Are matters to do with planning in a chaotic mess? Do they need
more rigour, more care, and more transparency? The case noted here is just one
example of what is going on in Brisbane, Australia. I could tell of many more.
Who knows what is happening elsewhere when occurrences like this do not even
cause anyone to blink, let alone think or care - or show any concern or
remorse?
The following communication, (below), was forwarded to the
CEO of the Brisbane City Council on 22-09-2009 at 4:41pm in an E-mail. It
related to the proposed redevelopment of Gleneagles, a visionary
retirement village established in the 1960’s by the Buffalo Lodge at New Farm
in Brisbane. The concept was to house old folk in the familiar inner suburbs of the
city, close to the CBD in high-rise buildings: in this case a pair of towers
beautifully designed by Brisbane architects, Curro, Nutter and Charlton. The
alternative for the aged at the time was to locate them in remote outer ‘leafy’
suburbs in low-set, cluster accommodation, kilometres from convenient public
transport and the normal hustle and bustle of city life: in a ‘peaceful
retreat’ where the old could wait out their last years in a quiet sadness that
was promoted almost as ‘a preview of heaven.’ The Buffalo Lodge had a different
concept that turned out to be a great success. It involved an astonishing idea
of equity too. The accommodation was not just for the wealthy. Folk paid what
they could. It was a truly remarkable project that, unfortunately, was taken over
by a church that eventually cashed it in. This is where the developer comes in,
full of promises to the old folk until he was ready to develop the towers. The
residents were told to go. The story is long and complicated and may be told
later.
A short time after the E-mail had been sent, a ‘hard’ paper copy was placed in an envelope, addressed, walked down the road and personally handed to the secretary of the CEO’s office before the closing time for objections. It was an important matter so one’s trust in electronic communication was tested. The hard copy would guarantee at least a second opportunity for the delivery of this communication. It was a backup.
Time passed quietly with the confidence that the objection had been delivered twice, and on time. At least one copy of it might get on file: one hoped that both would. Then one day I heard from a friend that the development had been approved. I was puzzled as Council usually lets those who have bothered to lodge an objection of its decision. Indeed, it has to, because objectors have a right of appeal. So why did I not get any advice? Why was I denied the right to an appeal? So I asked. The surprise response was that I had not lodged an objection.
Now this same neglect had happened just months previously on
another development when Council acknowledged its problem. Council had to stop
the process and re-issue notices. What might it do here?
My protest was accepted with a cool nonchalance: “We have no
record of your submission.” But I had submitted it twice, to make sure it would
not go astray! So I continued with a growing frustration: “We have nothing.”
“So what do you intend to do about this when I have lodged the objection both
electronically and as a printed document comprising nineteen A4 pages?” “Nothing;
go away.” Both the Senior Planner and the Lord Mayor repeated this response. No
one could care less. The matter caused no one any concern, but my suggestion
that Council should have to provide a receipt for any document lodged by hand
generated the comment that said that this might be something Council could look
at. Has it? How can nineteen pages of A4 go astray?
So what happened? One can only assume two possibilities:
that the document handling process within the Council is in a total mess and no
one cares; or that there is something strange going on in Planning and
Development, and again, no one cares. If one chose to act as some developers do
– to turn up for the first meeting with the best barrister possible – things
might get further. In the meantime, Council could not care any less about this
dual loss or the legal implications involved. One sensed that Planning and
Development might have held a ‘positive’ attitude towards this development as
the file, that was about eighty millimetres thick, was full of hand written
notes that seemed to suggest that many matters had already been considered and
approved by various sections of the Council well prior to any public
advertising of the proposal. Just what is going on inside Council? The objector
is just shoved aside in favour of what can only be seen as a cover up – either
of the careless management of documents or of the manipulation of the planning
process. One can only guess.
In the end, the outcome was that the developer has
apparently decided to not go ahead with the development (at this stage?) as the
units are on the open market. All of the arguments as to why these towers are a
real problem for older folk seem to have faded as anyone can now purchase an
apartment. One is left wondering about Council’s perception of matters given it
accepted the developer’s arguments and approved the development!
For the record, this is the objection that was ‘lost.’ The minutes of the meeting referred to in the objection have not been included. These might form the basis of another story. To summarise, the minutes record how the developer promised to do everything possible for the aged to improve their accommodation. There was never any suggestion that the residents would be told to go. It was all presented as a positive ‘win-win’ situation. Names of firms and individuals have been deleted from this record as the issue to be exposed here is not personal - it is about process.
21st SEPTEMBER 2009
THE CEO,
BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
GPO BOX 1434,
BRISBANE,
QLD., 4000.
DEAR MADAM,
RE: DEVELOPMENT
APPLICATION A......... –
GLENEAGLES OBJECTION
I have perused the documents included in the development
application number A......... that describe the proposal for the
redevelopment of the Gleneagles Retirement Units into what appear to be
luxury apartments at 79 Moray Street, New Farm, with major alterations and
additions to the existing Gleneagles Towers, and wish to object to
the approval of this submission on the following grounds.
The Brisbane City Council has listed Gleneagles as a
Heritage Place in the BCC Heritage Register. The Brisbane City Council has
documented the particular reasons for this listing in specific detail. It
points out that Gleneagles is a unique example of development and
function and holds an important place in Brisbane’s cultural and social past,
and its architectural history. The Brisbane City Council Heritage Citation for
the Gleneagles Retirement Units gives the ‘Summary of Heritage Value’
as:
Gleneagles is culturally significant as an innovative and
award winning example of high rise accommodation for retirees in Brisbane which
provides evidence of changing trends in housing for the elderly and
demonstrates an important phase of development in the suburb of New Farm and
the city of Brisbane during the 1960s.
Extracts from this Heritage
Citation’s analysis of Gleneagles’ ‘History’ expand on these issues:
. . providing practical assistance to their members
(of RAOB) by establishing facilities such as retirement homes.
The scheme was to provide self contained double
units for retired couples close to the city allowing residents to maintain
contact with friends, family and community life. This was considered to be less
isolating than retirement villages established in the suburbs . . “Instead of
relegating the aged to outlying suburbs, far removed from friends and all
familiar things, Gleneagles is in the very centre of convenience”.
Advantages of the one acre New Farm site included
extensive river frontage and impressive views . . , its location in a
prestigious residential suburb, proximity to the city amenities and the
commercial centre of Fortitude Valley .
Maximum areas for gardens and communal areas and
provided a large number of units.
Special considerations incorporated into the design
to accommodate the needs of elderly residents included eliminating the need to
use stairs and totally enclosed lift lobbies . . grab rails, extra wide
doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and an emergency call system . .
Gleneagles was built at a time when high rise residential
blocks were beginning to change Brisbane’s skyline and social trends.
Gleneagles was also constructed at a time when there were
greater options emerging for accommodation for older people whose needs varied
according to their levels of health and dependence.
New Farm was chosen as the site because “it was
close to shops and other city facilities . . and many older people did not wish
to live in a home on the city’s outskirts.”
Specifically, the ‘Statement of Significance’ notes:
This is a place of local heritage significance and
meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage Register
Planning Scheme Policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2000. It is significant:
- as it demonstrates a significant change in Brisbane’s development patterns during the 1950s and 1960s from predominantly detached dwellings and low-rise flats to an increasing amount of high rise accommodation in the inner suburbs. It is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of the City’s or local area’s history; and
- as the first high-rise accommodation in Brisbane for the elderly which provides evidence of changing trends in the provision of accommodation for retirees in Brisbane during the 1960s. It is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of the City’s or local area’s history; and
- as an innovative solution to the demand for suitable accommodation for retired residents in a central location which was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Building of the Year in 1965. It is important in demonstrating a high degree of technical achievement at a particular period.
Having reviewed the development application and considered
these issues in the context of both a professional and personal understanding
of the details and circumstances involved, my objection is based on the belief
that Gleneagles can still perform all the cultural, social and aesthetic
functions for which it was designed and praised – that it seems there is no
necessity for change of use other than, it seems, that generated by the
developer’s ambitions that this development application describes.
The development application analysis of Gleneagles’
heritage qualities has been addressed within the reams of paper that make the
application, in a ‘Heritage Impact Report’ prepared by . . . . Architects for .
. . . Developments, dated November 2008.
Details in this report need to be challenged, as they do not
seem to present matters clearly or accurately. The issues appear to have been
given what has become known as a ‘spin’ that seems to strive to give the
illusion that real issues have all been addressed adequately and satisfactorily
in this application; or that they are of little concern or interest; or that
the development will have no impact on these whatsoever. My reading of the
report suggests that it distorts and summarizes the facts so as to give a
specific bias to offer support for the development application that, I believe,
will have a substantially negative impact on Gleneagles and all that it
stands for.
The Brisbane City Council needs to be particularly rigorous
with this application because of this situation that appears to give a gloss to
the death of an ideal for inner-city retirement living – as though everything
for the future of Gleneagles could only be in the manner suggested in
this development application. I believe this not to be so. Gleneagles
has worked extremely well and continues to work well as a retirement village,
and is still able to achieve all the cultural and social benefits for which it
was so well planned – these being the very reasons for which it has been listed
on the heritage register.
Prior to the takeover of Gleneagles by . . . . Developments (….), . . . . personally spoke to the then residents of Gleneagles
about his intentions for its future. He was very clear about this – it was
going to remain a retirement village. He emphasised this by saying (or words to
this effect) that that Gleneagles would not be closed “at this point in
time – or at any time in the future.” He responded to the doubts of the
residents when asked how he thought he could run a retirement village
successfully when the church could not, by giving an assurance that his firm
had the skills to promote and market Gleneagles more effectively than
the . . . . (church) had managed to advertise it.
. . . . went further
with these assurances, telling the residents that he was planning to do up all
of the units that had not yet been upgraded; that this would take about a two
to three weeks each, adding that a contractor/developer would not be much good
if this could not be achieved. He suggested that he would not be adding any
penthouses to the towers. For Council’s information, details of these meetings
and the responses given to the residents personally by . . . . - minutes that have been written up from
notes taken as the speakers spoke - have been attached to this objection.
In summary, the point is that . . . . told the residents that he saw no problems
with Gleneagles remaining a retirement village. Indeed, he argued that
he could and would improve things for all of the residents. . . . .
Development’s intentions for Gleneagles were confirmed in The Courier
Mail (31st October 2008, page 2) and The Village News (December
2008) both of which reported . . . . ’s statement that the future of Gleneagles
was as a retirement village. Given all of these repeated assurances by a
developer experienced in his field, it is very unusual to read in the heritage
report that Gleneagles is considered to be no longer suitable for use as
a retirement village. I believe this to be an incorrect statement. Gleneagles
has been designed for independent living and, I believe, remains an excellent
place for retirees capable of living independently.
Gleneagles has been and, I believe, still is a
‘retirement village’ under the Act. That most of the residents have been moved
out has more to do with other matters and ambitions than the inadequacy of the
qualities of the infrastructure or place. Gleneagles works extremely
well as a retirement village. That it can still perform well today only
highlights the fact that it is a good design (as acknowledged by its award)
that functions well for both its practical purposes and for those subtle social
and cultural purposes a retirement village requires. It was indeed, ‘an
innovative solution’.
The quality of the design is highlighted by the present
situation where a majority of units has been put on the open rental market
without any further work or alterations being necessary – even to the units
that have not been recently upgraded. These original units are nicely designed
and detailed with the original fittings and cupboards operating effectively and
well. The units are a true reflection of their era and remain, in spite of
their age, a very pleasant and desirable living environment.
The units are an excellent example of spatial articulation
and an efficient use of flexible space for retirement living. They do
everything the original concept asked for. Gleneagles does allow retired
folk to live in the area they know, close to services and shops. The demise of Gleneagles
seems to have more to do with a lack of desire by . . . . to advertise and
develop it as a retirement village than anything else. Gleneagles has
not failed; it seems that it has just been neglected. . . . . (the developer)
has never appeared to have acted on any of the commitments ‘. . . . seemed to
give to improve the retirement village. Gleneagles, the retirement
village, has never been promoted as aggressively or as boldly as . . . . has
pushed its new, neighbouring tower development adjacent to the original twin
towers, or the proposed . . . . Barker Street development opposite.
The heritage report uses the subject of fire egress as a
core reason for claiming that the units are no longer suitable for retirement
living. This is the very same reason given by . . . . to justify the apparent
necessity to evict the residents. Gleneagles has only recently been
upgraded, with some units being refurbished and with all fire services bought
up to the latest requirements (2003). It is believed that the complex has been
certified as complying with all regulations for its use as a retirement village
for retirees capable of independent living. I do not believe that this has ever
been formally modified, questioned or revoked. It does not appear to be a
reasonable argument to say that Gleneagles now no longer complies. With
its new sprinkler system and fire doors, it seems that Gleneagles must
be one of the safest accommodation buildings in New Farm.
That . . . . appears to claim otherwise only seems to be an
argument to suit its desires that look like a preference to transform Gleneagles
into luxury apartments. To support its claim of the inadequacy of the fire
egress arrangements, . . . . once collected sworn statements on the capability
of the residents, claiming that some did not even have the mental or physical
capacity to evacuate. Some of these were false and some (very unusually) have
been withdrawn, a situation that appears to weaken the original . . . . claims.
I believe that Gleneagles could have an excellent future as a retirement
village if only . . . . wanted this. Instead we see the whole of what was once Gleneagles
thrown away – and lives, histories and stories go with this proposal. Some
residents have been there for over 15 years and are now being told to move out
after living in New Farm for over 60 years. They were the ones who experienced
the benefits envisaged for this place and were still doing this – very
comfortably - until told to go.
Residents who once enjoyed retirement living in the suburb
they knew, close to services and shops, have now been told to get out, to go
anywhere else (just as long as they leave) – Redcliffe, Kenmore, Manly, etc. –
into areas, some of which are remote from the convenience of nearby services
and shops, and family. It means that residents who could once walk to the
doctor, dentist, shops, chemist, etc. now have to rely on transport – mainly
private transport because in outer suburbs the public transport system is less
flexible. The closure of Gleneagles spells the death of the very vision
that the BCC quoted as being one of the core cultural issues for which Gleneagles
was listed. It seems that it is not going to be replaced with anything but
exclusive apartments and perhaps records of memories.
The original Gleneagles interiors do still exist in
sufficient number to be significant. The Heritage Report is vague on this issue
and illustrates only the newly refurbished units. These old units are all well
designed, using plywood as le Corbusier used it. They hold a sense of the style
of the British design of the era and still function well in all details. The
balconies have been closed in and do provide good functional interior space.
One could always argue about outcomes with this infill in the same way that the
original Mini and its successors were always debated. Alec Issigonis never
budged, continually saying that he would still use the sliding windows and the
smaller motor, even though some users praised the new wind-up windows. One can
see the argument for both – just as one can at Gleneagles. While the
infill does modify the sculptural qualities of the forms, it does not
re-arrange the planning or distort it with growths or ‘contemporary’ appendages.
The infill does offer greater flexibility for living without any significant
change to the original intent and character.
ANALYSIS OF HERITAGE IMPACT REPORT
In order to clarify the issues and comments made in this
objection, specific statements made in the Heritage Report have been extracted
and commented upon.
p.2 In
an attempt to improve the marketability of the units, the complex was
extensively refurbished in 2003 which included a new entry walkway, new foyers,
new fire-isolated stairs, sprinklers, new kitchens and bathrooms and glazed
balcony enclosures. The complex is now (November 2008) substantially vacant.
I am uncertain about the ‘new foyers’ and ‘new fire-isolated
stairs’ – these may have been improved but were not added items. The ‘new
glazed balcony enclosures’ were replacements of older glass infills that were
leaking. The assessment that ‘the complex is now substantially vacant’ says
nothing about Gleneagles – its fabric or design or dilapidation. It says
everything about . . . . ’s apparent lack of activity/interest in getting new
retired residents to occupy the units – even the upgraded ones. It seems that .
. . . chose to leave many units unoccupied, possibly because it did not want to
aggravate things by increasing the number of residents it wanted to move out.
Who knows? . . . . appeared to have no problem in successfully promoting the Gleneagles
units for open rental. The 2003 refurbishment, complete with ‘sprinklers’,
highlights the fact that Gleneagles had been upgraded to comply with the
latest rules and regulations and was appropriately approved and certified for
use as a retirement village.
p.4 The original buildings still extant from the original Gleneagles
scheme – Peregrine House and Falcon House – are proposed to be
retained. Part of the original basement carpark . . is now proposed to be
demolished together with the single-storey recreation building . .
The aged accommodation units . . are proposed to be
stripped out . . Most of the existing interior fabric . . relates to the 2003
refurbishment . . Some internal structural demolition is proposed in order to
achieve a BCA-compliant fire isolated stair . .
It seems to be misleading to say that most of the interior
fabric relates to 2003. There are still a substantial number of original units
that were not upgraded by the church. A review of the real estate documents
scheduling available units highlights this fact. These are the units . . . .
seemed to refer to in his presentation to the residents – the ones he appeared
to promise to upgrade.
The scope of proposed development work described in this
Heritage Report appears to say everything except that the whole place is to be
gutted, stripped down to its raw structural frame with even some of this being
modified. In short, Gleneagles, it seems, is to be transformed into new,
luxury apartments. To say that the original building will still be there –
‘retained’ - is correct if one understands this to mean that that the towers
are not going to be completely demolished to the ground. The casual manner of
suggesting that some original portions of Gleneagles are meaningless is
a concern when this includes the core community centre of the original village
and its basement car park – surely a first for retirees? It is interesting to
note that this report has no photographs of the original units – none – only
images of the refurbished interiors. It is unfortunate that the character and
style of the older spaces have not been recorded here.
p.5 It is proposed to extend the floor areas on the river side
and to reconfigure the accommodation to . . one unit per floor. . . new
layouts, fittings and finishes.
. . Externally
. . uniformly painted . . . . .
. . Alterations and additions are contemporary in
design
The statement that the original buildings are to be
‘retained’ looks strange in this context. Not only is the frame to be
completely stripped, replanned and refitted, it is to be added to! It appears
that Gleneagles is going to be smothered in newness – smart, modern ‘contemporary’
newness that could match the new tower nearby. It seems that the original Gleneagles
is going to disappear under layers of new work. There appears to be little
respect shown here for what the BCC has stated as being the significance of Gleneagles
in its citation. This proposal looks rather like saying that the Customs House
is a heritage structure that is going to be stripped and renewed and added to
in grand modern style (but its structure will be kept) – and nothing will be a
heritage concern.
p.5 It
is proposed that vibration monitoring of the adjacent heritage-listed building
. . will occur . .
The attached report on this matter of vibration management
does not look like an objective report but seems to be a promotional proposal.
The . . . . (consultant’s) letter dated 7 December 2008 speaks of ‘the
opportunity to submit this Scope of Works’ and even gets the name wrong: ‘. . .
. Developments.’ One is left wondering just how much this firm knows about the
project. It looks like a ‘PR’ document – an attempt to get the job, which we
all know to frequently be simple ‘hype’ rather than objective and careful
analysis. This document does not seem to say what will be done if the vibration
levels are found to be deemed not satisfactory beyond listening to the “stop
work” alarm and stopping work – for a while? It looks like a ‘feel good’
communication.
p.6 Although part of the original Gleneagles
design, the recreation building is a single storey building of little visual
prominence . . . . . and is not highly intact. Its demolition would have little
impact on the overall cultural significance of the place.
The small remaining area of original carpark is . .
of no cultural heritage significance. Its demolition . . would have no adverse
impact on the cultural heritage significance of Gleneagles.
Provided that vibration monitoring during demolition
. . . is carried out in accordance with Section 5.3 . . , it is considered that
the proposed demolition will have no detrimental visual or physical impact on
the cultural heritage significance of Gleneagles.
This is a significant issue. There appears to be a claim
that the integrity of a place has no relevance – only the visual impact. This
is a serious matter for cultural heritage, transforming it into a matter of
mere appearance. It begs the question, ‘What is cultural heritage?’ The core
community centre of the retirement village appears to be dismissed as an
irrelevance, along with what must have been a very unique basement car park.
The ‘provided’ is a concern, because it is not made clear that the work can be
adequately performed – and no confidence is given to support the possibility -
especially with the . . . . communication to ‘. . . . Developments’ - (the name
was printed incorrectly).
p.6 The proposed alterations and additions cleverly juxtapose
contemporary design elements . . . . . the proposed alterations and additions
do not confuse the original expression of Gleneagles as a high-rise
residential complex.
This review and summary looks astonishing like gobbledygook.
It seems to neglect to clearly state that the whole of Gleneagles as we
know it is going to be gutted, stripped, resheeted, refitted with ‘contemporary
design elements’. In spite of this, the heritage report says that one will not be
able to confuse the old and the new. Perhaps the old will just never be there
to confuse the new? My view is that one will perhaps just not ever be able to
see or to recognise anything but the new. Nothing of Gleneagles will
remain other than, it appears, some ‘original concrete floor bands and parapet
spandrel’s. Cultural heritage is more than infrastructure but it relies on its
integrity for its being.
Then we are introduced into (still on p.6)
‘The added building height’ that ‘will help the
buildings’ townscape prominence and the form and the materials of the
buildings’ new “crowns” ’ that we are told ‘are reflective of the original
rooftop steel “halos”.’
The ‘halos’ look like a reference to the Gio Ponti Perilli
Building in Milan – a classic of its time. The new “crowns” – read
‘penthouses’? - will more than crown these towers with halos. This looks like
spin at its best. ‘Crowning’ these lovely, classic towers is nothing like
‘adding penthouses’ - to maximize heights and profits?
p.6
continues:
As for change in use . . . the failure of the 2003
pensioner accommodation refurbishment and the inherent fire-safety and disabled
access problems meant that there would ultimately be no prudent and feasible
alternative to a change of accommodation type. The current Gleneagles
unit size is smaller than current retirement village standards and Gleneagles
is unable to offer the wide range of activities and
This looks like pure nonsense. The once proud retirement
village development – the award-winning pride of Queensland - is now described
as ‘pensioner accommodation’ with ‘inherent fire-safety and disabled access
problems.’ These ‘problems’ are not defined, merely asserted. Gleneagles
was refurbished to the latest fire standards in 2003, but now it has ‘problems’
- ? And as for access, the BCC citation quotes how well it was designed for
disabled access! . . . .’s own assessment of Gleneagles when he seemed
to want to convince every one of his credentials, appeared to be that Gleneagles
was well suited to upgrade and run as a retirement village – forever. . . . .
tried to evict everyone on the basis of fire. This was challenged but it seemed
that . . . . pulled out and asked for more time to consider things. . . . .
then looked as though it turned to other tactics to ‘encourage’ residents to
leave. My view is that the facts show that Gleneagles does not have a
fire problem. Fire egress for the retirement village was designed to allow
residents to remain in their units and call for assistance. There is no critical
need for any independent running down stairs. I believe that Gleneagles
does have a future other than luxury apartments.
The chat about standards and facilities is worrying. The
once proud facility is now labelled substandard when it is not; and the talk of
a lack of activities is a serious concern. It was . . . . that closed the
communal facilities in spite of what sounded like its promise to enhance these.
Gleneagles and all it stands for cannot and should not be dismissed just
because . . . . might have chosen to let it run down and to stifle communal
activity and social harmony.
p.7 (the
original architects) . . .were generally supportive of the proposed
development.
What does this mean? How ‘generally supportive’ or
‘generally unsupportive’ might they have been? What are the limits? These are
gentlemen architects of another era. I feel that they would have been just too
polite to reject the vision of these young architects to transform their
buildings. Why should they battle? They are close to or are retired and are not
looking forward to a fight or an argument. I place little credence in this
statement. I find it embarrassingly stressful. Using the ‘original architects’
in this way does not make the proposal sensible. It might say more about the circumstances
of the meeting. It looks like part of the spin.
p.7 Part of the cultural heritage significance of Gleneagles
identified by the BCC lies in its ability to demonstrate the historical change
in residential development . . . The proposal will continue to express a modern
1960s high-rise accommodation building albeit with a new and contemporary
expression of current changing events.
. . .enhanced by a modest additional height of two
stories.
Gosh, if the Customs House was gutted and enlarged, what
would it be other than a ‘contemporary’ newness? How could this newness express
its original character? To argue, by way of example, that the Customs House was
a ‘high tech’ example of its era does not give anyone approval to gut it, and
to add to it with the most contemporary of ‘high tech’ designs today and allow
one to still argue that it maintains any heritage relevance. This all seems to
be a play on words. There is something bordering on the absurd here when one
considers cultural heritage. That something might be significant in its time
has little relevance when some parallel but different ‘significance’ is
transformed into that of another era.
p.7 its original use as aged accommodation (was) never
outwardly apparent in the form or fabric of the place. Even an internal
inspection of the original four per floor unit layout would only reveal that
the units were small and not necessarily for retirees.
This aspect of significance is only evident in the
age of the few occupants who still live at Gleneagles. . . . it is
considered that the proposed development will have little impact on this aspect
of significance.
One might consider it an excellent quality of the place that
it does not scream out – ‘aged.’ Some have praised the integration of retirees
into a community. It seems to be an insult to the original award and to the
occupants (of varying ages from 60 – over 90) to suggest that the qualities of
a place should be adapted and altered just because it does not proclaim itself
to be something. Then there is what looks like the ‘punch line’ – the ‘few
occupants.’ Again, the ‘few’ has no reflection on the place - just as ‘the age of the residents’ has
nothing to do with it (it is a retirement village after all!) It seems to have
everything to do with . . . .’s apparent reluctance to fill the units with
retired folk (over 60s as apparently suggested by . . . .) to maintain the
village as seemed to be promised. It is difficult to see how the transformation
into luxury units could not impinge on the significance of Gleneagles.
p.7 The other area of significance identified by BCC is the
creative and technical quality of Gleneagles as an innovative design
solution for aged accommodation. This relates to qualities of space planning
and construction inherent in the layout . . This area . . . will be impacted
upon . . The discussion in Section 5.2 above identifies the fact that the
continued use of Gleneagles as retirement accommodation is no longer
viable and there is no prudent and feasible alternative to a change of
accommodation.
. . . . . .the important creative achievement of Gleneagles
was the idea of an inner city, high-rise accommodation development. This
innovative idea remains intact . .
This looks like real spin. There appears to be no ‘debate’
in ‘5.2 above’ – just assertions. Gleneagles is viable but it seems that
. . . . (the developer) just does not want to operate it as a retirement
village. Yes, not only will the innovative idea of inner-city retirement
village, high-rise living be demolished in plan, it will also go as a matter of
fact, with all of the residents being ‘encouraged’ to leave. This development
represents the death of an idea and an ideal – affordable, inner-city living
for the retired who can maintain contact with their familiar surroundings,
close to services, shops and other amenities rather than being forced out into
the outer suburbs. This development has forced some folk out into unknown,
distant suburbs remote from shops and services. It is making a development that
was planned to give practical assistance to the retired into what looks like an
exclusive set of luxury apartments. It changes from a layout planned for
‘exclusively-retirees to more-general occupancy’ (p.8) – to single floor
apartments for the exclusive: the select few, it seems, who can afford millions
of dollars (c.f. prices of the new adjacent . . . . units). There is an
enormous difference here in things cultural.
p.8 the change . . . can be mitigated by in-situ interpretive
devices which tell the history of Gleneagles. Sufficient documentary and
photographic resources are available to mount an effective permanent display
along the covered walkway wall . . augmented by oral history of previous
residents.
This is astonishing. Completely strip the building, add to
it, expand it, make it ‘contemporary’, replan it, then add photos to show its
past just to keep its cultural heritage alive? This is like arguing for the
demolition of (say) the Customs House, and then arguing that photographs and
noise will satisfy its heritage. I wonder if . . . . will let the residents who
were ‘encouraged’ to leave, add their stories to the oral history? Heritage, it
appears, has more substance than this – it has more integral meaning; and it
needs more care and attention if it is to survive. In spite of ‘sufficient
documentary and photographic resources’ there are, surprisingly, no images in
the report of the original interiors.
p.8 From
the discussion above, it is concluded that there will be no significant
detrimental impact on the historical or creative significance of Gleneagles.
This astonishing conclusion seems to have been reached in
spite of the evidence presented that similarly looks like a set of unsupported
simplistic statements and assertions that ignore the reality of the development
proposal that appears as though it will significantly modify everything Gleneagles
stands for.
p.8 The proposed development will have no visual impact on the
cultural heritage significance of Bertholme . . . Notwithstanding this
lack of impact . . . there are no significant views which will be impaired.
Are visual matters the only concern? The impact of the new
apartment tower on the east of the two Gleneagles towers is a lingering
new and will be a continuing concern. It highlights the risk involved in
planning assessments. This structure modifies the qualities that Gleneagles
was planned for. The stepping of the towers (in plan) gives good, unimpeded
vistas to a maximum number of units and good light, breezes and privacy to all.
The new tower shades units on the east side of Peregrine House so that
only late afternoon sun reaches the some southern spaces. It also creates
towers overlooking towers.
p.9
Bertholme should
remain in tact and should not be adversely impacted . .
‘Should’? This sounds very tentative and uncertain. Heritage
must be managed with much more certainty and care than appears to be being
suggested in this application.
This objector believes that, for the reasons and analysis
noted in this communication:
- the material change of use is not compatible with the conservation and management of the cultural heritage significance;
- the development does not conserve the features and values of the local heritage place and does not contribute to its cultural heritage significance;
- changes in the local heritage place are not appropriately managed and documented;
and
- the development does adversely affect the character, setting and appearance of the local heritage place.
Cultural, social and aesthetic matters are subtle and elusive
and must be carefully and properly managed if they are to survive with meaning
beyond mere memory as decorative ‘arty’ images and background sounds. Gleneagles
need not be transformed into exclusive, luxury apartments but can still provide
everything it was planned to do – to provide a quality and affordable place
exclusively for retirees in a convenient and familiar location close to shops,
services and family.
It is for these reasons that I believe this development
application should be rejected.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
. . . . .
N.B. Minutes of meetings with Gleneagles residents and TDD
on 6th December 2006 and 12th April 2007 are attached –
for information: (not included here).
This is the
document that was ‘lost’ by the Brisbane City Council – twice!
One is left
wondering: Was there something that the Council did not want to know?
It is difficult to believe that both submissions of this
document could have been lost ‘accidentally’ unless Council’s systems are truly
so unreliable. If the inner workings of Council are in such an outrageous
chaos, why is Council not interested in correcting matters? Why show no concern
with my ‘loss’? My complaints were shoved aside with barely a nod of
recognition. “We have no record of your submission. (Go away.)” With such an
apparent lack of document control, it would seem to be so easy for Council to
discard anything it did not want to see or know if it so chose! What happened to Quality
Assurance? What happened to my submissions? What has gone wrong with due
process? What hope is there if our futures are to be planned in this manner?
This is why we need more
rigour, transparency and care in our planning processes: all of them.
For more on ‘gobbledygook,’
see: TOWNPLANNING VISIONS -
P.S.
On 'blind eyes,' one has to
ask: why did Council approve (did it?) ceiling heights less that the 2400mm
minimum required for a habitable space in the church renovations of Gleneagles?
It is astonishing that Council seems happy to ignore this matter - is it a concern? - as if
everything was just fine, a little like the objection: see no evil; . . . ?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.