I came across this rather sad sight in Hawthorn Road, Caulfield this afternoon.
A row of deco shops, all empty, one shut up with security shutters and upstairs broken windows and graffiti covered walls. In one of the shops the ground floor was covered with discarded files and folders.
I don't know what is in store for this stylish block of shops but I suspect it isn't good news.
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David I live just down the road from these shops, never actually realised they were deco, thanks for pointing this out. Its a little grungy area, would be nice to see them beautified!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Lisa :^)
For sure Lisa. They would look great with a bit TLC. It will be interesting to see what happens to them in the next few months.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I'm pretty sure they've been like this for a long time now. I lived nearby not long after I moved to Melbourne back 2001 I was upset by this sight and thought they would have been demolished then. It is a shame that they have been left vacant for so long, but given their current state I'm really not suprised - not exactly in rentable condition at the moment. But the owner should be encouraged to make them so. It is sights like this that really disappoint me about Melbourne.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Sean. It certainly is surprising and disappointing that they have been in this state for so long. Hopefully they will be refurbished and become rentable again.
ReplyDeleteDevelopers have obviously had their eyes on this site for some time - a search of the Glen Eira planning database shows the following application in 2008:
ReplyDelete"The construction of a four storey building comprising eight (8) shops on the ground floor, use of three floors of office above, basement carparking; the provision of a loading bay and the reduction of the standard parking requirements"
Although the website then breaks at this point revealing no further details. Not exactly the ideal location for a development of this size but given that there are 8 existing art deco shops, one could surmise (although not always a great idea) that this would mean retaining some aspects of the art deco shopfronts. Although the mention of basement carparking and loading bay is always a worrying sign ....
Thanks for the extra research Sean. Yes the 8 new shops into 8 existing Art Deco shops does offer a glimmer of hope that the structure will be retained without too much alteration. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a longstanding problem with the development application and things have been at a standstill for years. I believe that a compromise has now been reached and that work will eventually begin.
ReplyDeleteI hope that is good news!
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