[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[dsriggs]

due to the Adelaide Oval upgrade

Is it?

[Will]

The ACC desperately needs to think outside the square at alternative funding sources, instead of just waiting for a hand-out from the state or federal governments.

How about:

*selling the air-rights above the Central Market carpark?
*imposing a $1 Victoria Square levy on all parking in the CBD?
*setting up a lottery?

[Mants]

i really don't think this is a necessary development, and i am indifferent to seeing it put on the back burner for a while. sure, victoria square may be the geographical heart of our city, but the true heart of our city is in the rundle/hindley and north terrace precincts. i don't believe this is a case of build it and they will come...i think light and hindmarsh squares would benefit far more from upgrades (hindmarsh square has already improved dramatically in the past few years).
when i think about adelaide and the things that make it buzz with life- the majority of festivals and events are all located in the northern/eastern parts of the city... the fringe, clipsal, womadelaide, festival of arts and numerous music and cultural festivals (soundwave, fmf, parklife, stereosonic, guitar festival, schutzenfest, etc). for these reasons, i think that we as a city, should focus on improving these parts of our city and maintaining the atmosphere that these festivals bring, all year round.
sure, it would be nice to do up victoria square a bit, but i don't understand the obsession with making it into this big meeting place type of thing. the festival plaza is a much better location in my opinion, or how about the site of the current RAH? or elder park? a redeveloped riverfront and adelaide oval precinct will probably benefit adelaide more than a redeveloped victoria square for the simple reason that it is in a perfect location, it is already in the immediate vicinity of the north terrace precinct and very close to rundle/hindley as well. i also think people are naturally drawn to water...it creates a great ambience which cannot be achieved elsewhere.

[Nort]

I agree with Mants. I love the Victoria Square plan they came up with, but I don't see there being the resources or demand right now for both it and the Riverside Precinct. Most of the aims for Victoria Square as a meeting/event place can be accomplished by an upgraded festival plaza, and I would love to see that space reach its potential.

[metro]

maybe they could do the square in stages...like first change the road layout, then another year move the tram lines, then another year improve the paving and pathways, and so on, a few years later the square is redeveloped.

[Wayno]

maybe they could do the square in stages...like first change the road layout, then another year move the tram lines, then another year improve the paving and pathways, and so on, a few years later the square is redeveloped.

Agree.

[kernelpanic]

This only ties in because the Hilton is on the square, but it's worth noting that there are plans to redevelop the Adelaide Hilton:

http://www.australiandesignreview.com/n ... n-Adelaide

Woods Bagot has been appointed as the architect for the new Hilton Adelaide development.

The global practice, which was first established in Adelaide, has won the contract to produce a “visionary masterplan” for the hotel.

Following their successful work on the Hilton South Wharf in Melbourne, a joint collaboration with NH Architecture that earned the design team the Overall Winner and Best Hospitality Interior awards at IDEA 2010, Woods Bagot will once again partner with the hotel group to deliver the masterplan for the Hilton Adelaide.

Woods Bagot will deliver a complete masterplan for the hotel’s ground floor, encompassing space for Food and Beverage (F&B), retail, check in and out facilities and concierge services.

Woods Bagot principal Rosina Di Maria said the firm was working with the Hilton’s Asia Pacific head of F&B operations, the executive chef and a leading food critic in order to deliver the best in hospitality design. The team was engaged in “visioning workshops” that examined “the changing landscape of the F&B industry, global trends in consumer requirements and the future of guest services and hotel offerings,” she added.

The masterplan is due to be delivered in mid 2011.

It will be interesting to see how the masterplan that Woods Bagot develops ties in with the plans for Vic Square.

[Wayno]

It will be interesting to see how the masterplan that Woods Bagot develops ties in with the plans for Vic Square.

and the Central Markets...

[Matt]

I wish they'd do something about the exterior. The Hilton and the old SGIC building are two of the ugliest buildings in the country.

[metro]

^^ i'm pretty sure this is the ugliest:
http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=image&id=408055

[crawf]

I wish they would hurry up and complete the replacement of windows in the old SGIC building. It currently looks very odd and not pleasing on the eye

[spiller]

If woods bagot can do half as good a job on the adelaide hilton as they did on south wharf in melbourne then the outcome will be fantastic. that hotel is amazing!

[peas_and_corn]

I wish they'd do something about the exterior. The Hilton and the old SGIC building are two of the ugliest buildings in the country.

Certainly! The lobby needs some touching up- most importantly it shouldn't have a restaurant in it. Apart from that, I have no issues with the interiors, they're great. It's the exterior that needs fixing over anything else.

The article mentioned retail as well, which seems odd.

[Wayno]

Cllr David Plumridge in response to a previous, and obviously uninformed, news article.

From the Independent Weekly

Committed to Victoria Square

David Plumridge - Deputy Lord Mayor

MELISSA Mack (Indaily, May 12) paints a disappointing and dismal picture of the council’s visionary budget for a regenerated and reinvigorated Adelaide. Councillor Anne Moran is entitled to her views on Victoria Square but they are not the views of the council, which has committed $24 million to what will be a very significant example of urban regeneration in the heart of the city, converting what is now little more than an expressway into a place for people to enjoy; a place for all manner of activities and a place for relaxation.

The design was heralded as world-class when it was released last year and the State Government indicated its support by putting up $2 million to assist with the detailed planning. This work is nearing completion and council hopes that with reasonable support the first stages project will start the coming financial year.

Council’s four-year projected capital works program commits at least $13 million to the upgrading of Rundle Mall, with high priority likely to be given to Gawler Place and the repaving and improved public spaces in the body of the Mall which will coincide with the new Harris Scarfe building and other major commercial developments in the Mall. Council has no direct involvement in funding the Riverbank Project; the $300,000 in the budget is to fund work required to support the Adelaide Oval project.

Through prudent financial planning, council is in a strong position to fund its major public realm projects, deliver a better-presented and safer city, and to provide a high level of services to our many stakeholders.

[SRW]

...capital works program commits at least $13 million to the upgrading of Rundle Mall, with high priority likely to be given to Gawler Place...

A digression, but I'm very pleased to hear that upgrading Gawler Place will be a priority. It should be far more pedestrian friendly.