Proper Regeneration in the East End

[paladin]

You have part of the story Paladin but some help may be on the way.

Perhaps a link to this 'help' might be useful? My point is that all too often people are 'given' help without actually asking them what they want (which is not much in reality......a football pitch was one of the items from Escotregen's posted link)........can't really see how another 5,000 town planners will help unless they can communicate effectively with the people they are 'helping'.

Now if it were 5,000 town planners under the age of 25 y.o. .......then that probably would be a start.

[escotregen]

Targer that's a good piece of info on the supply of town planners, and I would agree with Paladin; we would appreciate a link if you can give one. I have to admit I was was once much agin' town planners. However, I have learned hard lessons from the downgrading of the whole profession from Thatcher onwards... sometimes you don't what you've got 'till you've lost it. Anyone who want a lesson on where the lack of town planning can take you should visit Houston in Texas... Gawd what an affluent disaster.
Although I'd also agree with Paladin's comments on the need to avoid 'top down, the expert knows all' approaches. A link would help us follow this up.

[Targer]

I'm sorry I don't have a direct link to the mentioned article but it was by Jason Nisse in the 27 Mar 05 paper. I have always felt that the G.C.C (George Square Mob) used the wrong level of expertise to plan ? their housing estates. They were severely deficient in providing the type of community required. Without doubt the talents/expertise of Urban Designers and Social Engineers are also required. Four decades later they maybe about to put the Gorbals right. However, they have destroyed my home area of Tradeston.

[paladin]

I'm sorry I don't have a direct link to the mentioned article but it was by Jason Nisse in the 27 Mar 05 paper.

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/ ... ory=623948

I'm sorry too. Having sourced the link, it sounds like a beaureacracy-building exercise where the shit has further to go before hitting the fan.

It's quality rather than than quantity needed from the movers & shakers.

Employing en-masse on what would probably be short-term contracts is a typical knee-jerk reaction from politically motivated councils which continually distance themselves from the people they serve, especially the young social-excluded people.

[Modernhousing]

I would have to disagree with you in regards to putting the Gorbals right. I recently read a paper by a ex-committee member of the GHA who wrote that they have all this money and will be promising warm and fit homes but are still undecided on the future of the tower blocks in Glasgow. Considering that a EU Directive is in place for 2015 for a housing quality standard and Communities Scotland has set a a target for all Local Authorities and Housing Associations (Resident Social Landlords) to have this in place by that time. It is ironic that the GHA said it would cease to exist by 2007 which I would n't agree with one minute. I am aware of Tolerable Standard before anyone starts! If you want to look at this from the historic perspective, most of the mob at Georges Square moved once vibrant communities such as the Gorbals even though slum housing out to the biggest housing estates in Europe (Easterhouse is classed one of the biggest), maybe we will learn from our mistakes or are we just going to do the same mistake for future generations which is not sustainable.

[paladin]

The media erroneously class many suburbs as being "Easterhouse" - I'm guessing but I'd estimate the population now might be about 1/3 of the peak quoted of 50,000 in the above years.

BTW I happened to pass by the original subject matter of this topic and there doesn't seem to be much happening ............. Apart from the demolition of houses across the road. This act coupled with the decampment of the people of Caroline street and adjacent streets makes me wonder what 'local residents' were involved in this project as there doesn't seem to be many locals left.

Greater Easterhouse now has a population of just over 32,000.

Not many 'original' local residents left to consult......if any.

[Modernhousing]

Not really if you want to consider the Scottish Executives Mutliple Deprivation Index.

[Apollo]

Wasteland to urban park - Beardmore Park gets go-ahead
01/02/2005
Kelvin Clyde Greenspace's plan to transform a 1 hectare site of wasteland into a new urban park

Just a wee reminder as to the start of this thread...

Been passing this project for a while now, by pavement and train, but the work has been concentrated on the preparing the ground so far, and seems to be going fairly slowly, so there's been little to show up in a photo.

Passing it in the dark late this afternoon, they have now reached the stage of actually building, or rather attching, things to the ground. Not enoough in place to be sure, most of it is tubular stainless steel work, looking like barriers mainly, possibly on a play area, and some sort of raised pagoda frame.

Worth watching now.

[Apollo]

They finished the park quick quickly a few weeks ago. One evening I walked past the workmen were busily fixing the security fencing to bar the gates after their days work, and the next evening they finished up, loaded everything including the fences and left the place open for all to wander in.

Next evening, the junior neds were all sitting in the gazebo (or whatever it's officially called) quenching their thirst under its cover.

The Shettleston road side is mainly open, and has grown some large steel fencing, big enough I expect to be called sculpture in memory of the sites's former steelworks.

Maybe there'll be an offcial opening ceremony come Spring and the nice weather, or should that be Summer

[HollowHorn]

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/opinion/7025561.html

A £150MILLION masterplan has been agreed to transform a derelict wasteland between the bustling Merchant City and the less affluent East End of Glasgow.

It will see a business quarter being built on the former railway goods yard at the junction of High Street and Duke Street.

City-based Dawn Developments and Glasgow City Council have agreed the ambitious scheme - to be known as Collegelands - and detailed plans are expected to be submitted within weeks.

Glasgow City Council owns most of the land for the development and will sell it for a minimum of £3.5m.

It will also get 14% of the profit on any sales.

The project will include:

•Two office blocks with more than 150,000sq ft of space.

•A 190-bedroom hotel with restaurant and meeting rooms.

•A multi-storey car park with 1000 spaces

•Housing for around 650 students in a separate block.

The second phase could include up to 400 flats.

Talks are already under way with a number of firms keen to move into the new office accommodation.

The development on the edge of the Merchant City will see the city's famous Molendinar Burn opened up to feed a dramatic canal-style water feature on its south side.

Ladywell business centre, on the south side of Duke Street, will form part of the new business area.

It is hoped work can begin early next year, with the first phase finished by 2008. It is understood it will take up to a decade to complete the massive project.

Collegelands is described as "stress-free living and working in a unique business environment in the heart of the city."

Councillors hope the decision to transform the derelict land - currently used for car parking - will create a vibrant entrance to the East End and help drive forward its regeneration.

Councillor Hanzala Malik, of the council's development and regeneration executive, said: "The development is the key to the transformation of the east side of the city centre.

"We are delighted at the investment being made to unlock the potential of a site that has lain vacant for more than 25 years due to ground conditions and contamination.

"This is a very attractive development and it will create another business district for the city."

Russell Stewart, director of Dawn Developments, added: "With planning permission for more than 1.1m sqr ft, Collegelands will be able to sustain a vibrant mix of places to live, work and socialise."

Steve Inch, city council development and regeneration director, said: "When it is fully developed, the High Street corner will have about 1m sq ft of houses, offices, a hotel and small local shops and businesses.

"We are trying to create an open environment and there will be a lot of landscaping.

"There has been no investment of this scale, in terms of office space, east of High Street.

"The time has come for this site. The market conditions are right to bring it forward, the hotel is almost signed up and we have had interest about the offices. All the signs are green."

Frank Docherty, Dennistoun councillor, said it was "fantastic" news for the area. He added: "This ground is valuable in terms of the growth of Glasgow, but has been derelict for many years.

"It will now be put to use in a way that will create a gateway to the East End and provide a direct link to the tenements of Dennistoun."

23/11/06