Hopefully by Monday.
It's specifically about the Seel St demolitions , and also concerning their wider intentions for Liverpool.


In the meantime we need:

i.)Any questions you might want me to ask.

and ii) or any background you have on them (G.V!) which might be of help, let me know here or by pm, ta..

Nice one VT - it'd be good to get a comprehensive list of all the developments they've been involved in over the last 5 or so years, and how many of the historic buildings they've taken on have 'fallen into an irrepairable' state. And in those cases ask them why they bought a development which was essentially unsalvagable? Get them to answer the allegation that they're simply buying up land, letting it rot and then demolishing it on 'safety grounds'... thus giving them a blank canvas for development in prime areas of the city... for starters...

Hopefully by Monday.
It's specifically about the Seel St demolitions , and also concerning their wider intentions for Liverpool.


In the meantime we need:

i.)Any questions you might want me to ask.

and ii) or any background you have on them (G.V!) which might be of help, let me know here or by pm, ta..

Excellent VT.

They are alleged to have 200 properties (possibly includes sites for single level car parks etc) in and around Rope Walks. Five have effectively fallen down today. Is there any way that we can get an idea of which buildings / sites that they own and establish their intentions, especially with regard to those of architectural significance or those which given their track record are on their way to a similar fate to these grand old houses?

Cheers for this VT.

I conveyed to them the importance to them of answering the rep they're garnering from many in the city, and they asked if I knew of the positive work they've done for the Biennale?

I do remember something- does anyone have a fuller account of their participation?

I conveyed to them the importance to them of answering the rep they're garnering from many in the city, and they asked if I knew of the positive work they've done for the Biennale?

I do remember something- does anyone have a fuller account of their participation?

Surely that's there job to prove the good work they've been doing! Did it have something to do with the graffiti around the ropewalks area and those giant accupuncture needles?

Anyway, offering assistance for an arts event hardly mitigates the serious charge being brought against them that their activity in certain areas of the city has resulted in the net loss of a substantial number of high quality georgian buildings.

Mentioned here:

http://www.artinliverpool.com/blogarch/2006/01/chinese_reflect.html

"Callum Moncrieff and I worked on the concept of setting up a Contemporary Art gallery in the area, a 24 Hour Exhibition Space with a fast turn over of shows and artists in residence. (Watch this space) that is how Chinapool Arts & Culture Organisation evolved.
Wendy Dixon at Frenson lent us two buildings in Chinatown to develop the concept.
Rob Macdonald JMU wrote a module for his Architecture students to design a Contemporary Art Centre based on the buildings 40-42 Nelson Street. We showed hundreds of people around the building visualised the space and created the future Art Space for L1.
We were working voluntarily in the Wah Sing working closely with the Headmaster who recognised the changing economic situation of China and the work ethic of the Chinese people in the City had pushed the traditional practice of Art and philosophy into the background of their lives. He expressed concerns for the cultural future of the young generations of Chinese who are encouraged to work in law and medicine rather than the creative industries. We offered to set up a Contemporary Chinese Art Centre in Chinatown working with partners both in and outside of the City and obviously directly with China.

I asked Wendy for a building to wrap and she kindly offered the building on the corner of Seel Street/Slater St. This building is part of the Liverpool Echo Stop the Rot Campaign. The building is situated in an ideal site in the Liverpool Rope Walks, opening the boundaries of Chinatown. The building would highlight the Chinese Community; recognise the oldest Chinese community in Europe. At the same time the wrap would highlight the building itself, ironically by covering the scaffolding the site would become a landmark, a node. And don’t forget I would satisfy my ego by working on a large scale within my own limitations of the City!

Note that it could have been used for advertising which would have made Frenson lots of money but it is used for Art purposes on the short term. On the long term it will be renovated.

John Thompson the former Building at Risk officer at Liverpool City Council shared our Vision. Liverpool Vision supported the development of the concept through to realising the project. The research and photographs took three years to complete. The Chinese writing on the Slater Street side is taken from the Chinese arch.
Many other people were involved or touched by this work. Thanks to all.

I worked voluntarily on the project, (Note to Council Tax recovery letter writers) That’s why I am now looking for a job and giving up this voluntary lark, disillusioned at the prospect of an artist being a sustainable practice. I shall have to join the other professional artists who teach or work in a supermarket. But that’s another story.

Frenson paid many thousands for the scaffolding to fit the work and Liverpool City Council was paying for the print of the photomontage. But the money was allocated to something else.
The Culture Co stepped in and kindly paid for the work to be printed.
The majority of the Chinese people in the City are pleased with the outcome but hey you can’t please everyone!

However I lost my ‘building wrap’
I am not recognised as a female artist working on the cutting edge, having produced the largest sculptural public building work outside Barcelona.

It is described as banners. I have produced more fucking banners that are cropping up all over the city. At least mine are described as pretty, post feminism an’ all I should be happy I suppose.

Is anyone interested in setting up a Public Art forum to discuss public sculpture the development of the city etcetera? Why is no one available to comment on work other than employees of the CC when there are Universities in the City with experts in fine Art, built environment and Architecture? Why aren’t people being cultivated in the City? And why isn’t work recognised as to its worth and value? Maybe we could change the situation?"

Be interesting to establish why they shelled out all that cash on it. The artist's assertion that Frenson could've got of money by wrapping the building in ads seems a bit spurious.

Hopefully by Monday.
It's specifically about the Seel St demolitions , and also concerning their wider intentions for Liverpool.

i.)Any questions you might want me to ask.



Q
Why don't they travel to Seymour St, to see and learn how to regenerate Georgian Buildings, and ask for the advise of developers of past Georgian projects.

Q
Why do they allways put in planning applications to demolish these historic buildings, it seems they don't have any intention or the skill and experience to restore the buildings they own.

Q
How come they own many of these old properties in the first place, which have been left to rot.

Q
Frenson are "NOTORIOUS" as rogue developers holding back the renaisance of the Ropewalks area, why don't they sell up to someone who can carry out regeneration in the area to a better standard and faster.

Q
Why don't they travel to Seymour St, to see and learn how to regenerate Georgian Buildings, and ask for the advise of developers of past Georgian projects.

Q
Why do they allways put in planning applications to demolish these historic buildings, it seems they don't have any intention or the skill and experience to restore the buildings they own.

Q
How come they own many of these old properties in the first place, which have been left to rot.

Q
Frenson are "NOTORIOUS" as rogue developers holding back the renaisance of the Ropewalks area, why don't they sell up to someone who can carry out regeneration in the area to a better standard and faster.

Juxta, Seymour st probably isn't probably the best example for Frensen,only the facades have been retained.This is the danger with city at the moment,leaving buildings until only facades are retained.

Juxta, Seymour st probably isn't probably the best example for Frensen,only the facades have been retained.This is the danger with city at the moment,leaving buildings until only facades are retained.

In this case it is, because that is a massive row of Georgian buildings, that were sadly derelict, the facade was retained, and the building rebuilt in matching style, using modern techniques, no need for exact pinpoint Georgian accuracy.

Frenson tried the same with a much smaller building, and were probably planning a non matching modern rear attachment, (i.e. a lot easier than Seymour St), and completely failed, to save anything by the looks of it.

On the subject of "leaving buildings until only facades are retained", yes that is another issue, and what both schemes were aiming for, one succeeded, one didn't.

In this case it is, because that is a massive row of Georgian buildings, that were sadly derelict, the facade was retained, and the building rebuilt in matching style, using modern techniques, no need for exact pinpoint Georgian accuracy.

Frenson tried the same with a much smaller building, and were probably planning a non matching modern rear attachment, (i.e. a lot easier than Seymour St), and completely failed, to save anything by the looks of it.

On the subject of "leaving buildings until only facades are retained", yes that is another issue, and what both schemes were aiming for, one succeeded, one didn't.

This is the aim of some "developers" facadism,because it's cheaper.The city is starting to resemble Hollywood set.The ropewalks alone we have.The Carsatelli,a copy of the original,Dukes Terrrace a copy of a grade 1 Georgian terrace. Retaining facades should be the absolute last resort not the option that it appears to be at the moment.

Yes, but keeping it on track, Frenson have failed at complete restoration, they never even tried, but more damming than that is they have failed at the minimal effort of trying Facadism.

Frenson are the wrong developers for the Ropewalks, they should sell up to someone who can at best do a complete restore, or at minimum, retain the original facade.

Frenson succeeded in creating a surface carpark, out of historic Georgian Terraces.

^^^^ Agree and someone should be held responsible. As Tom says,what about some type of inquiry.

I conveyed to them the importance to them of answering the rep they're garnering from many in the city, and they asked if I knew of the positive work they've done for the Biennale?

I do remember something- does anyone have a fuller account of their participation?

I would retort that doing good work for a few weeks every two years pales into complete insignificance when compared to the downright vandalism of the city at their hands.

^^^^ Agree and someone should be held responsible. As Tom says,what about some type of inquiry.

I just wonder whether E.H. Wayne Colquhoune, the council are really that interested, who would be holding the Inquiry, and against who, considering a number of excuses can allways be brought by Frenson or the council, and the inspectors who reccommended demolition.

Why where there no checks by the council or the usually meddling E.H. to ensure a proper job was being done.


This makes me seriously doubt the other Frenson buildings nearby behind scaffold will survive.

Just watch this space! This was 1 year ago to the day today (http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news//tm_headline=just-watch-this-space-&method=full&objectid=18650996&siteid=50061-name_page.html)

Stop The Rot forum member Nigel Lee, Liverpool council’s planning manager, today urged the firm to start work as quickly as possible

Frenson says it will only sell to a 'bona fide developer' (http://www.liverpoolviews.co.uk/danger/scandi1.html).....:lol:

I remember this scheme, don't know if Frenson still involved (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_headline=sun-proof-homes-of-the-future-for-rodney-street%26method=full%26objectid=15071028%26page=1%26siteid=50061-name_page.html)

Ah...The Whitehouse Pub, and its next door which crumbled and was demolished (http://www.liverpoolviews.co.uk/danger/white.html)

Duke St Terraces (http://www.liverpoolviews.co.uk/danger/duke.html)

I think these have for sale signs, so don't know if Frenson still own them.

I think Frensons did refurbish the Terrace opposite No 62-68 Seel St, or did they...! (http://www.bigdig.liverpool.gov.uk/projects/current/49-51_Seel_Street.asp)

They also did Concert Steps.....! as already mentioned.

Juxt, I notice you have posted links to my website - feel free to post the pictures instead. Let the people see what is going or gone!

:)

I think Frensons did refurbish the Terrace opposite No 62-68 Seel St, or did they...! (http://www.bigdig.liverpool.gov.uk/projects/current/49-51_Seel_Street.asp)

They also did Concert Steps.....! as already mentioned.

You're right about this one Juxt. Thanks for your detective work. :nuts:

Not exactly a heritage success story are they. :ohno:

Definitely ask them about the old Watchmakers factory referred to be Juxta in post 16. This scheme would have a massive impact on the area if developed, but now it seems bugger all will be happening for a whilke now.

If it is the same site that is in planning at the moment, ask them:

What stopped them going on site with the previous permission?
Why did they change their plans?
Why should there be any confidence that they will develop this site if permission is obtained?


Iwould also like to see a list of every property they own and specific plans for each, including a timetable. Any buildings with no plans attached should be explained. Any buildings with plans attached but no progress to date should be explained.

Juxt, I notice you have posted links to my website - feel free to post the pictures instead. Let the people see what is going or gone!

:)

I didn't know that, was wondering whether to put a "courtesy of.." note, that is a great website, a thanks for allowing me to post...:cheers:

And for the emotive sucker punch, show them this, and ask them if they're proud of themselves?

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2894/img6378jm2.jpg

And for the emotive sucker punch, show them this, and ask them if they're proud of themselves?

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2894/img6378jm2.jpg

Sadly I don't think they will give a toss.

VT, could you please ask them how they came to own the property in the first place, the actual price paid after previous bankruptcy (and non payment) and new company formation (i.e. Frenson) and the process they went through with Liverpool City Council to get it? Sorry, but this one has always wound me up.

VT, check out Liverpool Vision last City Centre Development report ( No. 16 ),dated feb 08, Frensons name appears NINE times in the Ropewalks section. A physical site check would be needed to ascertain if there was any progress/ completions on these NINE sites.

Just to update everyone on this.

I have an interview in Westminster with Louise Ellman on Friday.

STILL awaiting a call-back (call-backs are the only way you're allowed to speak to them) from the Conservation Office- they're being pretty slack.

Put in formal requests for interviews from EH, LV and CABE...all in connection with trying to put together a decent piece about Frenson, Maghull Group, Liverpool and wider local issues.

I'm doing this in between work, so it's a bit of a mission, however it will happen.

In the meantime, if anyone has some info or questions which might be helpful please feel free to chip in...

I heard a rumour in the everyman bistro at lunch time today that a song is about to come out lampooning Frenson like there's no tomorrow. Pity John Peel is dead. I'm sure that he would have given it airplay