News & Discussion: General CBD Development

[crawf]

Woolworths is progressing well, the awnings are now in place and you can see the entrance into the supermarket.

[crawf]

Fencing has been put around the footpath underneath HJs Carpark, so looks like the Rundle St upgrade has finally started

Also further works are continuing along Franklin Street.

[crawf]

Lots of small projects happening around the city atm!

New street/footpath lights are currently being erected along King William Street which are similar to the lights along North Terrace.

AND it looks like work is FINALLY starting on West Terrace, with workmen and baracades set up between Currie St & North Terrace.

Looks like they are getting ready to erect new street lights and do some landscaping. Would be good if they erect overhead signage at the North Terrace intersection.

[Ben]

I've heard of the term "Coffee" being used as a metaphor but this takes it to a new level...

DA/367/2010
18/05/2010
Complying Development
Installation of new shower room within existing tea room (Level 5 - SKM)
Sinclair Knight Merz, Level 5 33 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000

[Wayno]

Not quite 'development' but worthy of a mention:

From city messenger:

Artists push for murals across city

A TEAM of artists has been eyeing off empty walls and hidden alleys in the city to see if they can be used for graffiti-style murals.

Spearheaded by Unley artist Narisha Cash, the group of about 12 mural masters met City Council staffers earlier this week to discuss using suitable council-owned buildings for their street art.

Cash, 31, said she was unsure exactly how much the project would cost, although she was hoping to tap into the council’s public arts grant.

She said the murals, ranging from aerosol art to stencils, would add a new level of vibrancy to the city and attract more visitors.

“We feel the city lacks a lot in the visual arts department,” she said.

“There’s so many buildings and alleyways that are abandoned and this is a way to make the city a better place.

“Melbourne’s art is a big drawcard and it’s something we could do here too.”

Cash said the project was the group’s version of Renew Adelaide, which helps artists and community groups to move for cheap rent into buildings that are disused, vacant or awaiting development.

There are about 10 council-funded murals already decorating the CBD, including some at the skate park and Rundle St.

Adelaide West End Association president Andrew Wallace said Melbourne’s street art created an “incredible vibrancy” to the city, and had a “really legitimate place” in Adelaide too.

“It’s an opportunity for artists’ work to be viewed and visited in exactly same way as exists in art galleries,” he said.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said it was good to see more artists initiating public art projects and using the council’s grants.

“We have for many years allocated funding to artists for their street art and we’d certainly welcome any extra impetus from the community,” he said.

[Prince George]

Extra street art gets my fullest support.

[yousername]

I hate public art. Bare, ugly walls ftw.

In all seriousness having more amazing murals like that opposite Cibo off Rundle Street around the city would do great. Start now.

[omada]

I thought Rundle Street was meant to get a whole bunch of street art as part of the redevelopment? I have only seen like once stencil.. things seem to move glacially slow.. come on ACC .. less talk - more action!

[ricecrackers]

Not quite 'development' but worthy of a mention:

From city messenger:

Artists push for murals across city

A TEAM of artists has been eyeing off empty walls and hidden alleys in the city to see if they can be used for graffiti-style murals.

Spearheaded by Unley artist Narisha Cash, the group of about 12 mural masters met City Council staffers earlier this week to discuss using suitable council-owned buildings for their street art.

Cash, 31, said she was unsure exactly how much the project would cost, although she was hoping to tap into the council’s public arts grant.

She said the murals, ranging from aerosol art to stencils, would add a new level of vibrancy to the city and attract more visitors.

“We feel the city lacks a lot in the visual arts department,” she said.

“There’s so many buildings and alleyways that are abandoned and this is a way to make the city a better place.

“Melbourne’s art is a big drawcard and it’s something we could do here too.”

Cash said the project was the group’s version of Renew Adelaide, which helps artists and community groups to move for cheap rent into buildings that are disused, vacant or awaiting development.

There are about 10 council-funded murals already decorating the CBD, including some at the skate park and Rundle St.

Adelaide West End Association president Andrew Wallace said Melbourne’s street art created an “incredible vibrancy” to the city, and had a “really legitimate place” in Adelaide too.

“It’s an opportunity for artists’ work to be viewed and visited in exactly same way as exists in art galleries,” he said.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said it was good to see more artists initiating public art projects and using the council’s grants.

“We have for many years allocated funding to artists for their street art and we’d certainly welcome any extra impetus from the community,” he said.

why is it that Melbourne is always used to sell an idea here...

we need to get over this Melbourne envy and find our own path, otherwise we'll only ever be a poor copy of that place with nothing unique that defines us

[Waewick]

agreed

sick and tired of trying replicate Melbourne.

We are not Melbourne and we have other positives that we could build upon if we actually took the time and effort to do it.

[crawf]

Call for action on on Adelaide's West End revival
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 5873262897


ARTIST-DRIVEN shops, more eateries, opening up laneways and keeping streets clean are key elements of a community-driven plan to immediately start revitalising the city's West End.

Adelaide West End Association president Andrew Wallace told The Advertiser the group felt there had been too much talk about improving the city's perennial entertainment precinct and not enough action.

Their answer was to come up with their own master plan.

"It has to be done now," he said. "We've got a hospital coming into our precinct. We don't want to see our existing predominant uses as live music venues, nightclubs and bars be compromised by the arrival of another use if it's not planned properly."

Mr Wallace said the planned opening of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital in 2016, provided a chance to grow and expand into a more mixed use area.

"What the association really seeks to do is to get people attached to Hindley St again - it's not just a sewer, it's not a place where there are just drunk people who stab each other, it actually has some real value to the city."

The association's master plan, to be presented to the city council and State Government, will call for:

AN INTEGRATED approach from both state and local government.

SUPPORT for the flood of creative talent from the local TAFE by providing start-up business opportunities where they can sell their work.

IMPROVEMENTS to infrastructure with new paved footpaths that are kept clean, proper lighting, road crossings along North Tce and more public toilets.

OPENING up laneways and side-streets linking the north side of North Tce into the precinct.

MORE eateries in the area to support an early-evening economy that would moderate the harder drinking edge of the late-night economy.

City of Adelaide Minister Gail Gago and Lord Mayor Michael Harbison both welcomed the association's ideas.

[omada]

there is nothing at all wrong in being inspired by Melbourne, particularly the success of its laneways and street art. Not too long ago, before Kennett, it was a city in decline - there are lessons to be learnt.

[Waewick]

you can look to see what has been done,, but in Adelaide it seems to be the general consensus just to copy everything they do because some how we have become known as the "little Melbourne"

I think we should be looking around the world and the country for inspiration on how to improve the city and the state and return it to a level of admiration it once had.

[Stubbo]

Report warns 'past prime' venues a threat to festivals
GREG KELTON From: The Advertiser June 01, 2010 12:01AM
A NEW arts centre - which would incorporate a 400-seat concert hall, 600-seat drama theatre and smaller 250-seat theatre - has been recommended for the city, possibly on the site of the current Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Called a "Black Box", it would be based on the $52 million new venue at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

"It would be part of the larger vision for Adelaide," a report says. "It would help restore SA as the pre-eminent Festival State."

The Government and arts administrators have been warned that unless there is increased investment in current venues and planning for future venues, "it is unlikely SA will be able to meet the future requirements of local and visiting artists and audiences".

The recommendation is one of a series in a wide-ranging investigation of theatre spaces and venues in Adelaide for Arts SA.

Prepared by Elizabeth Raupach, a former executive director of the Helpmann Academy and chairwoman of the State Theatre, the 49-page report also warns there are a lack of suitable arts venues.

"Other states have invested heavily in arts infrastructure over the past decade," it says.

"Most respondents to the audit believe Adelaide is now suffering from a lack of investment in arts infrastructure and that this has a negative impact on the state's reputation as a cultural leader and preferred destination for arts events."

The audit says several theatres in the Adelaide CBD face closure or restrictions of use.

"Most theatres need an upgrade of equipment and facilities and suffer from a general air of shabbiness. Many theatres have significant safety and access problems," it says.

The Raupach report says SA's venues are inadequate, outdated, run down and "past their prime", citing lack of rehearsal space, outdated technical equipment, lack of ongoing maintenance funds and inadequate disabled access.

The report says there should be consideration and planning for a new affordable, flexible, multi-use hub incorporating new performance spaces, cafes and an art gallery.

In response, Arts Minister John Hill says the Government will establish a venue register and monitor venue issues.

Interesting, could be very impressive if done right.

[crawf]

I would rather see the Festival Centre given a major revamp.