[U/C] 88 O'Connell Street | 63m | 13, 13 and 15 Levels | Mixed Use

[omada]

compulsory acquisition anyone? as good as a boutique hotel would be, when would the thing get built? if ever! Surely this farce has dragged on long enough

[Ben]

Maybe he could start planning a building for South Australia's 200th Birthday in 2036? Surely that gives him enough time to build something... but then again maybe i'm expecting too much.

[rev]

Makris sounds like the biggest dickhead.

You'll find plenty of people in agreement with that statement, for a variety of reasons.

[stumpjumper]

Will wrote:
What is your actual objection to a boutique hotel?

No objection to a boutique hotel. What I was objecting to is the tactic of toying with the development approval process - through a long and tedious process of bluff, attrition etc (which Makris would probably say was skilful negotiation) Makris got a substantially non-complying development through the process against significant opposition from the council and the community. In achieving this, Makris claimed to have made sacrifices, such as dropping the '7 star' hotel.

Now, as a kind of endgame perhaps, Makris who has delayed any work on the site despite, to use a phrase, bullshitting everyone for years about his intentions, turns around and says he is prepared to proceed but only if some of the elements he claimed to have sacrificed are reinstated, eg the boutique hotel. Generously, Makris says that he doesn't require the extra floors he 'sacrificed' to be reinstated.

You might even argue that because of the lapsed development application any new or altered proposal for the site would require a new application and a new approval process, but I don't think anyone wants to go down that track again.

Makris appears to think he is doing everyone a favour by not 'requiring' reinstatement of the deleted floors, just the return of the boutique hotel in the first (refused) proposal he put up.

It's called 'getting your own way in the end', and I object to Makris being allowed to get away with it, when if one of my clients allowed an approved DA to lapse, then announced that they would go ahead, but only if the original refused proposal were allowed... they would be told by any council to f*ck off.

Why should Makris get special treatment? If this goes ahead, it will further undermine the planning regime in SA.

[Reb-L]

For heavens' sake - just do it! Anything is better than another 20 yrs of a fenced off paddock in the middle of the city.

[stumpjumper]

With respect, Reb-L, that's not a basis for good urban design.

[stumpjumper]

Further on Makris's development application: It seems that the last Makris proposal for the Le Cornu site has NOT lapsed.

The application has not lapsed because not all of the reports required by the Major Projects process have been completed. So Makris is asking for a modification to a proposal still under consideration, even though the process has taken years.

I'm trying to find out which reports are not complete, who is responsible for them and if there are any requirements for 'timely completion' etc.

[bm7500]

I drove by this site today and wondered what was happeining with it...like many it seems. I found this report in the City Messenger;

We're still waiting: O'Connell St traders

O’CONNELL St traders say development on the former Le Cornu site is crucial for the future success of the North Adelaide strip.

It has been almost three years since the State Government granted the Makris Group approval for a six-storey residential and retail complex.

But despite demolition of the site’s remaining buildings occuring in April last year, building work is yet to start at 88 O’Connell St.

Peter Niutta, from Cucina North Adelaide, said the development would be “fantastic for the street”.

“It is a bit of an eyesore at the moment,” Mr Niutta said.

“Once more people come to the street, there will be more businesses and more customers for everyone.

“Empty shops don’t attract people so we need to make the street nice and vibrant.”

The Makris Group, which bought the land in 2001, says it is “fully committed to the project” despite development approval lapsing (see separate report).

A Planning Department spokeswoman confirmed it was a condition of development approval that the “development be substantially commenced” before September 2010.

“That date has passed but the Major Development declaration has no automatic lapse date,” she said.

“However the developer has sought an extension to the development authorisation which will be considered.”

North Adelaide people who spoke to the City North Messenger last week said it was vital the project went ahead.

Chocolatree’s Vigi Natarajan said the development would bring more people to O’Connell St and be “good for business”.

“The land will be more attractive and it will be something nice and new when a building comes up there,” Mr Nataranjan said.

O’Connell St Traders Association president David Johnson said it was “absolutely critical” that work started on the site “for the development of North Adelaide”.

He said the development was crucial to help the street flourish and compete against the rising popularity of online shopping. “You have got a lot of empty space there,” Mr Johnson said.

“But the more people living on the street, the more sustainable the retail part of the street is.”

North Adelaide Society chairman Ed Briedis said residents were also keen to see work start. “The majority of people who live in North Adelaide see it as their shopping precinct and want to see it have a life and vibrancy,” Mr Briedis said.

“The catchphrase on the site’s sign is ‘Adelaide has nothing like this’. Well, we still haven’t.”

MAKRIS STILL COMMITTED TO THE SITE

THE Makris Group says it is still “fully committed” to transforming the Le Cornu site into a six-storey retail and residential complex.

This is despite not starting work on the project since approval was granted almost three years ago.

A request by the City North Messenger for an interview with Makris Group CEO John Blunt was denied.

However, in an emailed response a Makris spokeswoman said the company was “looking forward to starting work” on the project.

The company has applied for an extension to its development approval, which expired last September.

The spokeswoman said the project’s starting date was yet to be confirmed.

“We want to be confident of the strength of the market and ensure the economic conditions are right,” the email read.

“The economic conditions for sale of the apartments and leasing of retail space are expected to improve.”

Makris is in discussions with potential tenants for the complex.

http://city-north-messenger.whereilive. ... on-corner/

[Nort]

The spokeswoman said the project’s starting date was yet to be confirmed.

“We want to be confident of the strength of the market and ensure the economic conditions are right,” the email read.

“The economic conditions for sale of the apartments and leasing of retail space are expected to improve.”

Oh ffs.

I don't think it would be unreasonable at this point to give them an ultimatum to either start building or lose approval.

[skyliner]

Agreed. I have been watching this site for some time and wondering what was going on. Good to see some action by the locals - quite justfied.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[jk1237]

O'Connell St is a nice buzzing little strip. Always people around, compared to the deserted Melbourne St. This development would finish the shopping street off perfectly. If only it would actually happen

[Waewick]

Melbourne Street is a strange one.

the restraunts that are their are of a godd quality, there just doesn't seem to be the people.

I would love to the see the site at O'Connell street subidivided out with a strip shops at the front and parking at apartments at the back

- but I'm not a property developer so I'm not sure about the economics of that .

State Government should also put a tram down the road to "open it up"

[crawf]

I wouldn't mind seeing some mid and high-rise apartments being built along Melbourne Road. The views towards the city skyline and hills would be simply stunning.

Maybe a tramline down the track aswell?

[ynotsfables]

Something s happening.

[jk1237]

Something s happening.

what what what what what