The Garrick Pt2

[bensherman]

Sorry couldn't find the previous thread.

I posted there expressing doubts about the future of The Garrick, sadly. Last week's trumpeting by Stand up for Southport that the council had approved the "theatre-themed" development does not remove any doubts.

For one, I thought that scheme was what as announced eighteen months or so ago. The council would have had minimal reason to object to what was planned as it is 80% internal and while it sits there it rots.

I always wonder when somebody says " This will be the first of its kind " that yes, sometimes it's a great idea and a winner, but more often there are good reasons why nobody has done it before.

I am interested in what provision there would be for parking. There are already problems relating to people at the Travelodge.

But most importantly the place seems to have sat untouched for at least two years now. I have to wonder if the owner does not have the funds and hopes that the council permit would make it easier to sell on.

[Alikado]

Sorry couldn't find the previous thread.

I posted there expressing doubts about the future of The Garrick, sadly. Last week's trumpeting by Stand up for Southport that the council had approved the "theatre-themed" development does not remove any doubts.

For one, I thought that scheme was what as announced eighteen months or so ago. The council would have had minimal reason to object to what was planned as it is 80% internal and while it sits there it rots.

I always wonder when somebody says " This will be the first of its kind " that yes, sometimes it's a great idea and a winner, but more often there are good reasons why nobody has done it before.

I am interested in what provision there would be for parking. There are already problems relating to people at the Travelodge.

But most importantly the place seems to have sat untouched for at least two years now. I have to wonder if the owner does not have the funds and hopes that the council permit would make it easier to sell on.

The Garrick has a car park at the rear.

[bensherman]

How do you get to it?

[sandGroundZero]

Sorry couldn't find the previous thread.

I posted there expressing doubts about the future of The Garrick, sadly. Last week's trumpeting by Stand up for Southport that the council had approved the "theatre-themed" development does not remove any doubts.

…

But most importantly the place seems to have sat untouched for at least two years now. I have to wonder if the owner does not have the funds and hopes that the council permit would make it easier to sell on.

It's cynical, but there seems to be a pattern with all manner of developments whereby a business entity is established for a particular project; overblown projections are produced, disseminated by various media; probably perquisites procured from the public purse; followed by bankruptcy. Subsequently, another possibly unrelated entity acquires the project and the cycle repeats. Eventually, some diminished version of the original proposal will materialize.

[donkey22]

How do you get to it?

Access is on Kingsway, opposite the side of the B&m building.

[bensherman]

OK so next to Morrisons car park

I thought that was the Travelodge's car park.

They are proposing 100 plus bedrooms plus apartments in this

[Alikado]

OK so next to Morrisons car park

I thought that was the Travelodge's car park.

They are proposing 100 plus bedrooms plus apartments in this

I think Travelodge have part of Morrisons car park

[Stuartli]

OK so next to Morrisons car park

I thought that was the Travelodge's car park.

It was for Mecca Bingo patrons (sessions were held in the theatre).

[bensherman]

OK
I remember that but I would hazard a guess that many of the bingo patrons arrived by bus.

A hotel is different. If it, and the apartments were full, I'd reckon you'd need 80 plus car park spaces. Are there that many there?

[Stuartli]

OK

A hotel is different. If it, and the apartments were full, I'd reckon you'd need 80 plus car park spaces. Are there that many there?

Unless anyone is personally affected, I don't really see why they should lose any sleep over it!

[Toodles McGinty]

OK
I remember that but I would hazard a guess that many of the bingo patrons arrived by bus.

A hotel is different. If it, and the apartments were full, I'd reckon you'd need 80 plus car park spaces. Are there that many there?

Nowhere near that. From what I remember it's about half of that or fewer.

Whenever these big plans are announced, I hope they'll come to fruition. But then remember the plans for the site just up the road. The old 'Kingsway' site. Seems these grand old buildings were constructed from tinder and petrol, then make great unofficial car parks.

[bensherman]

What I don't follow is that if you ask questions about this you ar e"being negative".

No I am not. I want the best for Southport and this enormous rotting edifice presents itself as a bad start to people entering the town, as so many do, into Lord Street. Of course I would love this project to succeed, but I have my doubts...

Having passed this building hundreds of times from both the Lord Street and Kingsway aspects , over the last few years, I have seen virtually nothing happen. No deliveries of materials, no lorries taking away waste, no workpeople coming or going. The detritus in front of the building and at the side next to the Ribble building is untouched. If there is intensive work going on in the interior, when? how?

The project as described was known to me, and i am sure therefore to others, probably two years ago. What has it waited for? I doubt Sefton would have quibbled about almost any plan to get the place sorted.

Having seen other such activity before, my concern is that the current owner is strapped, and has been advised that getting/renewing planning permission, is his best chance of selling it. Which may not be a great chance anyway. If this would be the only theatre-themed hotel in the country, perhaps there's a good reason there aren't any others...

[The PNP]

Would make a pretty decent cabaret club, if outfitted on similar lines to the Talk of the Town. But, is there sufficient demand for that sort of entertainment nowadays?

[sandGroundZero]

…
I am interested in what provision there would be for parking. There are already problems relating to people at the Travelodge.

…

Vehicle parking is of course a problem faced by planners, Councils and developers. It is often remarked that Lord Street's retail premises' upper floors could and should be converted into residential space. But, where would those households park their cars? Private motor vehicles are the bane of urban spaces, everywhere!

[The PNP]

[table="width: 565, align: center"][tr][td]Vehicle parking is of course a problem faced by planners, Councils and developers. It is often remarked that Lord Street's retail premises' upper floors could and should be converted into residential space. But, where would those households park their cars?

Private motor vehicles are the bane of urban spaces, everywhere!

How true....Cars really are bloated, space-hungry objects, that unfortunately seem to swell further in size every year!