Building giving David Jones the finger.?

[duke]

On North Tce you have David Jones with all the leaves over it,
Then to the right of the building you have that big empty building between DJ and the old Club 108.
At the top of the empty building is a leaf, at the end of the leaf is a hand with its middle finger sticking up facing the David Jones building.

Anyone know what the deal is with this thing?

[Prince George]

That's been there since the David Jones building was completed. IIRC, when the DJs building was going up, that little cluster of older buildings had placards in its windows that suggested the owners had some beef with what was going on next door.

Stretching a little further back, I recall that just prior to the Adelaide project there had been a story from interstate (was it Brisbane?) where David Jones were developing a site but had to retain some heritage buildings. During the early site works, the foundations of the heritage buildings were irreperably damaged and DJs got permission to demolish them for public safety, and thence developed the entire site. Heritage groups were unimpressed, and more than a little suspicious. It's possible that this has something to do with the placards and the finger, but of course I'm just speculating.

[Xaragmata]

[Vee]

At the top of the empty building is a leaf, at the end of the leaf is a hand with its middle finger sticking up facing the David Jones building.
Anyone know what the deal is with this thing?

Never noticed this before! Well spotted.

Thanks, Prince George, for the background info and speculation?? and the great photo by Xara!

Would have been a good candidate for Wayno's "where is it" thread?

[jk1237]

didnt know any of this

[Omicron]

I think it's marvellous. A quirky little addition to Adelaide.

[stumpjumper]

The 'finger' on the little stone Gothic building dates from the time of the David Jones redevelopment and relates to an argument between the building's owner, Lorraine Thompson, and the DJ developers over rear access to Ms Thompson's building. At the time, Ms Thompson was a practising accountant and lawyer.

[duke]

Some good info

Anyone know why these buildings have been empty for so long? It seems like buildings like this are a perfect example of lack of progress in Adelaide. I couldn't imagine similar sites in other cities staying empty for so long.

[Will]

Some good info

Anyone know why these buildings have been empty for so long? It seems like buildings like this are a perfect example of lack of progress in Adelaide. I couldn't imagine similar sites in other cities staying empty for so long.

Rather I think they are an example of the restrictions placed on the re-use on heritage buildings ehre in Adelaide. The ACC restrictions are quite strict in that heritage listing imparts strict rules regarding the changes that can be made to a building. Such rules are very inflexible and they mean that in many cases such buildings cannot be re-adapted for modern use, or their potential uses are reduced.

[AtD]

Yes the issues for old buildings can be a long list. Problems such as fire escapes, fire suppression, disable access, asbestos, ventilation and so on all need to be resolved before you can even consider occupying many buildings, especially in a commercial setting. Atop of all that are the requirements of any modern tenancy: air conditioning, heating, plumbing, lighting, power and communications, all of which you'd want to resolve if you ever want to be able to attract enough rent to make it worth your time. Then add atop of that the restrictions of heritage and the additional red tape this requires around all the work done. It all costs money.

It's unfortunate that the very regulations designed to protect heritage buildings often leaves them in a state of decay.

[ahurrell]

i'm so glad I found this. The signs in the windows of that shop at that time used to read "what about me david jones?" "am i to collapse like Brisbane?" which made no sense to me but was so intriguing i never forgot it! the mystery if finally resolved. and i do love that finger, especially the red nail polish!

[stumpjumper]

Ms Thompson's building is vacant because she likes it that way. The building as actually two, with a residence downstairs accessible by the right hand front door, and consulting rooms upstairs accessed room the left hand front door.

A lot of other old buildings in Adelaide CBD have unoccupied upper floors because of our fire safety rules. Legislation has meant that some buildings are unlet, while others are let but may not be stayed ion overnight.

It's a pity because a lot of the space is well-located and usable, but cannot easily be made compliant.