stumpjumper wrote:On that point, what justifies the secrecy about the purchaser of surplus government property? What is 'commercially confidential' about it?
Halon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.AtD wrote:I like how the 'Tiser has "the vacant Department of Transport building sold by the Government last year for an undisclosed sum" and in the first page we have "It sold for $10m"
Spoken like a true disillusioned government employee.AtD wrote:stumpjumper wrote:On that point, what justifies the secrecy about the purchaser of surplus government property? What is 'commercially confidential' about it?Halon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.AtD wrote:I like how the 'Tiser has "the vacant Department of Transport building sold by the Government last year for an undisclosed sum" and in the first page we have "It sold for $10m"
Progress news on two Walkerville sites
Business7 Jun 11 @ 09:00am by LISA BACHMAYER
WALKERVILLE residents have welcomed news of progress on two of the suburb’s most prominent development sites.
Asia Pacific Building Corporation has confirmed work on converting the former Transport Department building on Warwick St into an Indigenous art-themed hotel will begin before Christmas.
The Melbourne-based developers also have flagged that Woolworths is “potentially purchasing” the adjoining Holcon site on Walkerville Tce.
It has been known as the “Walkerville hole” by locals since the town centre redevelopment stalled on the site two years ago.
Walkerville Residents Association spokeswoman Wendy Vodopivec said the suburb could now “move forward with enthusiasm”.
“It must be a good news week to have both of them fixed in what could be termed the ‘devil’s triangle’,” Ms Vodopivec said.
“The promise of development didn’t go through (on the Holcon site), then the Transport SA people moved out and made matters worse, and then we have been waiting for signs of activity anywhere.
“It will go down in history as one of the bleak periods in Walkerville, but as long as it is all fixed up now . . . it is fantastic news.”
Walkerville Traders Association president James Williams said work finally starting on the former Transport SA building was positive news for local businesses.
He said some traders had been hurting since more than 800 Transport Department staff moved out of their Warwick St building.
“Anything that will bring people back to the area is going to be a good thing for local trade.
“For delis, bakeries and those people that rely on walk-in trade, it will be a massive difference.”
An Asia Pacific spokeswoman said plans for the 10-storey hotel and apartment complex were “coming along well”, with work scheduled to start before the end of the year.
“And we are very excited to hear that Woolworths is potentially purchasing the ‘hole in the ground’ next door,” she said.
Holcon put its site on the market last July, casting doubt over its plans for a $55 million town centre development, including 21 specialty shops, 40 apartments, a 500 sq m town square and 305 carparks.
Holcon director Stephen Connor said he could not confirm the sale of the site because of a “confidentially clause in our contract”.
Woolworths did not respond before the City North Messenger’s deadline.
but to me that sounds like it won't be happening for a while.Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Woolies gets Walkerville out of a hole
KEVIN NAUGHTON
WOOLWORTHS has bought the notorious “Walkerville Hole” – the stalled development site on Walkerville Tce that was proposed for a shopping village and residential apartment complex.
The major retail chain has told Walkerville Council it has bought the site and will soon lodge development plans for a shopping centre – without the residential apartments.
The unsightly hole and its temporary fencing have frustrated residents and local retailers for more than two years.
Any new proposal will require development approval from council. Woolworths would not comment this week on its plans.
Work on the site halted in January 2009 after Sarah Constructions completed the excavation but had not been paid by developer Holcon Pty Ltd.
Sarah Constructions registered a mortgage over the site while Woolworths and a major bank placed liens over the property.
Holcon, a company linked to Connor Holmes director Stephen Connor, has not answered Indaily’s calls and requests for information.
Meanwhile, progress on an adjacent development – the eight storey former Department of Transport building – has been delayed indefinitely.
The developer, Melbourne firm Asia Pacific Group, told Walkerville Council in a briefing on May 27 it is “restructuring its business”.
APG said it would not be in a position to commence redevelopment of the building into a boutique hotel and apartment complex until at least the end of the year.
The redevelopment – a $100 million project of 300 apartments and 100-room, five-star boutique hotel complex called Art Series Walkerville – had originally been scheduled to start last December.
Similar developments by APG in Melbourne have been cancelled.
APG offloaded a site in Melbourne’s inner suburb Prahran in April for $5.1 million after paying $10 million for it and another Prahran site in late 2006, according to www.realestatesource.com.au
It had planned to build swank hotels on both sites to slot into its “art series” portfolio of hotel/apartment concepts, which it has been developing over recent years.
It only proceeded with one site development – the Cullen – and has now abandoned the planned $50 million hotel, The Larwill, proposed for the second site.
Earlier this year, APG sold another development site at Daly Street, South Yarra, which was also to have become an “art series” hotel, The Whiteley.
According to reports in Melbourne media, APG’s founders and directors, the Deague family, lost $2 million in investment funds in the collapse of investment broker Sonray Capital Markets.
In August last year after a protracted legal dispute, APG was ordered to pay $121,000 to an air conditioning contractor.
APG chief executive Will Deague did not return calls.
It's a fascinating example of how the same information can be spun into which ever direction the author wants it to.crawf wrote:Same article but with two very different articles :/
got to love those journos.crawf wrote:Same article but with two very different articles :/
WOOLWORTHS has been given approval to turn an eyesore at Walkerville into a shopping centre.
Walkerville Council's Development Assessment Panel approved the plans of Woolworths' development arm Fabcot, which expects to spend in excess of $10 million on the site at 104 Walkerville Tce.
The development will feature a supermarket and liquor store, up to 15 specialty shops and underground parking for up to 198 vehicles.
Woolworths senior development manager Nick Steele said construction would start in April, with an expected opening in mid-2013.
"It will be a traditional neighbourhood centre," he said.
In 2007, the site was expected to become a $55 million five-storey apartment complex after planning approval was given to Holcon.
However, the giant hole in the ground, on the corner of Warwick St, has been an eyesore ever since, before being bought by Woolworths about six months ago.
Yes, there is actually a separate thread for the former Holcon development.AG wrote:I think there's some confusion happening here. The former DTEI (now DPTI) building is a completely separate project from the empty hole on Walkerville Terrace (which is what the article a couple of posts above refers to).
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Walkerville art hotel gets green light
Kevin Naughton
THE long-awaited redevelopment of the former Transport SA building at Walkerville is set to start.
Its Melbourne-based developer, the Art Series Hotel Group, announced today “The Watson”, named after the grand master of indigenous painting Tommy Watson, is set to open in Adelaide in September 2013.
“Following the resounding success of The Cullen, The Olsen and The Blackman, Art Series Hotel Group today announced their latest development that will unite four of Australia’s greatest living artists,” the company said.
“Located on Adelaide’s iconic River Torrens at Walkerville just ten minutes from the CBD, The Watson will showcase works from the artist throughout the rooms and public areas, and will offer an art inspired experience for guests including private tours with an in-house art curator, an art channel and art library in every suite.”
The Art Series Hotels concept is the brainchild of Melbourne developer Will Deague.
“We always wanted to include an indigenous artist in the Art Series Hotel Group and are delighted to have such a preeminent indigenous artist in our fold to celebrate and educate our guests about this important aspect of artistic expression in Australia,” Deague said.
“The Watson will comprise nine stories of residential, commercial and hotel accommodation with suites boasting spectacular views over the Adelaide Hills, River Torrens and the CBD.
“Facilities will include world class restaurants, a commercial business centre, artist in residence studio, pool, health and recreational facilities.”
Tommy Watson is one of Australia’s best known and collectable indigenous artists. He was one of the founding artists of the Irrunytju art centre. He paints the stories of his mother’s and grandfather’s country, recording the sacred dreamtime stories intuitively using large vibrant colours that represent dreamtime journeys of the ancient spirits and the significant episodes in the history of his tribe. In 2005 he was commissioned to produce artwork to be permanently installed in the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, France.
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