[U/C] Adelaide Festival Theatre Redevelopment

[bm7500]

Have read all of the articles, clicked all the links, watched the (old) Riverbank animations and still none the wiser about what's actually going to happen to the plaza, other than a carpark. Am I missing something?

Without any indication of timing or plans of any description, it all sounds a bit BS to me at the moment.

There is not even an infamous fly-through for this one.

[Matt]

Festival plaza cost back on taxpayer

http://m.indaily.com.au/news/2014/02/12 ... -taxpayer/

UPDATED: The State Government’s rejection of Walker Corporation’s comprehensive proposals to redevelop the Festival Centra plaza means that the taxpayer will now have to pay the bill for its much-needed redevelopment.
Under the original process, developed by former Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon, Walker Corporation would have constructed a mixed-used building and rebuilt the crumbling car park. In return, the taxpayer would have gained a redeveloped plaza.
As InDaily has reported extensively, the Walker proposal hit a brick wall in Government – due in part to the concerns of the Festival Centre . The lofty plans were scaled back and back, until they were reduced to simple a car park deal.
Despite the Government’s spin, Walker didn’t propose a towering “office block” (although it seems that the concept of “towering” is in the eye of the beholder – certainly it didn’t bear much resemblance to the soaring image released by the Government in conjunction with the Development Plan Amendment for the area).
It actually wanted to build several lower level, but still significant, constructions which would have provided some office tenancies, yes, but also retail, entertainment and cultural spaces. However, some of those who have seen the final version of the proposal – completed in October last year – believe it didn’t allow enough open space on the plaza.
Yesterday, the Government announced it planned to spend $46.5 million to “transform the Adelaide Festival Centre Plaza into a unique cultural and entertainment hub within the Riverbank Precinct”.
The announcement is almost a carbon copy of the Liberals’ plan, announced in January, to turn the plaza into our own version of Melbourne’s Federation Square.
There are some subtle differences.
Under the Liberal plan, the Festival Centre would have control of the car park, thus gaining a much-needed revenue stream.
This issue was at the heart of the Festival Centre’s opposition to the Walker proposals.
Labor’s solution is essentially a compromise.
Under the plan announced by Premier Jay Weatherill yesterday, a 1400-space car park will be developed by Walker Corporation to replace the current car park.
The Government will lease 400 car parks from Walker at a capped cost of $30 million over 30 years. About 400 car parks will be provided to the Festival Centre to be used as an “ongoing revenue stream”, with some reserved for Parliament House. The remaining 1000 parks will be leased to the Casino for its exclusive use “on terms to be agreed with the parties and on similar terms to that of the State Government”.
The question is what the taxpayer will get for its money, apart from the car park – and how much it will really cost in the end.
Weatherill said yesterday the State Government funds would contribute to the car park, the plaza and “the interface between the plaza and the Adelaide Festival Centre”.
Bearing in mind that the first stage of the Victoria Square revamp, for example, is costing close to $30 million, there will clearly need to be more taxpayer input if the plaza is to meet the Government’s ambitions.
The fine detail will be worked out by a new Riverbank Authority headed by former Tourism Australia boss Andrew McEvoy.
Liberal leader Steven Marshall has told InDaily that he will stick to any contract signed by the Government, so the plaza deal will go ahead, no matter who wins the March election.
The whole saga seems to stand in stark contrast with the Government’s treatment of the consortium that will develop industrial land at Gillman.
In that case, also reported extensively by InDaily, the Cabinet simply signed off on the deal – within the space of a few short months, partly on the basis that it wouldn’t cost the taxpayer any money. No tender, no drawn out negotiations.
Walker Corporation could be forgiven for scratching their heads at the treatment ladled out to them over the past year.
They first won an open bid to develop a proposal for the plaza in late 2012. Since then they’ve been put through the wringer and forced to progressively downscale their ambitions.

It's a very interesting contrast.

[thoughtfactory]

I walked the plaza yesterday in the early evening. I was shocked at how it is currently a run down, dirty concrete wasteland and a heat trap. It is a classic example of how Adelaide has been unable to build a proper public space with shade where people can gather and hang about. What has been built is a dead public space. I just cannot see it becoming a Festival Square under current proposals with respect to extra buildings and revamped car parks.

How about a public design competition to design the plaza so that it becomes a genuine piazza, or public gathering place.

[Waewick]

I walked the plaza yesterday in the early evening. I was shocked at how it is currently a run down, dirty concrete wasteland and a heat trap. It is a classic example of how Adelaide has been unable to build a proper public space with shade where people can gather and hang about. What has been built is a dead public space. I just cannot see it becoming a Festival Square under current proposals with respect to extra buildings and revamped car parks.

How about a public design competition to design the plaza so that it becomes a genuine piazza, or public gathering place.

the problem with public design comps is noone has the money to build what has been propsed.

[monotonehell]

What needs to be done is take the new footbridge's design as a style cue, and expand that throughout the entire Festival Centre and surrounds. Remove all the barriers to foot traffic, like the bisected plaza (what were they thinking?). Create good links to all sides and streets.

But most of all the area needs a mix of uses introduced to keep it alive around the clock. Shame the office tower above was canned, that would have provided daytime activity to complement the night time activity of the theatres.

[Nathan]

But most of all the area needs a mix of uses introduced to keep it alive around the clock. Shame the office tower above was canned, that would have provided daytime activity to complement the night time activity of the theatres.

I agree there needs to be some mixed uses to generate day time activity, but I don't think offices was the right direction. I think we need to take another leaf from Federation Square and compliment the plaza and Festival Centre with other cultural buildings. Maybe a modern art gallery (something similar in size to NY's New Museum), or some kind of performance/rehearsal space.

[ml69]

But most of all the area needs a mix of uses introduced to keep it alive around the clock. Shame the office tower above was canned, that would have provided daytime activity to complement the night time activity of the theatres.

I agree there needs to be some mixed uses to generate day time activity, but I don't think offices was the right direction. I think we need to take another leaf from Federation Square and compliment the plaza and Festival Centre with other cultural buildings. Maybe a modern art gallery (something similar in size to NY's New Museum), or some kind of performance/rehearsal space.

I think the state government is completely on the wrong track with the Festival Plaza. Of course there needs to be mixed use otherwise we'll just have a nicer-looking version of a dead plaza. The current plaza space is just too big and should be roughly halved in size, which would make it similar to Fed Square in size. It also needs more "enclosure" than it currently has.

Offices: I think some (but not too much) office space would be good .... in particular a high profile TV station such as Channel 9 or ABC would be an ideal tenant. Fed Square has SBS as a tenant.

Hotel: Also I think a very complementary use which has been missed is another 5-star hotel, in addition to the casino's proposed hotel. Festival Plaza is arguably the best location in the city for a high-end hotel. It would also be a constant day/night traffic generator.

Cultural: As suggesed above, a contemporary art gallery, and also relocate the SA sports museum from North Tce to here so it's more conveniently located on the main path to Adelaide Oval.

Restaurants/cafes/bars: Can be located on the ground floor areas of the offices and hotel.

[ChillyPhilly]

I think the state government is completely on the wrong track with the Festival Plaza. Of course there needs to be mixed use otherwise we'll just have a nicer-looking version of a dead plaza. The current plaza space is just too big and should be roughly halved in size, which would make it similar to Fed Square in size. It also needs more "enclosure" than it currently has.

Agree completely. 'Enclosing' a public space can help to define it, and this is a small issue with the existing set-up of the plaza. It is a confusing mess with very little definable boundaries. A good example of an 'enclosed'/defined public space is that of the northern half of Hindmarsh Square, where the Crowne Plaza seals off the north-east corner for example. The same applies to the western side.



Federation Square and Circular Quay in Sydney work because they have these physical boundaries.



Circular Quay has the water, various buildings and the Cahill Expressway.

Offices: I think some (but not too much) office space would be good .... in particular a high profile TV station such as Channel 9 or ABC would be an ideal tenant. Fed Square has SBS as a tenant night traffic generator-

Agree also about the SBS building in Fed Square. It's one of Melbourne's most hideous, but it works somehow. A lot of activity can be generated from a television studio, and what would a new/revamped public space need to justify itself? Activity! Pedestrian life! Would like to see ABC for one relocate from Collinswood and come to the CBD.

Hotel: Also I think a very complementary use which has been missed is another 5-star hotel, in addition to the casino's proposed hotel. Festival Plaza is arguably the best location in the city for a high-end hotel. It would also be a constant day/night traffic generator.

I agree also, have always wanted to see a hotel here. Knock Stamford from its high horse and provide some semblance of complement to Oaks Embassy (which would quintessentially be at the western end of the whole riverbank precinct).

Cultural: As suggesed above, a contemporary art gallery, and also relocate the SA sports museum from North Tce to here so it's more conveniently located on the main path to Adelaide Oval.

Restaurants/cafes/bars: Can be located on the ground floor areas of the offices and hotel.

Spot on again. You'd do well in nutting out an urban design project.

[Patrick_27]

It may not appear this way from street view but things are well underway with this.

Fencing and scaffolding around the Dunstan Playhouse, they've removed the ground plates from within the fenced area.

Also, I'm not sure how to do this but could we perhaps merge this page and the Festival Plaza Upgrade page together or are they still considered two separate developments?

[Mpol]

I'm sorry but what exactly is happening? The car park? Do we have any idea of the proposed plaza development?
Any word on the Festival Centre upgrade commencing?

[Llessur2002]

Think the thread relates more to the redevelopment of the Festival Centre itself - there's a separate thread for the Plaza where, as far as I know, nothing much of note has occurred...

[Nathan]

It may not appear this way from street view but things are well underway with this.

Fencing and scaffolding around the Dunstan Playhouse, they've removed the ground plates from within the fenced area.

Also, I'm not sure how to do this but could we perhaps merge this page and the Festival Plaza Upgrade page together or are they still considered two separate developments?

What's weird was that that area was already done as part of the pedestrian bridge works...

[Patrick_27]

Think the thread relates more to the redevelopment of the Festival Centre itself - there's a separate thread for the Plaza where, as far as I know, nothing much of note has occurred...

Well, in that case I've posted on the right thread.

[Patrick_27]

It may not appear this way from street view but things are well underway with this.

Fencing and scaffolding around the Dunstan Playhouse, they've removed the ground plates from within the fenced area.

Also, I'm not sure how to do this but could we perhaps merge this page and the Festival Plaza Upgrade page together or are they still considered two separate developments?

What's weird was that that area was already done as part of the pedestrian bridge works...

This is true, but for the sake of keeping the redesign of the area flowing they're no doubt going to do everything.

[Patrick_27]

I'm sorry but what exactly is happening? The car park? Do we have any idea of the proposed plaza development?
Any word on the Festival Centre upgrade commencing?

Did you even read my comment? The upgrade has commenced... Also, if you read the documents available on the Festival Centre website you'd find the answers to this.

The plaza development is still in the designing phase.

At this point, they're upgrading Dunstan Playhouse 'dome' but the plan is the upgrade the northern end of the centre and create the new entrance so that they can close the current entrance and the plaza works can commence.