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

[Nathan]

I do wonder how he rose to top of the table in Adelaide. The Makris Group's list of properties is pretty uninspiring - mostly small suburban shopping centres, with their highest profile projects being City Cross and North Adelaide Village.
http://makris.com.au/prperty_portfolio.html

[monotonehell]

Peter and the Wolf.

[Shahkar]

BILLIONAIRE property developer Lang Walker has walked away from a plan to jointly develop the long-abandoned former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide.

The state's richest man, Con Makris, has promised to deliver the $200 million project alone, with construction expected to start as early as next January.

Tensions between two of the country's richest men emerged in January, when Mr Makris publicly aired his frustration with Mr Walker's delays, and threatened to go it alone at the site, which has been vacant since 1989.

Makris Group chief executive John Blunt confirmed the short-lived partnership had ended less than a year after it was struck.

"I think he may have just lost interest," Mr Blunt said.

"Whether they were held up with Riverbank (the city Riverbank precinct project) - I'm not sure."

Premier Jay Weatherill confirmed yesterday the Government would soon determine whether it would proceed with Mr Walker's plans for the redevelopment of Festival Plaza. Mr Walker was expected to manage the residential component of the mixed-use North Adelaide development but Mr Makris will now take over control of the entire project.

Mr Blunt said plans were progressing, with approval expected in October. The revised plans included serviced apartments and retail space anchored by a supermarket or a whole-foods market focused on natural produce.

"We want to make it Adelaide's gourmet centre because there's nothing quite like that in Adelaide," he said.

"We're working with the Government Architect and referral authorities and looking to lodge a development application formally in August. Since he (Walker) walked away from the project, I must say Con is probably more committed now than ever before."

Mr Blunt did not rule out the arrival of a major European department store.

Earlier this month, Mr Makris said he was "ready to roll" once given the green light by the State Government's Development Assessment Commission.

"That's the promise - Con Makris to the people of Adelaide," he said at the time. "I want to have the bulldozers here by January."

Walker Corporation declined to comment.

[Dog]

I read recently that with the success of the Adelaide Oval the Crows are now possibly willing to move from West Lakes to the city, wouldn't the old Le Cornu site, obviously with other development (apartments or hotel above) lend its self for a new Crows or Power HQ.
Perhaps combined with a relocated NextGen fitness centre this would give North Adelaide a much needed revitalisation.
Moving NextGen would also make room for a redeveloped Tennis centre or event stadium next to Adelaide oval to further give a river precinct a lift.

[Patrick_27]

I read recently that with the success of the Adelaide Oval the Crows are now possibly willing to move from West Lakes to the city, wouldn't the old Le Cornu site, obviously with other development (apartments or hotel above) lend its self for a new Crows or Power HQ.
Perhaps combined with a relocated NextGen fitness centre this would give North Adelaide a much needed revitalisation.
Moving NextGen would also make room for a redeveloped Tennis centre or event stadium next to Adelaide oval to further give a river precinct a lift.

When I finished reading the first paragraph of Dog's post my initial thought was: "Dog, what are you on?!"

But, thinking about this for a bit; I actually kinda like the idea. There is more benefit from this than there is to be of a disadvantage.

Whilst I've always enjoyed Makris' proposals for the land it seems he's never going to have much luck in trying to deliver what best suits his idea. I'm sure if the Crows/government jointly paid off Makris for the land that he'd be happy to let it go: knowing the potential of the property under the ownership of both parties mentioned - I feel current reservation about the prospect of selling on the land is that the ACC will put forward a buyer who will build further car-parking and that will ruin the vibe he's trying to create with North Adelaide Village.

Such a facility would bring the Adelaide team into the heart of the city, as a training facility for the club - in the nearby park-lands an oval could be allocated for their use - which the fans then could attend training sessions IN THE CITY and would sure enough consume in nearby local businesses (and any ground allocated for them in the park-lands could eventually be used for SANFL home games if and when that is eventually permitted by the SANFL). Combining the facility with Next Gen is a good idea - allows the space next to AO to be used as mentioned by Dog for a complex for Tennis, Netball, Basketball, Music/Entertainment - Next Gen could build roof-top tennis courts to replace those they had at Memorial Drive, and combining such a facility apartments in the area would bring more residents to North Adelaide as desired.

I like the idea! Perhaps a just a vision, but it's a productive one, and wouldn't be completely illogical.

[rev]

The LeCornu site being used as a training facility or HQ for either Port or the Crows is a bad idea.

Here's why.
Port is based at Alberton. It has it's administrative offices there, it has it's training facility their(indoors), and it also has a full sized oval to train on. That is the important part.

The Crows are based at West Lakes, and have a similar setup to Port.
Where the Crows are likely to move is Thebarton Oval.
I don't see it happening any time soon though, because it wasn't that long ago over $20 million was spent building the Westpac Center on the side of AAMI for the Crows. They would need to build a similar facility at Thebarton Oval.

It would be an ideal location for the Crows, as apparently they have been complaining about having to commute up Port Road from West Lakes to the City. Thebarton Oval is straight up the road a short distance away.

[pushbutton]

It would be an ideal location for the Crows, as apparently they have been complaining about having to commute up Port Road from West Lakes to the City.

It's 20 minutes max! What's to complain about?

[Waewick]

It would be an ideal location for the Crows, as apparently they have been complaining about having to commute up Port Road from West Lakes to the City.

It's 20 minutes max! What's to complain about?

Rev is, once again talking shit.

[rev]

It would be an ideal location for the Crows, as apparently they have been complaining about having to commute up Port Road from West Lakes to the City.

It's 20 minutes max! What's to complain about?

Rev is, once again talking shit.

So this track doesn't go further off topic with the crows campaigners, I'll just say that it was on 5AA by the crows biggest media campaigners. Go take it up with them.

[Dog]

Nothing like combining both footbrawl and the LeCornu site to stir up some controversy

[bm7500]

BILLIONAIRE property developer Lang Walker has walked away from a plan to jointly develop the long-abandoned former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide.

The state's richest man, Con Makris, has promised to deliver the $200 million project alone, with construction expected to start as early as next January.

Tensions between two of the country's richest men emerged in January, when Mr Makris publicly aired his frustration with Mr Walker's delays, and threatened to go it alone at the site, which has been vacant since 1989.

Makris Group chief executive John Blunt confirmed the short-lived partnership had ended less than a year after it was struck.

"I think he may have just lost interest," Mr Blunt said.

"Whether they were held up with Riverbank (the city Riverbank precinct project) - I'm not sure."

Premier Jay Weatherill confirmed yesterday the Government would soon determine whether it would proceed with Mr Walker's plans for the redevelopment of Festival Plaza. Mr Walker was expected to manage the residential component of the mixed-use North Adelaide development but Mr Makris will now take over control of the entire project.

Mr Blunt said plans were progressing, with approval expected in October. The revised plans included serviced apartments and retail space anchored by a supermarket or a whole-foods market focused on natural produce.

"We want to make it Adelaide's gourmet centre because there's nothing quite like that in Adelaide," he said.

"We're working with the Government Architect and referral authorities and looking to lodge a development application formally in August. Since he (Walker) walked away from the project, I must say Con is probably more committed now than ever before."

Mr Blunt did not rule out the arrival of a major European department store.

Earlier this month, Mr Makris said he was "ready to roll" once given the green light by the State Government's Development Assessment Commission.

"That's the promise - Con Makris to the people of Adelaide," he said at the time. "I want to have the bulldozers here by January."

Walker Corporation declined to comment.

Serviced apartments, a supermarket and a food market...wow, that was worth the wait.

[Nathan]

I think more to the point was that bit of news is almost an entire year old, and contained this quote:

"That's the promise - Con Makris to the people of Adelaide," he said at the time. "I want to have the bulldozers here by January."

[Waewick]

To be fair. They did knock buildings down

[Wayno]

Update from InDaily (Nov 28)

Con Makris's latest plans for the Le Cornu site will be released soon.

ADELAIDE | A grand plan to finally fill the gaping Le Cornu site on O’Connell Street will be released soon, possibly as early as next week.

InDaily understands the Makris Group is ready to release its plans for the site which will include retail, residential, a boutique hotel and a car park.

The property developers have been in negotiations with the State Government on the site, which has been vacant since 1989.

Because of the size of the site and the value of the development, the proposal will go straight to the Development Assessment Commission rather than the Adelaide City Council.

InDaily understands the Makris Group will display its plans at the North Adelaide Village shopping centre.

The development is likely to have a mix of building heights across the vast site.

The developers wouldn’t talk today about the imminent release of its plans, however, in August, Makris Group general manager Steve Ploubidis told InDaily that negotiations on the site were well-advanced.

“We are well down the path of negotiating with Government to revitalise North Adelaide,” he said.

“Adelaide needs private cranes in the air and we plan to deliver.”

He said on 25 August that the Makris team had met with the Development Assessment Commission and the State Government in the past week.

DAC is the independent statutory body which reviews development proposals.

The Le Cornu site was granted major project status in May 2007 when a hotel/apartment complex was proposed. It was put on hold when the Global Financial Crisis hit in late 2008.

Ploubidis said in August the new concept was a more advanced version of the 2007 proposal.

“We have done substantial work on North Adelaide. We met with DAC last week and plan to release architectural drawings when we go to full public consultation in November.

“We’ll actually have a shop front where people can see the design and ask questions.

“Then we’ll finalise the concept and lodge the formal submission early in the New Year.

“Once we have approval, then we can finalise the negotiations with a hotel group, the supermarket operators and commence pre-sales of apartments.

“Everyone involved is very excited with this project.”

In February this year the Makris Group sold its shopping centre in Bonnyigg, Sydney, to “cash-up” for the North Adelaide project.

The Le Cornu site remains one of Adelaide’s eyesores.

In 1989 the Le Cornu furniture store was demolished. Since then there have been seven development proposals. After each one failed, the developer sold the site.

Con Makris has held the site since 2001.

[Alyx]

Okay, Con. Whatever you say.