[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[Omicron]

The Sir Samuel Way building is definitely wasted on the criminals of Adelaide. I don't know if it is big enough to take the Casino, though - I would have thought the Railway Station is a noticeably larger building. Similarly, we won't properly rejuvenate the CBD if all we do is move existing businesses around - we need more attractions, rather than just the same ones in different locations.

Still, I like the idea of making the most of this lovely old building. It certainly deserves something better than the depressing line of same-again stores that is Harbourtown - follow the example of the planned GPO redevelopment and go for a more high-end mix of shops, perhaps? A conference and function centre, as a more intimate extension of the Adelaide Convention Centre and similar in theory to the Adelaide Town Hall? Heading up that lovely staircase would certainly impress interstate and international visitors. The young person in me wants a brilliant new bar and restaurant area that would drag me there on weekends, too.

[Wayno]

anyone have any interior pikkies of Sir Samuel Way building? unfortunately (or fortunately - depending upon your perspective) i've never been inside this lovely old building...

[monotonehell]

anyone have any interior pikkies of Sir Samuel Way building? unfortunately (or fortunately - depending upon your perspective) i've never been inside this lovely old building...

It's weird, I've not been in there but I have childhood memories of going to Moore's Department Store (which was what was in there before) and seeing the grand staircase. But my mother tells me that I'm far too young to remember that. So who knows...

[Wayno]

lovely staircase - pity the pikkie is B&W...or is it faded colour?

[MGR]

Edited by admin: Current proposals:

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Another grand plan

KIM WHEATLEY CHIEF REPORTER

February 10, 2008 11:30pm

THIS IS the "wiggle" - the $40-million plan favoured by Lord Mayor Michael Harbison to bring life back into Victoria Square.

The key to the plan is to close the western side of the square to traffic, opening up a sweeping grassed boulevard, sunken lawn amphitheatres and groves of mature trees. The tramline would become part of the boulevard.

Two-way traffic would be diverted to the eastern side of the square and the controversial plan to close off Grote and Wakefield Streets - which contributed to former mayor Alfred Huang losing his job - would be dumped.

Architect Kevin Taylor says the plan was part of a package of seven concepts designed for the Adelaide City Council six months ago, but wasn't made public. "I think this is a place for people," he said.

"All around the world the thing that transforms open spaces into something exciting and something that contributes to the life of the city is when you put people there."

Mr Harbison told The Advertiser a fortnight ago that the new ACC would finally resolve the long running saga, arguing it had the political will to sort out the issue.

He agrees that attracting people into the square should be the focus and says a proposal for a super roundabout would effectively block pedestrian traffic.

Mr Harbison disputes concerns that cutting access to the District Court building and the Hilton Hotel would cause problems. But already division is emerging. New councillor Ralph Clarke wants one big square, possibly via a super-roundabout.

"I'm not saying I'm against Michael's idea, I'm prepared to look at it," he said.

The $40 million plan requires State Government funding and a spokesman yesterday said any funding would be dependent on "the nature, timing and economic benefit for the state".


from todays Advertiser and on Adelaide now.

[ozisnowman]

There was nothing wrong with the $18 million dollar plan that he didnt support
just to get elected mayor, now this TOOL of a mayor wants to spend $40
million on a FUGLY looking WIGGLE concept. Talk about hypocricy.

Infact i reckon the old plan looks way better and would still most likely
cost less than $40 million.

[Wayno]

i also prefer the previous plan...

[rhino]

That is spectacular!

[Shuz]

Do we really want a freaking 'wiggle' through our square? Ugh worst idea.

I support the idea for all the roads to be pushed back right to the edges of the square, with a MUCH larger and more dominant public place in the middle. People should remember that Victoria Square is a pedestrian area, not a carspace.

[monotonehell]

lovely staircase - pity the pikkie is B&W...or is it faded colour?

Well, I didn't take it but I believe it's B&W.

[AG]

The issue with pushing traffic right back to the edge of the square in the form of a large roundabout is that it funnels large amounts of traffic around the edge of the square. The middle of the square would become friendly for pedestrians, but access across the roads would be a nightmare, considering the sorts of complex traffic signal sequences required at each intersection, particularly at the northern and southern ends.

[Wayno]

according to the Advertiser (http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html) this wiggle design was one of 7 proposals put forward by the architect - love to see the other options/ideas...

[Matt]

Looks alright, but I'm not sure how this is supposed to entice people to use the square?
Apart from obviously re-routing the street to the east, what's the difference?
A few more trees, a couple of sunken bits and some new pavers isn't going to make me race down there for any particular reason.

[UrbanSG]

It is hard to judge or comment on this proposal when the detail is very sparse at this early stage. However I don't see much point in going to all this trouble if Wakefield/Grote Streets will still cut straight through the centre. Surely they could incorporate a raised pedestrian area over this road to create a proper square without so many roads cutting through it. People will go to the square if it is well landscaped with adequate seating etc and not intersected by so many roads. I know I would, it makes a hell of a difference. You just have to look at North Terrace. Good landscaping and reducing car dominance attracts people to use such spaces within a city area. The square as it is right now is a disgrace so at least this is starting to head in the right direction.

[Edgar]

This idea will not work, it will not attract people into the square at all sadly. Even by looking at the drawing plan did not interest me at all. Put up a few huge screens and maybe it'll work better than huge empty lawn space. Maintenance would be significantly higher in order to keep the lawn green and trees healthy, coupled with water restrictions is not beneficial at all.

If this is what we see right now:

adding more trees and grasses would look even worse in the picture.