Renshaw Street Construction Projects

[Chris B]

Rather than clog up threads that are only slightly linked to it (Central Village, Retail in Liverpool), I thought we should have a thread to discuss Renshaw Street, from the future of the Rapid buildings, traffic management, diversity of the offer, and anything else linked to this main thoroughfare.

From the Echo -

Campaign to turn Liverpool’s Renshaw Street into a conservation area

Nov 5 2009 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo
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A CAMPAIGN was launched to turn a busy city centre street into a special conservation area.

Merseyside Civic Society wants Liverpool council to give the status to Renshaw Street and some surrounding roads.

It is concerned the “architectural unity of this fine Liverpool street” will be destroyed after Rapid Hardware moved to the former George Henry Lee building, in Church Street.

Civic society chairman Dr Peter Brown said: “We are concerned the all-too-familiar pattern of random demolition and the installation of corporate plastic shop fronts might ensue, destroying the architectural unity of this fine Liverpool street.

“Renshaw Street itself is a unique example of a Liverpool street built in the city scale.

“The vacated buildings on the south side display a rare architectural unity and the Bold Street corner building, with its distinctive dome, is particularly important.”

Full article here - http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-25094575/

[Joe the red]

A couple of the Civic Society bods live just off Renshaw Street so have a vested interest in the appearance of Renshaw St and its surroundings. They seem genuinely decent and normal people - not fruit loops like our friend Mr Colquholn.

[21C Liverpool]

Originally Posted by Joe the red

A couple of the Civic Society bods live just off Renshaw Street so have a vested interest in the appearance of Renshaw St and its surroundings. They seem genuinely decent and normal people - not fruit loops like our friend Mr Colquholn.

I like the idea of retaining the facade that rapid has. It would be interesting to retain each individual bay as a run of cafes and bars or small companies and retail. I would argue that perhaps an incision is made somewere to unlock the rear of the rapid buildings left by Central Village scheme.

Perhaps a stepped design to the rear of the existing facade that rapid has, providing some scale, heritage box is ticked, facade cleaned and retained and some buzz given back to this side of the street?

Will post some designs next week, does anyone have any facade images of a Rapid?

[Joe the red]

If no one posts any then I'll nip around there and get some in the next day or two.

[21C Liverpool]

Originally Posted by Joe the red

If no one posts any then I'll nip around there and get some in the next day or two.

Great ok...; )

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by 21C Liverpool

Great ok...; )

Someone mentioned this elsewhere, but I too was thinking that, in the event the mooted demolition, it'd be a travesty not to retain the tower bit of the Rapid building and to perhaps open it up as viewing platform or summit.

It'd also serve well as part of a cool gateway into Central Village, perhaps as the central element framed by a large arch (or post and lintel rectangle).

[Joe the red]

A selection of photographs to show the varied nature of the architecture in and around Renshaw Street and to give a context to any future developments. Or at least that was my intention.

Michael, before you get started, I've got another 10 or 12 which I'll post in an hour or two.

[21C Liverpool]

cool, thanks for the images, big help

[design_man]

I wish I could imagine what it can be used for. I can't imagine there is really the demand for a whole row of restaurants, cafes and bars there, let alone shops. But they are essentially shop premises, so I very much doubt if they are suitable for anything else without very expensive remodelling. But as what? The universities don't need them, they aren't suitable as offices, or hotels.... It's that classic Liverpool thing of just having too much stuff (in this case high quality buildings) to know what to do with.

Maybe they could just be demolished, with the fascias retained, flats behind, and the street level windows could be replaced with LED screens that would be a versatile and street-long art exhibit? This might provide a bit of a boost to the frankly dismal offering on the other side of the road....

Any other ideas? It would be awful to lose them.

[Joe the red]

Some more. A miserable grey day but they should help.

[Joe the red]

Last lot.

[Chris B]

A few thoughts on those photos -

- The Rapid Buildings, the tower element excepted don't actually do much for me. That's not to say I dislike them. Indifference is probably the right word. I appreciate this is a difficult site, mostly because of the way it narrows significantly towards the Berry Street end. As such, I wonder if there would be scope for demolishing the buildings closer to Lewis's, where enough land exists between them and Central Village to provide slightly taller buildings with larger floorplates that may lend themselves to uses that the current buildings do not (further hotels, offices, larger retail etc)? Towards the tower element, the buildings could be retained as they are more in keeping with the general scale of that area, and it is unlikely they could be replaced with anything better. This would reduce the volume of awkward buildings needing to be re-let, as well as making better use of the land available closer to Lewis's, and providing buildings more in-keeping with the scale of their neighbours.

- The Chicken Bazooka/Caesar's Palace building is quite nice. What would improve it no end though is if the tiling from Chicken Bazooka could be removed, so as to reveal the stonework beneath (assuming it still exists).

- The buildings on the side opposite Rapid seem to offer an interesting variety of styles. Clearly some are more interesting than others, but overall, it's a pleasing enough collection of buildings. Perhaps similar to the above point, it would be good if there could be a general tidy-up of the frontages. New or re-furbished signage, cleaning of stonework, re-painting where required etc. It's superficial, but it would make a big difference.

[Joe the red]

Assuming the hotel in the former Watson Building goes ahead, this sees the end of the standalone Rapid paintstore which will be a huge step.

The underused art installation between Dispensary and Zorba's needs an imposing landmark building and will improve the appearance of the approach from Berry Street. There are some limitations on heights of developments, 7 storeys, in the area outlined by the Oldham St SPD which might have an impact although they are only guidelines and being at the bottom of a steep hill might allow some wriggle room.

As Chris says much of the block between Benson and Oldham Streets needs some cosmetic work to improve its appearance.

The block from Heathfield St to Newington should be demolished, unless there are listing issues (GV ???) for a 5-7 storey building.

Critical to the success are the linkages from Bold St to Renshaw St so we are almost wholly reliant on Merepark, God help us.

The main Rapid building, I am largely ambivalent about. It's pleasant enough but is it appropriate for the central location. I don't know.

[Evertonian]

A strict conservation area status is the only way to get rid of the ugly singage and advertising on these buildings.

For me the street is cluttered and theres too many contrasting shop frontages. Far too many advertising hoardings and banners and far too much street furniture clutter.

Apart from that the area has a lot of potential.

Lets enforce some conservation guidlines of what can go where and tidy the place up a bit. There needs to be a strategy where one bad egg of a shop or tennant, can't spoil the overall look by opting out. Hence conservation status in this case (and the strict rules that come into force) is warranted here.

[Chris B]

I think conservation area status could prove to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, if it brought about a general tidying up of the street in the ways you mention then that would obviously be a positive. However on the other hand, if it also meant that sites, such as the one between Newington and Heathfield that Joe and myself have both mentioned, were to be prevented from realising their true potential, then it wouldn't be so welcome.

[the golden vision]

Good pics Joe. Reading that first post it looks like the Civic Society are going to apply for "listed" status for the old Rapid building, which if successful would obviously effect any future development nearby. The block between Heathfield st and Newington is late 18c ,extensively remodelled with the corner block being about 1900. It isn't listed but if Renshaw st does get Conservation Area status there will be resistance to any demolition. The problem i have with redevelopment in streets like Renshaw st is we start to piecemeal infill,most of which is inferior to what is aleady there,Pembroke Place/London rd is a good example, the "restoration" of Monument Place a few years ago, an abomination, up on Pembroke Place there's a horrific, new 3 storey red-brick block. , the block on Hanover st opposite the Novotel. I mentioned Commutation Row and its replacement on the Central Station thread, it wasn't compare it with the Rapid Building but to highlight that even in the most "sacrosant" of places we ended up replacing an excellent block of Georgian/Victorian shops and pubs with a piece of cheap, "in keeping" tat. All a bit negative i know but unless something of real quality is proposed,not just bigger we might be better keeping what we have.

[Dreamer]

I agree the zorbas and site up to the post office and dispensary should be cleared and replaced with a mixed use building of shops, a few flats and multi tenure offices. The other buildings just need a good clean, tarting up and the Futurist restoring.

[Joe the red]

I know Heart and Soul who posts here intermittently knows a couple of MCS bods. If I see her, I'll try to get the lowdown on their intentions.

[Portobello Red]

Had a look in 69a for the first time in years when I was last home - it looks pretty good inside, with some nice palm plants.

It would be great if we got a few more local shops like this in the area.

I think the area needs be like Bold Street and offer something different from the rest of town.

Originally Posted by Joe the red

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[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Joe the red

Last lot.

Now, no one can argue that thät building is a load of crap, surely? A new, good quality building here, at least the height of Lewis's, would really add something to the area.