Sensational-Adelaide.com

Lift overhaul in tallest SA building

RHIANNON HOYLE

March 06, 2007 01:15am

AN UPGRADING of the lifts in the state's tallest building is expected to cost about $3.5 million.

The Santos House work, which began yesterday, is part of a multimillion-dollar refit of the 91 King William St building by owners Abacus Property Group and SAITeys-McMahon.
The refurbishment comes as the City Central Tower 1 project, the most significant office development in the CBD since Santos House, earlier known as the State Bank Centre, comes online.

Don Crouch, the SA managing director of the building's property manager, Knight Frank, said the lift work would include installing a controller system, representing the latest technology available in the world.

KONE Elevators has been chosen to do the work, managed by Knight Frank and lift consultant Whitfield Rose. It will be the first such installation in Adelaide.

"KONE will be installing the latest ReSolve Exclusive Lift controllers and KDD DC drives which will make the lifts the most modern in Australia and among the most modern in the world," Mr Crouch said.

"The lift interiors will be refurbished to meet disability access requirements and incorporate an advanced lift-information system which will broadcast news and current affairs as well as providing advertising and information opportunities for tenants and the market generally."

The overall upgrade will also include a redevelopment of the ground floor areas and the introduction of a child-care facility.

Fresh plan to shift governor
GREG KELTON
March 07, 2007 01:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html

PLANS for a new memorial walk to honour South Australian service men and women who died in battle have sparked calls for the governor to be moved from Government House.
Parliament was told yesterday that Planning SA was examining options for a walkway along Kintore Ave to link the Torrens Parade Ground and the National War Memorial on North Tce.

Labor MP and republican supporter Michael O'Brien told the Assembly that with "the abolition of the post of state governor on the near to middle political horizon, it would make a lot of sense to follow the lead of NSW and have the governor reside at a place other than Government House".

"This would mean Government House could become like its Sydney counterpart - a centre for many of the state's cultural activities," Mr O'Brien said.

As Parliamentary Secretary to Premier Mike Rann, he is seen as a future minister.

"It involves removing the drab brick walling of Government House along Kintore Ave as part of a project to create a memorial garden walk for those . . . who lost their lives in service to our nation," Mr O'Brien said.

It would link Torrens Par Ground with the National War Memorial - a plan that is backed by the RSL.

There was a render in today's (Wed) Advertiser. It looked good, and think it'll be good. I've always thought Government House is a waste of space and Kintore Avenue is not what it could be.

AtD wrote:

Fresh plan to shift governor
GREG KELTON
March 07, 2007 01:15am
Article from: The Advertiser
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html

PLANS for a new memorial walk to honour South Australian service men and women who died in battle have sparked calls for the governor to be moved from Government House.
Parliament was told yesterday that Planning SA was examining options for a walkway along Kintore Ave to link the Torrens Parade Ground and the National War Memorial on North Tce.

Labor MP and republican supporter Michael O'Brien told the Assembly that with "the abolition of the post of state governor on the near to middle political horizon, it would make a lot of sense to follow the lead of NSW and have the governor reside at a place other than Government House".

"This would mean Government House could become like its Sydney counterpart - a centre for many of the state's cultural activities," Mr O'Brien said.

As Parliamentary Secretary to Premier Mike Rann, he is seen as a future minister.

"It involves removing the drab brick walling of Government House along Kintore Ave as part of a project to create a memorial garden walk for those . . . who lost their lives in service to our nation," Mr O'Brien said.

It would link Torrens Par Ground with the National War Memorial - a plan that is backed by the RSL.

There was a render in today's (Wed) Advertiser. It looked good, and think it'll be good. I've always thought Government House is a waste of space and Kintore Avenue is not what it could be.

This proposal doesn't involve removing government house, and there is no need to kick out the governer o do this... its just taking away some of the grounds... so I don't know what the fuss is about ???

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN TO ME

As the role of state governor diminishes in the next 5-10years, transforming the grounds as a centre for cultural activities and a walk of honour to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to live free would be great. ...

Ide love to see this happen as i ithink it will work well with all the changes in and around North Terrace

stelaras wrote:SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PLAN TO ME

As the role of state governor diminishes in the next 5-10years, transforming the grounds as a centre for cultural activities and a walk of honour to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to live free would be great. ...

Ide love to see this happen as i ithink it will work well with all the changes in and around North Terrace

The memorial walk does look great.. but like I said before, the removal of the governer is a totally separate issue, this walk will in no way demolish any of government house (which cannot happen due to heratige anyway), it will just reduce the grounds...

Tardy offices in peril

RHIANNON HOYLE, REAL ESTATE EDITOR

March 06, 2007 01:15am

MAJOR redevelopments within Adelaide's central business district are resulting in a change in social dynamics and will soon see pressure placed on owners of lower-quality property to upgrade, industry experts say.

Tony Ricketts, the sales and investments director of international commercial property services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, said 2007 would see the owners of C-grade and D-grade commercial property forced to "refurbish or perish".
Environmentally sustainable projects - including City Central Tower 1, Flinders Link and 151 Pirie - were inevitably causing a flight by tenants to quality and consequently other owners were having to succumb to the old adage that you have to spend money to make money.

"They are simply going to have to put the money in to remain competitive," Mr Ricketts said. "I think we will see the real impact of this during the latter half of this year."

Meanwhile, Adelaide is abuzz with optimism as construction works dot the city. Mr Ricketts said there was a feeling that the CBD was undergoing a "very sustainable" level of development.

"I have been doing this for 25 years and other than the unrestrained confidence that was going around in the 80s, we haven't really seen this level of excitement," he said.

"We are in a more constrained and balanced period of activity, with interest rates stable and business confidence high."

Knight Frank managing director Don Crouch said the developments were also resulting in a change of social dynamics.

He said the City Central development, on the former site of The Advertiser , and developments in Flinders St were helping to revitalise surrounding areas.

"This is probably one of the largest changes to the social dynamics of the city I have seen," Mr Crouch said.

"Before these developments, city office workers who went out at lunchtime to socialise tended to gravitate towards the Rundle St and East End cafes.

"The opening of attractive new buildings has encouraged owners of cafes and hotels nearby to upgrade their facilities to make them more alluring to workers working in those buildings."

He said Waymouth St was a perfect example. "Cafes and restaurants such as Manna Cafe and Georges opposite the City Central development are now doing a roaring trade and attracting some of the business that once used to head northeast," Mr Crouch said.

"The new Flinders Link building in Flinders St is having a similar impact nearby and breathing new life into this area of the city."

New home for Adelaide's homeless

March 08, 2007 01:51pm

A MULTI-STOREY building in the centre of Adelaide will be redeveloped to provide 60 units for the homeless and low-income earners.

The Light Square building is the first capital project by Common Ground, a partnership company between the South Australian government and a group of local business leaders.

"What sets Common Ground apart from traditional responses to homelessness is that it builds a community that includes stable housing for a range of people and on-site support services," said Premier Mike Rann.

"Half of the Light Square development will provide long-term accommodation for previously homeless people, while the other 30 units will be leased to low-income earners such as students and artists."

Housing Minister Jay Weatherill said it had to be understood that homelessness could happen to anyone.

"A series of bad events all lining up in someone's life can cause them to fall into homelessness," he said.

"This project is about a way out of that homelessness.

"It is about establishing long-term solutions by creating a community where housing is safe and affordable."

Common Ground chairman and Adelaide business identity Theo Maras said he was pleased to see the project taking shape.

"The most powerful thing for me about being involved in this project was getting a better understanding about homelessness," Mr Maras said.

"I've got to meet many homeless people and have come to realise that their story is no different from any person's - they're just ordinary people who have been dealt extraordinary challenges."

The government will help fund the building redevelopment from the $5 million grant provided to set up Common Ground.

It will also provide $500,000 each year for ongoing support services for residents and tenants.

Mr Weatherill said those who move into the building will be free to stay as long as they like.

City population boom

Chris Day

06Mar07


EMPTY-nesters, young professionals and students are flocking to the city in ``unprecedented'' numbers, underpinning one of the world's fastest population growth rates.
The CBD and North Adelaide attracted more than 2000 residents in the past six years, the latest ABS figures show.
Its population rose from 13,289 to 15,299 between 2001 and 2006, and last year it grew by 3 percent, or 452 new residents.
The growth rate was nearly four times the state's annual rate of 0.8 percent and was the highest among SA's 68 councils.
``The growth rate is unprecedented in the city ... and is very high by anyone's standards,'' Adelaide University Demographics Professor Graeme Hugo said last week.
``There are not many populations around the world that would be growing at that rate.''
Prof Hugo said the city's building boom over the past few years was starting to show up in the populations estimates, on the back of more ``empty-nesters'', young professionals and students moving to city. The city was primed for continued population growth, Prof Hugo said.
``The rapid growth in the economy and the labour shortage will make the growth sustainable over the short-medium term.''
However, the growth was short of the council's 2006 target of 17,000 residents, and its 2010 target of 26,000 residents is looking out of reach.
On a wider metropolitan level, Adelaide's population rose by about 9700, or 0.9 percent, last year to about 1.14 million.
Although Adelaide matched Sydney's growth rate, it was behind Darwin (2.5 percent), Perth (2 percent), Brisbane (1.6 percent) Melbourne (1.3 percent) and Hobart (1 percent).
Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the council had ``an absolute focus'' on continued population growth in the city.
``(The growth) is great and it's really important for the future of the state,'' Mr Harbison said.
``We can't, economically or socially, continue with urban sprawl and this movement back into the city is vital for the city.''
The city's 2006 growth rate was a long way ahead of it's neighbouring local councils.
Meanwhile, a 100 apartment complex, near the corner of Frome St and North Tce, was opened by Mr Harbison yesterday (Wednesday, March 7).
The Palais Apartments have been developed under a partnership between the council and Kyren Pty Ltd.
The partnership is part of the council's strategy to buy prominent city sites, encourage new developments and then sell the land to developers once the project is completed.

Where in Light Square is the 60 units for the homeless going?

The Palais on North Terrace was officially opened by Harbison yesterday also.

how_good_is_he wrote:Where in Light Square is the 60 units for the homeless going?

This was on the 6 o'clock news tonight (channel 7) if I remember correctly. It said the ACC had bought that vacant warehouse next to rise nightclub (bordering waymouth) for 2.5 mill and they will convert it. Im not sure if I saw correctly but it looked like there was a 4 or 5 level building between the warehouse and rise (although im not completely sure about that).

how_good_is_he wrote:Where in Light Square is the 60 units for the homeless going?

It's the red-brick building on the south western corner of Light Square (Waymouth Street and Light Square) and the adjoining nightclub (old church building) just north.

Cheers

I have to say, that I am totally opposed to this idea. Government house would lose much of its entertainment grounds and gardens. Even if we do become a republic Government house and its grounds will still be important for state events and visitors. I do think the Government house grounds should be open to the Public more often though.

But if you have ever walked around on the grounds on the House you would see that it would defiantly ruin our number 1 Residence in SA. We also don’t have many stately houses with stately gardens around the place either. Let’s not go reck one of the only examples we have.

I think the developers should look maybe at other parts of the city such as Victoria Square or all that land where the old North Carridge sheds were down in Railyards.

Developers? It's for the war memorial. Have you seen the render in the 'Tiser?

Yes I have, its a nice idea but at to greater cost.

i have forgot who want the idea hence why i just said developers...

I cant remember where i read it, but isnt the whole Government House site herritage listed?