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A Greek Tragedy

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 8:49 am
by escotregen
Really bad news today with another loss to the heritage to Glasgow left by Alexander 'Greek Thompson'. His original offices at the corner of West Regent Street and Wellington Street have been declared unsafe and are to be demolished. Whilst Rennie Mackintosh's architectural and other design work is rightly praised (even if it has all now been marketed down into Mockintosh), a more representative figure from Glasgow's great Victorian period was Thompson and his many churches designed in the Greek style. It seems that the Council has tried its best with this latest building to go, but it's also fair to say that the Council has not had a particularely good past record with regards to Thompson's legacy - and it's also fair to note the council has had precious little resources or help from the Edinburgh-fixated Scottish Office and then Scottish Executive. Make's one wonder whether even his great Free Presby Church (now a UNESCO world heritage site listed contender) in St Vincent Street will survive.

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 8:55 am
by DMcNay
Does this not belong in "Hidden Glasgow Projects" rather than "Forum Help"?

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 9:12 am
by AMcD
That may explain why none of the Killie/Ayr buses turned up last night.... They've shut the road and it seems the drivers are not good at following diversion signs either!

Shame to see that building go... I've stood beside it many a night waiting for the bus and it always did look unsafe. I can't help but think it wouldn't have taken too much money to make safe, no takers though.

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 10:41 am
by My Kitten
Is anyone planning of taking some photos before it disappears/falls down?

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 11:16 am
by helsinki
Here's a thought, why don't you organise a sit-in and try and prevent the demolition rather than using bits of twigs to trace the route of the Molendinar ?::):

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 11:26 am
by duncan

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 12:31 pm
by AMcD
Probably the same as the Herald's but here's another article...
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5026995.html

As requested...
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek3.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek4.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek5.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek6.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek2.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek1.jpg

If anybody wants to take better pictures (please do!) they'd better hurry up, the demolition has started. Not surprisingly the lead from the roof was the first thing the guys were going for. Two polis were up when I was there, looked like they were picking up some expensive looking photography gear that had been left or found on the site... wonder if the Herald/Times photographer is missing anything? :D

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 12:40 pm
by nodrog
THis makes me very cross.
The developer has been trying to get it demolished for ages; typically the council doesnt do anything to actually force the owner to go through with the compulsory repairs, shock horror it needs to be demolished now.

See Virginia Galleries, the Thompson warehouses a few months back, etc etc etc.

There was supposed to be a big survey of the cities listed buildings after the last time to identify problem sites & prevent this happening again.

*sigh*

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 1:25 pm
by duncan
i go past this building all the time, never even realised it was a Greek Thomson. The owners should be hit with a whopping fine (can I suggest £2 million?) for deliberately letting this happen, despite being compelled to repair it

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 2:38 pm
by My Kitten
amcd wrote:Probably the same as the Herald's but here's another article...
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5026995.html

As requested...
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek3.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek4.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek5.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek6.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek2.jpg
http://img38.photobucket.com/albums/v118/copperblueuk/hiddenglasgow/greek1.jpg

If anybody wants to take better pictures (please do!) they'd better hurry up, the demolition has started. Not surprisingly the lead from the roof was the first thing the guys were going for. Two polis were up when I was there, looked like they were picking up some expensive looking photography gear that had been left or found on the site... wonder if the Herald/Times photographer is missing anything? :D


Thanks very much, poor sad building.

Who pay's for the demolition tho? Council then charge back to the company who owns the site? Whatever happens the owners will be happy, got their cleared site now. :evil:

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 3:47 pm
by crusty_bint
This is a nightmare!!!!!!!!!!

You know whos to blame for this... illiterate, lazy, pompous, half arsed arrogant town planners who don't know thier arse from thier elbow!!! :evil: Only the other week I was about and about town discussing such issues wth such a planner who was pointing out "victorian buliding from the 1920's"... what??? 8O !!!! Imean... WHAT?!?!?!? 8O This is the class of education those entrusted to preserve our townscapes and heritaage have, and this is where we're going wrong!!

This has really rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriled me... Im off to make some fone calls!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 9:25 pm
by mustardman
It really saddens me, I think repairs could be done, but handshakes and whispers rule the roost. About three years ago, a building in merchant city collapsed, right next to the old 'goldbergs' store. It collapsed about 1 in the morning, sorry but a bit dodgy to me. It seems convienent for the development of the merchant city :x :x

PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2004 7:49 pm
by nodrog
Pics from today (Saturday lunchtime)

They're not wasting much time anyway....

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2004 8:44 pm
by Pgcc93
It was a disgrace to let this building go to waste :evil: They were quick enough to reclaim the slates off of the roof though :?: pity they were'nt so quick off the mark to preserve it :(

Thanks for the pics nodrog.

PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2004 8:47 pm
by nodrog
i completely agree - I really cant see for example quite why retaining even just the facade is so impossible...