News & Discussion: Heritage Buildings

[rogue]

^^Building on the right. I thought it has been used as a site office for Baulderstone's during CC development.

Also, the Adelaide Metro Infocentre is the only tennant on the corner of KW & Currie St. The rest of the building is vacant.

[AtD]

Also, the Adelaide Metro Infocentre is the only tennant on the corner of KW & Currie St. The rest of the building is vacant.

At such a prominent location? Shame.

[Watch the Birdy]

The top floor of the Reserve bank is let and Isis are on the mezzanine floor apparently.
Knight Frank are trying to the lease the space.
The roof is made of copper as a matter of interest, built back in the good old days.

[jk1237]

this one's been empty for god knows how long. This is one that I would like to be turned into apartments. It even has the balconies for it. I would love to have a high ceiling, old balcony apartment right in this building. How cool. If only

[monotonehell]

yeah, I spotted Gawler Chambers was vacant quite some time ago. I'd love to develop that into appartments.

[AtD]

Amazing. It looks like there's someone in there (Squatters?) going by the lime green couch in the right of fourth floor balcony.

Who owns these seemingly abandoned buildings? Deceased estates?

The number of heritage structures in this thread simultaneously highlights the biggest success and failure of the heritage listing system. A heritage building that sits empty can be a detriment to a city, especially if squatters take over. However, the fact that a building is sitting empty for a long period suggests had it not been protected it may have been demolished.

There was an article in the ABC today about how the shortage of accommodation for foreign students is reaching critical levels. That sounds like a quick way to give these idle buildings at least some activity and income. A student accommodation refit wouldn't need to be too fancy, and as the tenants will always be short term, it would be relatively easy to empty the building if a higher market of clients is desired.

I love it when designers come up with unique and creative ways to incorporate the new and old.

[Pistol]

I used to walk past Gawler Chambers every day when I lived in the city - it has been vacant for a very long time.
I always thought that it would make an excellent podium for a taller structure behind as all it is doing is wasting away atm.

[Wayno]

i'm flabergasted, shocked, amazed and bemused (all distinct and complementary emotions) that these buildings are empty. I bet at least one of them is owned by a little old greying lady who knows not what she has...

[crawf]

It would be fantastic for student apartments, right near the universities, shops, entertainment etc. Perfect location.

Can't believe the Adelaide Metro building is still vacant.

Adelaide has alot of empty buildings, and alot of them are quite attractive buildings

[Mants]

i disagree crawf.
such a fantastic building could only be developed into boutique apartments (similar to the mansions)
they would be one of adelaide CBD's finest addresses.

[SRW]

This is something I've been curious about for some time, so thank you whomever it was that started the thread. Some of the buildings are real treasures -- surely they're attractive for residential refurbishment?

What I do wonder, though, is why they're vacant: I've heard that asbestos is an issue in a number of buildings, and structural failings in still others. The upper levels in some of the character buildings along Hindley and Rundle streets, for instance. Does anyone perhaps have clearer information and/or hypotheses?

[AtD]

I've heard that asbestos is an issue in a number of buildings

I wouldn't be surprised if that is the cause for a lot of these. Good thinking.

[Prince George]

Asbestos was an issue in the Air Apartments redevelopment, and yet it managed to get done.

[SRW]

Asbestos was an issue in the Air Apartments redevelopment, and yet it managed to get done.

Indeed, it's surmountable. Someone to put up the capital is all that's required, but for that someone there must be incentive. Is there really no market or is the cost/benefit simply too unfavourable? Are these buildings unavailable or just overlooked? These are the questions that will enlighten us as to why the buildings lay vacant.

[Omicron]

I'm sure I recall reading on this very forum that much of the problem is the lack of appropriate fire escapes and emergency access to upper floors. I'd imagine the cost-benefit analysis on gutting and refitting a short old (heritage-protected) building with limited floorspace along Rundle or Hindley is far less rewarding than that of a CML-sized building.