed. A couple have simply moved to the other side of the food court. Is this area being renovated?

[ChillyPhilly]

Does anyone know what is happening in the Chinatown food plaza? Took this photo yesterday and most stores are now closed. A couple have simply moved to the other side of the food court. Is this area being renovated?

I noticed this last week as well. Alarming, because just a few months ago some of the now-closed stores were still busy.

Either rents have been massively hiked, or following Kim Wang's closure, a revamp is planned.

[Nathan]

Does anyone know what is happening in the Chinatown food plaza? Took this photo yesterday and most stores are now closed. A couple have simply moved to the other side of the food court. Is this area being renovated?

I noticed this last week as well. Alarming, because just a few months ago some of the now-closed stores were still busy.

Either rents have been massively hiked, or following Kim Wang's closure, a revamp is planned.

There was talk that a rent hike was the main reason for Kim Wang closing, so wouldn't be surprised if that's the case for the entire plaza.

[Ben]

Yes there is a renovation happening.

[dbl96]

Yes there is a renovation happening.

That's unfortunate. I daresay it will price a lot of cheap no-frills options out - just like what happened on the other side of Moonta Street a few years back, and just like what the Market Arcade redevelopment has done.

The great thing about the central market was the value it offered - intense competition between stores selling similar offerings of fresh produce kept quality high and prices low. And you could get a cheap meal in one of the food courts to keep you going while you were there, as well as other useful and affordable services like repairs and key-cutting. A lot of those services disappeared with the closure of the Market Arcade, and there has been a gradual displacement of market stalls with touristy cafes/restaurants etc in the market proper. The new Market Square delvelopment will no doubt be a lot posher that what it replaced. There is a real danger that the market precinct will be reduced to not much more than another bland expensive and sanitised mall. This would be really unfortunate for Adelaide.

[ChillyPhilly]

A couple from today, not great photos because there is only a tiny gap to take photos from. But it gives an idea of activity.

[Ben]

Thanks! So it was a concrete pump! Any visability of the 4th crane base?

[ChillyPhilly]

I couldn't tell, but did see a cement mixer getting loaded in by crane - although that could be for anything!

[abc]

Yes there is a renovation happening.

That's unfortunate. I daresay it will price a lot of cheap no-frills options out - just like what happened on the other side of Moonta Street a few years back, and just like what the Market Arcade redevelopment has done.

The great thing about the central market was the value it offered - intense competition between stores selling similar offerings of fresh produce kept quality high and prices low. And you could get a cheap meal in one of the food courts to keep you going while you were there, as well as other useful and affordable services like repairs and key-cutting. A lot of those services disappeared with the closure of the Market Arcade, and there has been a gradual displacement of market stalls with touristy cafes/restaurants etc in the market proper. The new Market Square delvelopment will no doubt be a lot posher that what it replaced. There is a real danger that the market precinct will be reduced to not much more than another bland expensive and sanitised mall. This would be really unfortunate for Adelaide.

exactly my point all along

the whole precinct will become hipster franchises and drive out all the culture

[AG]

From Woods Bagot's LinkedIn page:

[timtam20292]

Fourth crane has started going up.

[Prodical]

They make it pretty hard to get any decent photos from street level but that will change when the columns start going in. The distance shot shows how large the markets site is

[HeapsGood]

I wonder if there is any desire for Hilton (or whoever buys the hotel - apparently its up for sale) to renovate and create a back entrance/cafe/restaurant to their hotel, now that an open laneway will straddle the back of their hotel and the new arcade. Its an opportunity to retrofit to take advantage of the pedestrian traffic.

[Patrick_27]

I wonder if there is any desire for Hilton (or whoever buys the hotel - apparently its up for sale) to renovate and create a back entrance/cafe/restaurant to their hotel, now that an open laneway will straddle the back of their hotel and the new arcade. Its an opportunity to retrofit to take advantage of the pedestrian traffic.

This would be a completely logical outcome in any other instance but unfortunately that would mean downscaling or removing entirely their function spaces on ground level, which are way too lucrative for any hotel to do without. I can’t see it happening.