News & Discussion: General CBD Development

[Mpol02]

Given they are happy to bulldoze other more significant buildings I don’t see why they can’t do the same for this or atleast give it a face lift. Its time

[Ho Really]

[...]

There's an argument for it to be heritage listed though as its held so many events in this town that no other venue was suitable for, for a good couple of decades. A lot of history in that place.

I agree. I also have fond memories of the Lobby Bar, Charlies Bar and Julianas not to mention the restaurant, function rooms upstairs and the Executive Lounge.

Cheers

[baytram366]

I must be the only one that thinks the Hilton looks ok as it is. Same goes for the former Hyatt building over on the riverbank. If you start to try to re-clad or modernise these buildings, it ends up looking like the poop that is the former SGIC building across the road. A weird mix of old and new that just looks half done and cheap.

[Nathan]

I must be the only one that thinks the Hilton looks ok as it is. Same goes for the former Hyatt building over on the riverbank. If you start to try to re-clad or modernise these buildings, it ends up looking like the poop that is the former SGIC building across the road. A weird mix of old and new that just looks half done and cheap.

I like the Hilton too, and agree about the SGIC building.

[Mpol02]

I’d redo the facade ala amp building in Sydney.

[EBG]

All the Hilton Hotel needs is steam cleaning the concrete exterior especially arround the roof top. Look at what happened to the Amp building. totally stuffed

[Patrick_27]

This is on the DL (with an announcement pending), but sharing because who cares, I'm fed up with this shit. I've just heard from a tenant that the foreign owners of 2 Hindmarsh Square have served 9 months notice to all tenants (Clarity Records, Carlton Deli, Loc Wine Bar, Room on Fire Vintage, Renew Adelaide, Taboo Period Products etc too many tenants to name) with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a student accommodation, apparently Carlton Deli and Loc Wine Bar have been offered commercial tenancies on the ground floor of the new build when it's complete in two/three years time (lol). The history of the building might not be obvious from face value, but it was one of the first car dealerships/mechanics in Adelaide back with the onset of motor vehicles.

What the hell is going on in this city, and where is the government in all of this? It's all good for Mali and his clan to join the virtue signalling Cranker bandwagon to secure votes, but this is a bigger issue of foreign developers buying up lucrative CBD sites that are serving their purpose only to then destroy the value they bring to the immediate community and economy. This building in particular, whilst not spectacular in it's appearance, I would say is one of the most versatile and successful retail/hospitality/small commercial office spaces in the CBD, and it's easy for pro-development types to remark that if these businesses are as successful as they claim to be that they can just simply move, but the overheads associated with any such move are typical cost prohibitive, furthermore the diversity in businesses in this area is actually one of the sole reasons for them all doing so well.

[rev]

All the Hilton Hotel needs is steam cleaning the concrete exterior especially arround the roof top. Look at what happened to the Amp building. totally stuffed

It's going to stand out as very out of place imho, once all the nearby developments are finished.

[SRW]

This is on the DL (with an announcement pending), but sharing because who cares, I'm fed up with this shit. I've just heard from a tenant that the foreign owners of 2 Hindmarsh Square have served 9 months notice to all tenants (Clarity Records, Carlton Deli, Loc Wine Bar, Room on Fire Vintage, Renew Adelaide, Taboo Period Products etc too many tenants to name) with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a student accommodation, apparently Carlton Deli and Loc Wine Bar have been offered commercial tenancies on the ground floor of the new build when it's complete in two/three years time (lol). The history of the building might not be obvious from face value, but it was one of the first car dealerships/mechanics in Adelaide back with the onset of motor vehicles.

What the hell is going on in this city, and where is the government in all of this? It's all good for Mali and his clan to join the virtue signalling Cranker bandwagon to secure votes, but this is a bigger issue of foreign developers buying up lucrative CBD sites that are serving their purpose only to then destroy the value they bring to the immediate community and economy. This building in particular, whilst not spectacular in it's appearance, I would say is one of the most versatile and successful retail/hospitality/small commercial office spaces in the CBD, and it's easy for pro-development types to remark that if these businesses are as successful as they claim to be that they can just simply move, but the overheads associated with any such move are typical cost prohibitive, furthermore the diversity in businesses in this area is actually one of the sole reasons for them all doing so well.

I get the disappointment, Loc is one of my favourites. But to be honest this is kind of an example of a Renew Adelaide scheme working as intended. The quid pro quo has always been that business start ups like Loc are given a foothold to become successful by the landowner, and the success thereby increases the value of the landholding. I don't think we can be surprised that the landholder is now cashing in even if it's not as we would like.

However, as you say, even if the building is not intrinsic to their success, the missing element is that relocating can be cost prohibitive for businesses. I think a model that supports businesses to find new homes is probably a better balance than stopping development (aside heritage concerns).

[Nathan]

This is on the DL (with an announcement pending), but sharing because who cares, I'm fed up with this shit. I've just heard from a tenant that the foreign owners of 2 Hindmarsh Square have served 9 months notice to all tenants (Clarity Records, Carlton Deli, Loc Wine Bar, Room on Fire Vintage, Renew Adelaide, Taboo Period Products etc too many tenants to name) with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a student accommodation, apparently Carlton Deli and Loc Wine Bar have been offered commercial tenancies on the ground floor of the new build when it's complete in two/three years time (lol). The history of the building might not be obvious from face value, but it was one of the first car dealerships/mechanics in Adelaide back with the onset of motor vehicles.

What the hell is going on in this city, and where is the government in all of this? It's all good for Mali and his clan to join the virtue signalling Cranker bandwagon to secure votes, but this is a bigger issue of foreign developers buying up lucrative CBD sites that are serving their purpose only to then destroy the value they bring to the immediate community and economy. This building in particular, whilst not spectacular in it's appearance, I would say is one of the most versatile and successful retail/hospitality/small commercial office spaces in the CBD, and it's easy for pro-development types to remark that if these businesses are as successful as they claim to be that they can just simply move, but the overheads associated with any such move are typical cost prohibitive, furthermore the diversity in businesses in this area is actually one of the sole reasons for them all doing so well.

I get the disappointment, Loc is one of my favourites. But to be honest this is kind of an example of a Renew Adelaide scheme working as intended. The quid pro quo has always been that business start ups like Loc are given a foothold to become successful by the landowner, and the success thereby increases the value of the landholding. I don't think we can be surprised that the landholder is now cashing in even if it's not as we would like.

However, as you say, even if the building is not intrinsic to their success, the missing element is that relocating can be cost prohibitive for businesses. I think a model that supports businesses to find new homes is probably a better balance than stopping development (aside heritage concerns).

I think the bigger kick in the teeth is for Clarity, who not that long ago expanded into the adjacent tenancy and no doubt spent a bit of money doing so. Would they have done so had they known it would only be short-lived?

[Stefan]

This is on the DL (with an announcement pending), but sharing because who cares, I'm fed up with this shit. I've just heard from a tenant that the foreign owners of 2 Hindmarsh Square have served 9 months notice to all tenants (Clarity Records, Carlton Deli, Loc Wine Bar, Room on Fire Vintage, Renew Adelaide, Taboo Period Products etc too many tenants to name) with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a student accommodation, apparently Carlton Deli and Loc Wine Bar have been offered commercial tenancies on the ground floor of the new build when it's complete in two/three years time (lol). The history of the building might not be obvious from face value, but it was one of the first car dealerships/mechanics in Adelaide back with the onset of motor vehicles.

What the hell is going on in this city, and where is the government in all of this? It's all good for Mali and his clan to join the virtue signalling Cranker bandwagon to secure votes, but this is a bigger issue of foreign developers buying up lucrative CBD sites that are serving their purpose only to then destroy the value they bring to the immediate community and economy. This building in particular, whilst not spectacular in it's appearance, I would say is one of the most versatile and successful retail/hospitality/small commercial office spaces in the CBD, and it's easy for pro-development types to remark that if these businesses are as successful as they claim to be that they can just simply move, but the overheads associated with any such move are typical cost prohibitive, furthermore the diversity in businesses in this area is actually one of the sole reasons for them all doing so well.

If there was something architecturally significant about the building then okay, but there really isn't. Even the little history it has is truly insignificant. Knock it down and build the apartments. Prime location for them too.

Sick of Adelaideans fighting progress over tiny little details.

[Patrick_27]

This is on the DL (with an announcement pending), but sharing because who cares, I'm fed up with this shit. I've just heard from a tenant that the foreign owners of 2 Hindmarsh Square have served 9 months notice to all tenants (Clarity Records, Carlton Deli, Loc Wine Bar, Room on Fire Vintage, Renew Adelaide, Taboo Period Products etc too many tenants to name) with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a student accommodation, apparently Carlton Deli and Loc Wine Bar have been offered commercial tenancies on the ground floor of the new build when it's complete in two/three years time (lol). The history of the building might not be obvious from face value, but it was one of the first car dealerships/mechanics in Adelaide back with the onset of motor vehicles.

What the hell is going on in this city, and where is the government in all of this? It's all good for Mali and his clan to join the virtue signalling Cranker bandwagon to secure votes, but this is a bigger issue of foreign developers buying up lucrative CBD sites that are serving their purpose only to then destroy the value they bring to the immediate community and economy. This building in particular, whilst not spectacular in it's appearance, I would say is one of the most versatile and successful retail/hospitality/small commercial office spaces in the CBD, and it's easy for pro-development types to remark that if these businesses are as successful as they claim to be that they can just simply move, but the overheads associated with any such move are typical cost prohibitive, furthermore the diversity in businesses in this area is actually one of the sole reasons for them all doing so well.

If there was something architecturally significant about the building then okay, but there really isn't. Even the little history it has is truly insignificant. Knock it down and build the apartments. Prime location for them too.

Sick of Adelaideans fighting progress over tiny little details.

It's not apartments, it's student accommodation, for one. It has nothing to do with 'fighting progress', this isn't progress? This is playing catch up with an unsustainable tertiary education industry at whatever the cost. The residents gained from these sorts of student accommodation builds don't contribute to the parts of the local economy that we need or want them to, they typically stay close to their 'flock' so to speak. Retail and hospitality occupancy rates are shit across most pockets of the CBD, this is caused by a variety of factors (economics, location, etc), but in a rare instance, here we have a retail/hospitality and commercial offering that has succeeded in spite of the local economy fluctuating around it. Sure, some of these businesses might be in position to afford the relocation expenses, but what's to guarantee their success and longevity in wherever they relocate to? The same can be said about the Cranker site, people are cheering over that outcome because the Cranker is saved and protected with the student accommodation to be built next-door, but frankly, the thing that has worked for the Cranker these past ten to fifteen years (aside from become a lone wolf on the East End for live music) has been the mix in venues in that immediate precinct (Chateau Apollo and Roxies plus all their predecessors - Little Miss Mexico, Little Miss Miami, Crab Shack etc); taking those out of the mix, the Cranker might continue to succeed in servicing the same live music punters it's always served, but you can forget about that area being the hive of activity it has become in recent years, it's now just a pub with a band room. These foreign developers couldn't give a fuck over the cultural outcomes that their developments sabotage, by and large because they're tens of thousands of kilometres away and have likely never set foot in Adelaide. You might not care either, but people like you talk about aspiring to the heights of Melbourne, well Melbourne well and truly has and values this little thing called culture and progress has (in most cases) worked around that not preyed on it. You can argue that this building doesn't represent 'culture', but look up the best coffee/lunch shops in Adelaide - Carlton Deli will be there, look up the best small wine bars in Adelaide - Loc Bar will be there, look up best record shops in Adelaide - Clarity will be there, look up best vintage clothing shops in Adelaide - Room on Fire will be there. That's not even to mention the variety of business start ups who reside in the upstairs space.

[gnrc_louis]

Agree with Patrick here. I’m broadly pro-development and like to see taller buildings in the CBD, but student accomodation generally adds almost nothing to the vibe of the city at actual street level. Lots of tall buildings alone don’t make a city vibrant or interesting - it’s the businesses within them primarily. Plenty of boring cities worldwide with lots of tall buildings and little else.

[Jaymz]

Agree with Patrick here. I’m broadly pro-development and like to see taller buildings in the CBD, but student accomodation generally adds almost nothing to the vibe of the city at actual street level. Lots of tall buildings alone don’t make a city vibrant or interesting - it’s the businesses within them primarily. Plenty of boring cities worldwide with lots of tall buildings and little else.

Maybe not at the street level of the actual student accom buildings, but I think they add to the surrounding areas. I find the food offerings on Rundle Street/side streets now are a good mix. Pubs, restaurants and cheap and cheerful places for a quick lunch.

[Patrick_27]

Agree with Patrick here. I’m broadly pro-development and like to see taller buildings in the CBD, but student accomodation generally adds almost nothing to the vibe of the city at actual street level. Lots of tall buildings alone don’t make a city vibrant or interesting - it’s the businesses within them primarily. Plenty of boring cities worldwide with lots of tall buildings and little else.

Maybe not at the street level of the actual student accom buildings, but I think they add to the surrounding areas. I find the food offerings on Rundle Street/side streets now are a good mix. Pubs, restaurants and cheap and cheerful places for a quick lunch.

Rundle Street and its surrounding laneways have almost always had a good mix of restaurants and eateries? It's suffered somewhat due to RAH relocating to the west. But the Crowne Plaza and its neighbouring student accommodation have added literally nothing to the precinct other than a Hotel offering, Realm also hasn't offered anything to the area (the foodcourt that was built on-top still remains closed off years after the building was complete). If anything Synagogue Place died off when that student accommodation went up despite Samaras claiming it would reinvigorate the area. The old East End Markets precinct is the only place that can claim that development has benefited this part of the CBD, and that project was handled very carefully in its design almost 30 years ago, and continues to be handled very carefully in its tenant selection. There are no student accommodation building in that market precinct, there are also no buildings over 8-10 storeys tall.