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

[how_good_is_he]

I actually doubt that any bank/financier would lend the money to build unless there was at least 60 - 80% pre sales of apartments and significant retail commitment. I also doubt that the developer would want to start unless they had this anyway [unless they had so much confidence to just go ahead and use their own money].
However its a bit like a chicken and egg scenario, unless you create the feel that its going to happen, it wont happen. I look forward to see if any marketing starts soon. A developer would be wise to show constant action from here onwards and I would speculate that Makris could quite easily fund the excavation of the site [ie carpark] which may take 6-12months to co-incide with the push to get pre-commitments.
I just hope it doesnt become another Walkerville.

[shaun]

According to the 10 news report, it is expected to be completed by 2013.

BTW I saw Con Makris in the flesh the other day at City Cross.

[rhino]

Is O'Connell St IMO should be less a transport corridor and more a destination in its own right.

It has to be both. It has no option as far as being a transport corridor is concerned - it's far too important, the "front door" to the city from the north. Still, it can and should also be a destination in it's own right, much like The Parade.

[stumpjumper]

According to the 10 news report, it is expected to be completed by 2013.

They may be right - my information came from within the Makris Group, but you never know.

I'd like to see O'Connell St as a destination too, but its obvious linear shape doesn't help much. The area needs more carparks (a tram removes carparks and would need to be carefully assessed in that regard) and an open space.

A solution with part of the O'Connell frontage being landscaped for small events, alfresco dining etc, like Henley Square, was developed by UniSA architecture students years ago, including a large carpark off Centenary Street where those sh*tbox units are.

[phenom]

Like many others, I will be interested to see how this proceeds and how it blends (in real life) with what is there.

Also, I am not a lawyer but I think talking on a public forum about donations being made in order to facilitate planning approval might be a little bit unwise unless you have evidence to defend a very serious accusation.

[skyliner]

Most definitely agree with developing 'Connell St as a destination - thius kind of dev't IMO will atrract many more people to the street and could act as a catalyst to take further steps - esp towards being user friendly. A linear business centre is open to developments not achieveable in malls - but O'Connell St needs first to develop past the tired stage so much of it is in. Ie with street cleanup and re presentation, trees, fix up the awnings, repaints etc

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[jk1237]

I'd like to see O'Connell St as a destination too, but its obvious linear shape doesn't help much. The area needs more carparks (a tram removes carparks and would need to be carefully assessed in that regard) and an open space.

I believe there's gonna be a large basement carpark for everyones SUV and 4WD's This is what many of the Moran/North Adelaide society was upset with the most, more traffic going down Archer St caus thats where the carpark entrance is

[harryjotter]

Sorry "jk" but you're just talking more myths. Have you actually read the dozens of submissions against this devt? You might be obsessed by SUVs & 4WDs but nobody else was. The arguments against were a bit more informed, intelligent and vision-riented than that. It might come as a surprise that Anne Moran and the N Adel Soc don't control the thoughts & opinions of the people interested in commenting on this sort of development - they can think and decide for themselves. And throwing insults hardly contributes to useful discourse.

[harryjotter]

Oh and btw, the big general car park entrance for shoppers & casual parkers is in Tynte St - opposite Fellinni's. The Archer St entrance is much smaller and only for residents' parking. That's assuming the "Major Project" plan is still valid. The boutique hotel suggestion is a new one so who knows??

[jk1237]

And throwing insults hardly contributes to useful discourse.

WTF, what insults did I throw in the above post

[stumpjumper]

Also, I am not a lawyer but I think talking on a public forum about donations being made in order to facilitate planning approval might be a little bit unwise unless you have evidence to defend a very serious accusation.

phenom, I doubt the lawyers or Makris' associates will be knocking on the door. It's common knowledge these days that the Makris Group donated $180,000 to the Rann government (through Nick Bolkus' SA Progressive Business) prior to the Le Cornu development being given Major Project status by Urban Planning and Development Minister Paul Holloway.

When Makris manager John Blunt was asked on ABC radio about the donation, Blunt replied: "We want to see things happen in this state, and that's how politics works here".

Makris Group employs as its lobbyist with the Rann government John Quirke, a former ALP MP and close friend of planning minister Paul Holloway. John's wife Davina is also a registered lobbyist for the development industry, with four developer clients whose projects have recently achieved Major Project status. Together John and Davina Quirke jointly own Pallidon Pty Ltd, a lobbying company with many clients in the development industry. Davina Quirke is also a Burnside councillor and was a recent appointee to the independent Development Policy Advisory Committee, despite having little relevant experience. DPAC directly advises Minister Holloway, a former colleague and great friend of John Quirke, but Ms Quirke has said that wherever there is a possibility of a conflict of interest she removed herself from the decision-making process. Minister Holloway has defended Ms Quirke's appointment despite her lack of experience by saying that there were insufficient female members on the panel. Pallidon donated $11,000 to the Rann Government last year.

The Makris Group is the Rann government's major cash backer after the Australian Labor Party and the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association - the SDA or 'Shoppies', effectively the Left wing of the SA Labor 'Machine'

In the past six years developers have given the Rann government almost $700,000 with the Makris Group donating more than $340,000. In 2007/8 (the last figures I have), for example show the Shoppies donating $241,390.29 and the Australian Labor Party $600,000. The next nearest official donor is the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union - the 'Mizzies', the Right wing of the Machine. Most of the other donors give much less, for example the ALP's topless Port Adelaide pub, the Colac Hotel donated $20,000 in 2007/8.

Gone are the days of early 2008, when North Adelaide residents who had distributed a flyer encouraging residents to attend a public meeting received a letter from lawyers representing the Makris Group of Companies threatening to sue them if they raised the issue of Makris Group’s $180,000 donation to the ALP at the meeting.

Cash donations followed by political favours are an accepted fact in South Australia. As John Blunt says, 'That's how politics works here.'

However, Premier Rann has assured us repeatedly that South Australia has 'a different corporate culture' to other places and is therefore immune from corruption. The Rann government remains trenchantly opposed to an ICAC.

Update: Davina Quirke resigned from DPAC after her four clients with Major Project applications had had their applications. approved.

[rev]

Can we get a political rants sub forum?
At least then development threads can stay focused..

[harryjotter]

IMO SJ's post was very focused. The problem is that others' often aren't, sometimes out of lack of knowledge or understanding of the true facts, but at other times a blatant attempt at revisionism. So if a post pops up that needs a bit of clarification somebody'll jump in. I thought that ws what this forum ws about. Going over old history can be tedious, but it's sometimes necessary if we're putting a value on honesty & accuracy.

[stumpjumper]

Thanks harryjotter. I understand rev's point, but in this case the cronyism, to put it kindly, and the approval of the development are intertwined.

There will always be a close relationship between big business and the state. As usual, I was trying to point out that success should be determined by a free market and the rule of law, not on favouritism fed by donations and favours in return.

My objection is not so much moral as from a concern that once some people are seen to be able to ignore the rules, then others demand the same treatment, and finally the system becomes unworkable.

[Will]

From the Messenger:

Le Cornu site work begins

newsLocal News27 Apr 10 @ 11:00am by Chloe Kennedy



GONE: Crews demolish remaining buildings at O'Connell St's former LeCornu site last week. Picture: Helen Orr


HOME buyers will soon be able to line-up for a piece of the long-anticipated six-storey apartment complex at North Adelaide’s former Le Cornu site, developer Con Makris says.

Workmen were last week busy demolishing the site’s remaining buildings - including the former Paesano’s Cafe - to pave the way for 47 apartments, high-end fashion boutiques and carparking.

“We have spent the past few months developing concept plans for the apartments, and our residential real estate consultant, Brock Harcourts, will soon be launching registrations of interest in the apartments,” Mr Makris said in an emailed statement.

Mr Makris would not say when work would actually start on building the apartments and shops. However, it must be before September under the state development approval granted in 2008.

Mr Makris also would not say how big the apartments would be or how much they would cost.

The site has been vacant since 1989, after being sold by the LeCornu furniture business the previous year.

The Makris Group bought the land in 2001.

The City Council previously refused to approve plans for the site over a three-storey height limit, but the State Government took over planning control in 2008 allowing a six-storey complex.

Adelaide Cr Anne Moran, who lives in North Adelaide, was last week skeptical whether the demolition would mark the start of building work.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” she said.

“He (Mr Makris) might choose to tear down the buildings and sit on the site a little bit longer.”