Evening Times:
Flats to revive historic Virginia Galleries site
DOWN SHE COMES: demolition crews move in to pull down the Virginia Galleries building in the Merchant City two years ago
FLATS are to be built on the site of a historic building which was flattened when it became unsafe.
Seven years ago, around 40 traders were evacuated from Glasgow's Virginia Galleries after building control officers declared it dangerous.
The A-listed building in the Merchant City, a former tobacco trading house which helped make the city's fortune, lay empty until two years ago when it was reduced to rubble.
It was condemned after cracks appeared at the top of its facade.
Glasgow-based Virginia Court Developments was today expected to get the go-ahead to build 37 flats at upper levels with shops at street level and basement.
Nick Blair, director of architects ZM, said the flats would be aimed at first-time buyers.
He added: "It is very difficult for first-time buyers to get their foot on the property ladder, especially in the Merchant City."
Recently the Evening Times revealed more than 50% of the land and buildings in the Merchant City are lying empty.
Mr Blair said: "This development will see the completion of another part of the jigsaw which makes up the Merchant City, which is good news.
"It is important all these bits and pieces of vacant land and property come together in this area."
He said the development would include a courtyard linking Virginia Street and Miller Street and shops and a restaurant or pub at ground-floor level.
Virginia Galleries was built between 1810 and 1820, operated as a tobacco exchange and in 1972 was converted into a shopping arcade.
In June 1998, work on building new facilities for Marks & Spencer started on the cleared site next to the galleries.
City council development and regeneration director Steve Inch said: "During these operations the gable wall to Virginia Galleries suffered substantial settlement and cracking."
Attempts to restore the building and bring it back into use failed due to lack of cash.
Mr Inch added: "In the intervening period the building continued to deteriorate and parts of the building were moving in different directions. This eventually would have resulted in the collapse of the structure."
Merchant City councillor Gordon Mathieson welcomed the plans for the site.
He said: "There have been difficulties with this site in the past, so it is encouraging to see a classic mixed-use development being applied for.
"Virginia Street is very important in terms of Glasgow's architectural heritage."