News & Discussion: General CBD Development

[crawf]

Updates

Old street lights along King William Street, between Victoria Square and Grenfell/Currie St have been removed, while there has been some progress on the West Terrace upgrade with new street lights and overhead signage (North Tce intersection) currently being erected. Bout time!

Rundle Street upgrade is progressing nicely aswell.

Photos to come

[monotonehell]

Somewhat minor, but good news for what has been a bit of a wasteland right behind Rundle Mall for ages. There's works underway (very early stages as yet) to expand the usable area in the Pulteney end of Renaisance Arcade in order to open a 9shop, 350seat food court. They've attracted a few new eateries in there in the past few months and are now advertising for more...
http://adelaideretail.com.au/show_retai ... catid=1&u=

Now if only they would do something for the old four level empty arcade behind Woolworths (that used to connect to John Martins before David Jones did the dirty on their new neighbours). That's such a waste of space.

[Burger]

On the same end of the Mall as Mono's post, I'm reliably informed that another large change will be announced shortly, this time for the southern side of the Mall. Can't detail anything just yet but will let you know as soon as I have the all-clear (unless they go to market sooner than I realise). It's just received Board approval and the final details are being thrashed out now.

[Isiskii]

I'd sure hope it's got something to do with the Toys R Us building. It's such an eyesore!

[iTouch]

I'd sure hope it's got something to do with the Toys R Us building. It's such an eyesore!

the lifts are great fun to to take a joyride on and provide excellent views... Wait, who said that?

[Nathan]

I'd sure hope it's got something to do with the Toys R Us building. It's such an eyesore!

the lifts are great fun to to take a joyride on and provide excellent views... Wait, who said that?

I believe they have security guards there now that stop people from just riding the lifts. I'd have thought the cost to have guards keeping such a close eye on the lifts would far exceed the extra operational costs of the lifts, but that's just me.

[jk1237]

On the same end of the Mall as Mono's post, I'm reliably informed that another large change will be announced shortly, this time for the southern side of the Mall. Can't detail anything just yet but will let you know as soon as I have the all-clear (unless they go to market sooner than I realise). It's just received Board approval and the final details are being thrashed out now.

just off the top of my head, I wonder why Coles doesn't open up a smallish supermarket around the mall. Is it Coles?

and some more information, nothing too interesting, is that when Savings & loans credit union and Australian Central finally become one, they will take over the naming rights of the Optus building as we already use over 3 floors there

[crawf]

I thought Coles were opening up in the future Rundle Place shopping complex?

[AtD]

I thought Coles were opening up in the future Rundle Place shopping complex?

That's just a rumour that started on this forum. It's logical though.

[AtD]

Spotted on Real Commercial:
http://www.realcommercial.com.au/cgi-bi ... 1281163880

399 King William Street, recently sold. Just a place-holder render. Does anyone have any info? How old is it? Was it ever serious?

[stumpjumper]

THE State Government ignored central Adelaide in its rush to develop higher-density suburbs, property experts say.

A report from commercial property agency Colliers International argues new developments at Bowden, Tonsley and Elizabeth risk draining critical mass from Adelaide's CBD.

- Advertiser 16th August

An interesting view from a Colliers executive. He stops short of recommending some 'commercial engineering' to encourage development in the CBD - eg relief from state government statutory costs such as property rates and taxes, or from federal charges such as income tax.

The benefits include reduced load on transport infrastructure in and out of the CBD etc. There's a strong case to be made that a healthy city is the basis of a healthy, prosperous community. See American writer Jane Jacobs on this point.

[jk1237]

It was a strange article. When I read it I thought it was a bizarre argument, caus we should be developing higher density suburbs as well as major developments in the CBD. Not one or the other, both is the answer. The one type of development we can do without (or atleast lessen) is the low density ongoing outer sprawl.

One city that Im interested in is Vancouver, with the huge amount of 20 level "condo" towers that have popped up like wildflowers in central Vancouver in the last 15 years. Most of Vancouvers skyline is now made up of these residential towers. Could this style of development be applied to the west end, and south west quarters of the city. And I dont mean all luxury apartments, ones for middle income earners too. There are so many large industrial sites and warehouses around Sturt, Wright and Gilbert streets that could be used for residential tower sites. I get a strong hunch that developers are bending over backwards to purposely not release too many city apartments at one time, to lower the supply and thus keep the prices and their profits high. Who has been to vancouver to see what its like? The Prince and Queen Anne maybe

[stumpjumper]

I was wondering about Colliers' self-interest in the argument, but I think that there may be a good case in simple planning terms against the 'donut city'.

Development of outlying broadacre sites obviously suits the likes of Delfin, Fairmont Homes etc - the crew who seem to be guiding the government's push for development at Mount Barker, for example. Then there's Buckland Park, Concordia near Gawler etc. What suits those developers is not necessarily good practice - there are hidden subsidies which are paid for by the taxpayer, such as roads, transport and service infrastructure extensions.

'Urban infill' which has been the mantra for years has been replaced by 'TODs'.

I've heard Mark Gilbert, an engineer from Wallbridge & Gilbert, talk in favour of a general 5 storey allowance for residential development in the areas of the city you mention, as a compromise between towers which can create environmental problems (shading etc) and, if they are budget built for the rental market can create social problems too. He cites Paris as an example of successful medium height development. An advantage of medium height development is that a single building can contain its own parking spaces, usually in one basement level. Garden East is an example of such development. The economics, the 'developer equation', seems to work out ok as well.

I complain a lot on these boards about the unhealthy connections, mostly by cash donation, between the broadacre development industry and governments (of all types) in SA. The Advertiser article stopped short of mentioning that, but did imply that something was stopping the kind of inner city development it proposed from happening.

It would be interesting to see some cost studies worked up on the sort of inner-city sites you mention. Not just for 60sqm student accommodation units with no parking, but a mix of 2 and 3 bedroom housing which would suit a wider demographic.

[Ben]

Peregrine Corporation (On The Run's) want to build a carwash opposite the casino. Let's hope this is rejected. What a ridiculous idea.

Type Development Application Received
Application Number DA/655/2010
Lodgement Date 30/08/2010
Latest Decision
Location 143-145 North Terrace, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description Change of use of ground floor and mezzanine tenancies to convenience shop and car wash facilities.

[metro]

a car wash what's next, a drive thru mc donalds on the museum lawns