#UC: M&A - McLachlan & Ann (Valley) - 23st/78m, 13st/54m & 9st/28m (mixed use)

[Marty_]

I hate The Valley (most of it). It will be a joy to watch it change.

[Samuel77]

i like the valley. I like the character. I dont want it to become too "proper". I like all the boutiques shops and want its essence of character to retain. But they can tidy up some parts without losing too much of the valley feel. Get rid of the bitumen footpaths. I hate bitumen footpaths. I know they are easy to maintain and have a good life. But they look shit. Part of the reasoning of using them (from what I recall) was that it was a heritage link. If it looks bad, dont use it - and it doesn't look good.

Anyway enough with my anti-bitumen rant. Back to topic. The other thing is that they could redo the mall. Its looking pretty tired. I think this McLachlan St building is probably just far enough away from Brunswick street that it won't impact too much on the core part of the valley. I like seeing all the north-eastern end of the valley rejuvenated, but i would like to see the central part keep its character as much as possible. It has a different feel the the city and that is a good thing IMO.

[JayT]

Originally Posted by Samuel77

i like the valley. I like the character. I dont want it to become too "proper". I like all the boutiques shops and want its essence of character to retain. But they can tidy up some parts without losing too much of the valley feel. Get rid of the bitumen footpaths. I hate bitumen footpaths. I know they are easy to maintain and have a good life. But they look shit. Part of the reasoning of using them (from what I recall) was that it was a heritage link. If it looks bad, dont use it - and it doesn't look good.

There is nothing wrong with butumen footpaths. We are lucky that in Brisbane many of our footpaths are tiles or granite. In Melbourne and Sydney nearly all footpaths are bituman or concrete.

Originally Posted by Samuel77

Anyway enough with my anti-bitumen rant. Back to topic. The other thing is that they could redo the mall. Its looking pretty tired. I think this McLachlan St building is probably just far enough away from Brunswick street that it won't impact too much on the core part of the valley. I like seeing all the north-eastern end of the valley rejuvenated, but i would like to see the central part keep its character as much as possible. It has a different feel the the city and that is a good thing IMO.

I agree the Mall needs a revamp. But as you say this development is far enough from the core that it won't impact too much. It will help to form a bridge between the older core areas around the mall and the newer areas towards James Street and Emporium. James street is coming along in leaps and bounds recently and needs to be connected to the core areas. This will help greatly.

Imagine in a few years when this development opens up, Mosaic is built and running, Waterloo is up, and Newstead gets going with all its new towers and centre functions.

It looks like exciting times for The Valley.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

What exactly do people describe as Fortitude Valley's 'character?'

I personally think that more change the better...I find more of the stereotypical Valley areas to be seedy, run down and unattractive. Brunswick Street, the interior of McWhirters and parts of Wickham and Ann Streets fit this description.

With BCC's ambitions for high density living and office space in the Valley, it is inevitable that the whole suburb will be gentrified and not much of this character that we speak of will remain. I think this is a good thing because as it stands, Fortitude Valley is fragmented. You have the newer/nicer end up around Emporium/James Street, down through the car yards and into the core of the Valley. Public transport access to the newer end is average and it is a pretty boring/unattractive/seemingly long walk from the train station in the Valley core to James Street.

With construction of Macarthur and Ann, HQ, Mosaic and others, the whole suburb will become a destination in its own right, and the walk from the train station to James Street area will be much nicer. There will be wider footpaths, nice trees, plenty of shops and restaurants and a mix of uses to take in.

Imagine an entire suburb where every street is visit-worthy whether it be Chinatown on Duncan Street, the Brunswick Street Mall, a boulevarded Wickham Street, an upgraded Ann Street, an extended Jame Street or the developments that link them all together. I see the Valley in future being a tribute (as such) to the laneway/arcade culture of Melbourne with its own distinct features (subtropical vegetation, weekend and night markets etc).

[bribri]

Originally Posted by Sky_Is_The_Limit

What exactly do people describe as Fortitude Valley's 'character?'

I personally think that more change the better...I find more of the stereotypical Valley areas to be seedy, run down and unattractive. Brunswick Street, the interior of McWhirters and parts of Wickham and Ann Streets fit this description.

With BCC's ambitions for high density living and office space in the Valley, it is inevitable that the whole suburb will be gentrified and not much of this character that we speak of will remain. I think this is a good thing because as it stands, Fortitude Valley is fragmented. You have the newer/nicer end up around Emporium/James Street, down through the car yards and into the core of the Valley. Public transport access to the newer end is average and it is a pretty boring/unattractive/seemingly long walk from the train station in the Valley core to James Street.

With construction of Macarthur and Ann, HQ, Mosaic and others, the whole suburb will become a destination in its own right, and the walk from the train station to James Street area will be much nicer. There will be wider footpaths, nice trees, plenty of shops and restaurants and a mix of uses to take in.

Imagine an entire suburb where every street is visit-worthy whether it be Chinatown on Duncan Street, the Brunswick Street Mall, a boulevarded Wickham Street, an upgraded Ann Street, an extended Jame Street or the developments that link them all together. I see the Valley in future being a tribute (as such) to the laneway/arcade culture of Melbourne with its own distinct features (subtropical vegetation, weekend and night markets etc).

What's wrong with the Valley just being the Valley?
You seem to be saying that you don't want the Valley to be the Valley and would prefer if it was transformed into a combination of Singapore with shiny glass, granite and chrome plus the Melbourne Laneways?

[Iain1976]

What is wrong with the valley? Mainly, the traffic. That tower is OK, nothing special but OK. A car yard is no loss.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Like I said, define what the Valley's character is?

To me the Valley is seen as seedy, run down and unattractive.

Gentrification of the Valley has been going on for a number of years now (think Cloudland, Zuri's, Emporium, James Street Markets, megaclubs, Buffalo Club, upgrade of Chinatown etc) so the area's character has already changed.

I'm saying that with the BCC's vision for the Valley, things will continue to change and there will be little of the seediness and run down look left in the future. There will still be a mix of retail outlets and the club scene will remain, but there will be an increase in laneway activity, public spaces and boutique shopping/cafes/restaurants, similar to Melbourne. This is a good outcome

[Samuel77]

yeah i agree to an extent. I would like some areas cleaned up but I also want the cultural and social diversity to remain, and also the boutique shops to stay. I dont want the place too become over-gentrified to the point that these small businesses can no longer afford to be located in the valley. This is starting to happen now somewhat with chinatown. I dont want gucci and prada style shops to start popping up everywhere. Then it basically becomes like the city. That is what I like about the valley, there is a big distinction between it and the city, so it is a destination in its own right. It seems to have a different feel. Perhaps the seediness adds to that. Either way that is what I see as the character of the valley. And it would be a shame to lose that essence. Which is why I dont think too much development should be done to the core of the valley. The northern end is maybe ok to extensively develop (as we have seen over the last decade) as a lot of that was industrial/car yards anyway. Just as long as they include retail into those develpoments as well, so the current valley retail isnt "pushed out" to other locations.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

I don't want to see Pradas and Guccis in the Valley either...but I don't think that is anything we really have to worry about. Brisbane's luxury market is quite small compared to Sydney and Melbourne and for the foreseeable future these stores will be confined to Edward Street and other parts of the CBD.

[JayT]

Originally Posted by Sky_Is_The_Limit

I don't want to see Pradas and Guccis in the Valley either...but I don't think that is anything we really have to worry about. Brisbane's luxury market is quite small compared to Sydney and Melbourne and for the foreseeable future these stores will be confined to Edward Street and other parts of the CBD.

If we do see them it will be on James Street, which is turning into a mini Rodeo Drive. I think James Street sets itself apart from the rest of The Valley in that it caters for the more affluent patrons while other parts continue to be more 'grungy' and 'urban'.

Variety is the spice of life and Fortitude Valley is one of the most interesting suburbs in Austraila.

[Sky_Is_The_Limit]

Originally Posted by JayT

If we do see them it will be on James Street, which is turning into a mini Rodeo Drive. I think James Street sets itself apart from the rest of The Valley in that it caters for the more affluent patrons while other parts continue to be more 'grungy' and 'urban'.

Variety is the spice of life and Fortitude Valley is one of the most interesting suburbs in Austraila.

James Street is best described as a mini Oxford Street (Sydney) or Chapel Street (Melbourne) because of the prevalance of local designers and national labels. Rodeo Drive is in it's own league and I don't think it is a very good comparison.

Agree with your second point though.

[bribri]

Apartment component approved now.
www.mac-ann.com.au

[nikko]

Originally Posted by Sky_Is_The_Limit

Like I said, define what the Valley's character is?

To me the Valley is seen as seedy, run down and unattractive.

Gentrification of the Valley has been going on for a number of years now (think Cloudland, Zuri's, Emporium, James Street Markets, megaclubs, Buffalo Club, upgrade of Chinatown etc) so the area's character has already changed.

I'm saying that with the BCC's vision for the Valley, things will continue to change and there will be little of the seediness and run down look left in the future. There will still be a mix of retail outlets and the club scene will remain, but there will be an increase in laneway activity, public spaces and boutique shopping/cafes/restaurants, similar to Melbourne. This is a good outcome

Perhaps the homeless could be invited to set up camp on James St ala 5th Ave

Or maybe we allow the gentrification and new footpaths, street fixtures etc. but just not clean up the spew...

[WestEnderBender]

Don't kid yourselves guys. James St is nothing more than a whole heap of nothing. BCC has no credibility after approving a development with a CAR PARK fronting the street. Take a look at the new stretch of shops further toward the New Farm border.
Wasted opportunity. Only opportunity: encourage more Lexus 4WDs to 'hover' around this area. Just what was needed.

[BrizzyChris]

Agreed. James St is not a good example of a pedestrian friendly cafe/shop precinct. They should remove some of the carparks and replace with plaza/park space.

[Marty_]

Hmmm... Something tells me WestEnder doesn't own a Lexus. Poor baby.

[ck5]

IMO - James St lost its identity as a chic cafe/shopping precinct as soon as UltraTune was allowed to move in. The rattleguns kinda ruin the vibe....

[sweetchariot]

Originally Posted by WestEnderBender

BCC has no credibility after approving a development with a CAR PARK fronting the street.

do you mean james lane?? if so, you're not really picking your example too well. it wasn't really much of an 'approval' - the owner just renovated an existing building and improved the tenancy mix.

i am sure the developer would have loved to have built something better - but the economic climate right now isn't very supportive.

[BNE QLD]

Originally Posted by Danubis

i think its shocking.

I know this is an old post yes, but Yes the old view is definitely shocking Kind of reminds me of the older 70's bldgs iirc perhaps in George St.

The new version looks similar with the older version, but it is definitely more modern looking...



Source from below website:

Originally Posted by bribri

Apartment component approved now.
www.mac-ann.com.au

Thanks for that ^ link...

[Marty_]

What are you talking about? There are three buildings in this development. Both the buildings pictured in your post are being built. There is no "old" and "new" version - it's just the commercial vs residential part of the project.