News & Discussion: Heritage Buildings

[Waewick]

Adelaide's economy is still in the doldrums

It is idiotic comments like these that keep false stereotypes about our city alive.

well it does depend on what economy he is talking about I guess.

[dsriggs]

"Tiffany & Co", you say?

[Howie]

Hearing reports that LCB are not going to be tenants, this hasn't been confirmed by other sources yet though.

[Wayno]

The below article is from indaily.com.au

click here for the list of 77 impacted buildings, including pictures!

Extract from the above document:

A Development Plan may designate a place as a place of local heritage value if—

• (a) it displays historical, economic or social themes that are of importance to the local area; or
  (b) it represents customs or ways of life that are characteristic of the local area; or
  (c) it has played an important part in the lives of local residents; or
  (d) it displays aesthetic merit, design characteristics or construction techniques of significance to the local area; or
  (e) it is associated with a notable local personality or event; or
  (f) it is a notable landmark in the area; or
  (g) in the case of a tree (without limiting a preceding paragraph)—it is of special historical or social significance or importance within the local area.

Heritage protection opposed by city property owners

HERITAGE protection for 77 city buildings including Maughan Church, the Edinburgh Castle hotel and significant parts of Hindley and Rundle streets has come under fire from building owners who say it will stifle development.

Of the buildings proposed for local heritage listing by the Adelaide City Council, 59 owners have opposed or partially opposed the move.

They will voice their concerns at special council meetings tonight and tomorrow.

The Maras Group has strongly opposed the listing of three of its Rundle Street East buildings as it would “work against the attainment of the objectives and targets of the Planning Strategy”.

“[The Group] does not believe that additional heritage listings are warranted, either within the Rundle Street East precinct, or within the city as a whole,” Maras said in its submission by consultant Stuart Moseley, from Connor Holmes.

Maras is open to heritage listing the façade of the buildings, but is opposed to other elements including the roof being protected, which would stop future development.

Moseley said that if all proposed properties were heritage listed, 48.8 per cent of the CDB would be affected.

“The compliance burden placed upon property owners by these listings is compounded by the unnecessarily complex and variable listing regime, comprising five different policy categories,” he said.

The proposed 77 buildings are part of 250 buildings that the City Council wants to put on its local heritage list, with the other 173 to be dealt with in a future DPA.

An economic impact report by the council states that the listings would reduce profits generated by businesses by about $21 million, reduce state product by $76 million and result in 1250 fewer city workers over the next 20 years.

Hill Smith Gallery owner Sam Hill-Smith commissioned a report by Ron Danvers Cultural Landscape which said his Pirie Street Gallery did not meet the aesthetic, cultural or architectural requirements required for local heritage listing.

The Hill-Smith family has also bought two adjoining properties on Pirie Street for future consolidation and significant redevelopment.

“Heritage listing of the subject property will have the effect of making this redevelopment less likely to occur, as inclusion of the corner site is critical to achieving the overall aim,” the Hill-Smith submission said.

Property Council executive director Nathan Paine said the likely loss of development opportunity because of the heritage listing was huge.

“I’ve had one member talking about lost development rights that could run into the $10 million mark, which is quite substantial,” he told Indaily.

Paine said if properties were kept for community aesthetic, the community should help pay.

“We all support all sensible heritage listing and maintaining some of what is beautiful about Adelaide. But when we do list properties for community benefit we have to recognise there is a cost to the owner and community should contribute to cost.”

The listing of Maughan Church and Mission on Franklin Street, former home to 5KA, is opposed by the site’s owner Uniting Care, a subsidiary of the Uniting Church.

In its submission, Uniting Care said Maughan was not “particularly prominent to the context of the city, when compared for example to St Peters or St Francis Xavier”.

“While the church does run important mission operations from the centre, this is not evidence of an historical, economical or social theme as required by [heritage criteria].

“We contend that the 1960s ecclesiastical architecture of which the building is an example is not of any specific significance to the local area.”

It disagreed that the church was a “notable local personality”.

“Without questioning the value of the social work undertaken by the Uniting Church, any strong associations that the church would have with the local community would primarily by through the congregation.

“At present the church is without congregation due to dwindling numbers. Accordingly, we do not consider the church to fulfil this criterion.”

Despite the widespread opposition, local and state government bodies have supported the ACC proposals.

The Heritage DPA was endorsed by neighbouring local councils, various government departments and the National Trust.

Prospect principal planner Chris Newby said in a submission: “City of Prospect would like to express its support for this DPA, as it seeks to develop strategies that maintain and improve the rich character, architectural significance and historical value of the Adelaide City Centre, while promoting the conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage places.”

The Art Deco and Modernism Society convenor David O’Loughlin wrote in support of the listing of several buildings including the Laubman and Pank Building at 62-64 Gawler Place.

“The Laubman and Pank building is an excellent example of the adaption and reuse of buildings over a period of 150 years, with the most recent work reviving and releasing the upper level officers,” O’Loughlin said.

“This site incorporates the work of one of states earlier architects and a prominent parliamentarian, George Kingston, Edmund Wright, James Reed and Eric McMichael.”

[[Shuz]]

There's a few suprises in there that I would have thought would already be heritage listed.

But seriously, the bulk of the proposed heritage listings are just rubbish and aren't worthy of protection at all.

[PropertyozSA]

I think what is most concerning is the additional layers of regulation around what you will be able to do with listed properties including adding in aspects such as roofs as well as front facades. In addition, the Council DPA lists three economic impact studies (Connor Holmes, Hudson Howells and Colliers) yet other than blithly stating that there is a minimial financial impact of listing of $20,000 per annum per property, the Council has refused to release the studies.

If we are going to list more properties, there needs to be full confidence in the process and full access to the reports on which the Council is relying. Anything less and it starts to look like a snow job.

Nathan

[rhino]

I notice, with some surprise, that the old Adelaide Brewery buildings on Wyatt St (currently the offices of Wallbridge & Gilbert) are not on that list, although the Hill Smith Gallery, which almost adjoins them, is.

[SRW]

I think the majority are sensible, particularly in terms of protecting the historic streetscapes of Rundle & Hindley streets and Gawler Place. However, there a few -- mainly dwellings -- that strike me as odd, but I'd obviously need to know more of the context. For example, one dwelling on Market Street proposed for listing sits astride an allotment I've always considered ripe (overripe even) for development, so I'd want to be certain of its merit before compromising that potential.

[Will]

I notice, with some surprise, that the old Adelaide Brewery buildings on Wyatt St (currently the offices of Wallbridge & Gilbert) are not on that list, although the Hill Smith Gallery, which almost adjoins them, is.

The old Adelaide Brewery buildings are already heritage listed.

[Will]

Having had a look at the list, all i can say is that most inclusions are very reasonable. Indeed, I am shocked that some of those buildings aren't already heritage listed. Most of those buildings contribute to the 'mojo' of what makes Adelaide attractive and unique.

[rhino]

I notice, with some surprise, that the old Adelaide Brewery buildings on Wyatt St (currently the offices of Wallbridge & Gilbert) are not on that list, although the Hill Smith Gallery, which almost adjoins them, is.

The old Adelaide Brewery buildings are already heritage listed.

A fair explanation - thankyou. Glad to see a lot of those old warehouses getting listed too, especially the one on French St, currently tennanted by Jumbuck Pastoral.

[Omicron]

Having had a look at the list, all i can say is that most inclusions are very reasonable. Indeed, I am shocked that some of those buildings aren't already heritage listed. Most of those buildings contribute to the 'mojo' of what makes Adelaide attractive and unique.

I agree. As always, a balance needs to be found amongst preservation, restoration and renovation. Now that I work in a city building that dates back many years, I can completely understand the frustrations and fearsome costs of maintaining a tired old edifice. Absolute originality is no good if it results in complete dilapidation and disrepair.

[[Shuz]]

To merge old heritage-related discussion topics into single thread.

[PeFe]

Now here is a positive development for the CBD...renewing old movie theatres as.......movie theatres!
From Adelaide Now

Revamp of Regent Theatre to create a Gold Class experience

Hoyts Regent Theatre in Adelaide in July, 1961. Picture: Advertiser Library Source: Sunday Mail (SA)
***********************************************************************************************************************
EIGHT years after the final credits rolled on cinema in Rundle Mall, movie theatres are set to return to Regent Arcade.
The arcade's owner has lodged plans to revamp and reopen the 85-year-old theatre on the back of State Government and Adelaide City Council moves to revitalise the CBD.
The Ginos Group has proposed splitting two existing cinemas, which currently resemble bare shells, into four state-of-the-art gold-class theatres with a new candy bar.
Each intimate theatre will seat between 40 and 50 patrons and screen the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
Patrons will gain access to the theatre from a repaved and upgraded Arcade Lane, which will feature a new balcony, canopy, landscaping, plus lifts and stairs to take patrons to the first-floor cinemas.
The Hoyts Regent Theatre cinema held its last screening in 2004, partly because of the increasing popularity of suburban multiplexes. It was the first of three mainstream cinemas in the city to close over the past decade.
The Wallis Academy, in Hindmarsh Square, screened its last film in 2007 before it was bulldozed to make way for the Crowne Plaza.
The following year, the Greater Union complex, in Hindley St, succumbed to poor attendances and was leased to Edge Church.
The closures left the Palace Nova Eastend cinemas in Rundle St as the only new-release theatre operating in the city.
Ginos Group property manager George Ginos said he was encouraged to lodge the proposal on the back of Government and City Council plans to attract visitors to the CBD.
"It is good to see everyone working towards a common goal to revitalise the city," Mr Ginos said.
"There seems to be a lot more interest in projects like ours."
Mr Ginos said he remained locked in talks with a cinema operator.
The proposal is the latest in a string of multimillion-dollar plans announced by the Government and the council in the past year.
The two tiers of government are investing in several key infrastructure projects in the city, including the Rundle Mall Masterplan, Victoria Square revamp and upgrades of key lanes.
Rundle Mall Management Authority chairman Theo Maras said the movie theatre would entice people into town at night.
"It is a great idea and we hope that it takes off," Mr Maras said.
The plans are expected to be endorsed by the council's Development Assessment Panel at a meeting tomorrow.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6509848442

The Regent was a beautiful Art Deco cinema, one of many in the Adelaide CBD...Wests in Hindley St (now the Adelaide Symphony rehearsal space) the Metro across the road (now student apartments) the Warner in King William St (now Commonwealth Bank) the Sturt in Rundle Mall (now the Lotteries building) all these movie theatres contributed to a more "happening" city. I can remember when John Travolta came to Adelaide in 1979(?) to promote that terrible cowboy movie he made after "Saturday Night Fever", Hindley St was blocked off around the Metro theatre so his limo could safely arrive at the premiere.....

[russo92]

funny how everything that was once taken away from the city is now slowly being brought back in.

What used to be in the space where the large Globalize shop is now in the Regent ?