St John's Shopping Centre

[Neilsatiscitycentre]

Originally Posted by nosey

I think they need to demolish Clayton Sq and St Johns and especially those steps and create an area that compliments L1 obv attracting shops and a market. Something unique.

But you need a whole lotta of pounds for that though.

I agree with what you say about the steps. I noticed just recently how incredibly steep they are, they are a real barrier. Does anyone know how Charlotte St linked up with the old St John's Market? Was there always just a sheer drop around that part of town? Thanks.

[Skewed]

No the original Street continued at a gradient. Similar to that of the ramp that now Leeds up below Argos towards Lime St and starting at Aldi.

[aj1977]

Originally Posted by Neilsatiscitycentre

I agree with what you say about the steps. I noticed just recently how incredibly steep they are, they are a real barrier. Does anyone know how Charlotte St linked up with the old St John's Market? Was there always just a sheer drop around that part of town? Thanks.

There are some photos here showing what it used to look like: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/6880276048/

[gottago]

Originally Posted by aj1977

There are some photos here showing what it used to look like: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/6880276048/

So the horror that is those stairs was installed just so Boots could have two floors?!

[aj1977]

Originally Posted by gottago

So the horror that is those stairs was installed just so Boots could have two floors?!

Apparently, yes!

[Medi73#!]

It may sound un-christian, but the name of St John's Precint has always put me off, its just soooo unsexy which shopping should be these days. I know its traditional but its shit.

In fact if it were ever to be redeveloped it would be a good idea to create a new St John's Market and hall, and rebrand the mall with a new name.

[gottago]

Originally Posted by Medi73#!

It may sound un-christian, but the name of St John's Precint has always put me off, its just soooo unsexy which shopping should be these days. I know its traditional but its shit.

In fact if it were ever to be redeveloped it would be a good idea to create a new St John's Market and hall, and rebrand the mall with a new name.

I've always thought the same. Any shopping centre with "St." in the name is destined to be a bit rubbish. Never understood why it was once a trend to name them in such a way.

[Medi73#!]

Originally Posted by gottago

I've always thought the same. Any shopping centre with "St." in the name is destined to be a bit rubbish. Never understood why it was once a trend to name them in such a way.

It was fashionable in the 70's, mind, in those days town was full of old men in macks and 'the end is nigh' boards on, and hotdog sellers.

[Joe the red]

Good God!

You come across some garbage sometimes.

[Medi73#!]

Originally Posted by Joe the red

Good God!

You come across some garbage sometimes.

Come on Joe, its not a big deal, I know the name of the market is traditional but there's nothing wrong with suggesting that a redeveloped complex be renamed.

[Awayo]

St Johns' name is the best thing about it. It lies upon layers of history. The demolished Victorian market, the long-gone church and its yard filled with the skeletons of plague victims and Napoleonic prisoners of war and, further beneath, King John, his Letters Patent and his symbol, the eagle of an much earlier John. And so, yes: the Liver Bird.

[Medi73#!]

Originally Posted by Awayo

St Johns' name is the best thing about it. It lies upon layers of history. The demolished Victorian market, the long-gone church and its yard filled with the skeletons of plague victims and Napoleonic prisoners of war and, further beneath, King John, his Letters Patent and his symbol, the eagle of an much earlier John. And so, yes: the Liver Bird.

Well yes, that's a good point, but for most people St John's is simply synonymous with Sayers and cheap trackies.

[Awayo]

Originally Posted by Medi73#!

Well yes, that's a good point, but for most people St John's is simply synonymous with Sayers and cheap trackies.

Now you arguing against your earlier position, by stating that the problem is not the centre's name but its nature.

Rather like your earlier suggestion about changing the beautiful and evocative name of Sandhills in otherwise hard-to-love Kirkdale I can respond by suggesting that the name of Liverpool should be changed. The Pool was filled in three centuries ago and no one knows what "liver" really means. Liverpool should be given a new name that isn't synonymous with its 70s/80s image of poverty, riots and crime.

Renaming the entire city after one of its best commuter towns, whose name also suggests to the rest of England a warmer and more attractive version of northerness than that of all that off-putting Scouseness. It's turned out nice again, Medi: welcome to the City of Formby.

[Medi73#!]

Originally Posted by Awayo

Now you arguing against your earlier position, by stating that the problem is not the centre's name but its nature.

Rather like your earlier suggestion about changing the beautiful and evocative name of Sandhills in otherwise hard-to-love Kirkdale I can respond by suggesting that the name of Liverpool should be changed. The Pool was filled in three centuries ago and no one knows what "liver" really means. Liverpool should be given a new name that isn't synonymous with its 70s/80s image of poverty, riots and crime.

Renaming the entire city after one of its best commuter towns, whose name also suggests to the rest of England a warmer and more attractive version of northerness than that of all that off-putting Scouseness. It's turned out nice again, Medi: welcome to the City of Formby.

Indeed, when the County Pub on County Road was renamed as the then fashionable 'Hotpants' its popularity soared. I'm all for innovation these days, let call St George's Hall 'the Cube Factor' or something postmodern.

[joshwebb]

oh my god there is actually a thread for this poor excuse of a shopping centre :L most of the shops are full of cheap nasty clothes that fake girls wear. Liverpool is truely one of the skankiest places ive ever been but obviously the majority of you are normal

[Medi73#!]

Originally Posted by joshwebb

oh my god there is actually a thread for this poor excuse of a shopping centre :L most of the shops are full of cheap nasty clothes that fake girls wear. Liverpool is truely one of the skankiest places ive ever been but obviously the majority of you are normal

Thanks Josh, Birmingham's a bit skanky too, but obviously you are normal.

[scouse1980]

There's a shopping centre somewhere in Birmingham, I think it's called the Pallasades, what a dump! It was worse than St John's when we visited.

[Dutton2012]

http://www.awakearchitects.co.uk/pro...hopping-centre

Its a start

[ramsbrook]

Is that current? The advert states its for Land Securities...who have sold St Johns.

[Rollingstone Gather]

Originally Posted by joshwebb

oh my god there is actually a thread for this poor excuse of a shopping centre :L most of the shops are full of cheap nasty clothes that fake girls wear. Liverpool is truely one of the skankiest places ive ever been but obviously the majority of you are normal

In Birmingham, as one and parks above Debenham's in the Bullring shopping centre, the aroma of stale urine greets you as you pound down the stairs in desperate need to gulp fresh air from the street level doors. Most multi storey car parks have the whiff of piss, but the persistence and proximity to the food market and city centre shops should be resolved?