tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17433562336054571472024-03-14T02:28:33.983-07:00Live from The HeygateNotes on life on the Heygate and after . . .HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-49700349878592045832011-03-04T05:35:00.000-08:002011-03-04T05:35:29.221-08:00"Welcome to Failed Utopia"Guardian has another post on the Heygate: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/04/death-housing-ideal">'The Death of a Housing Utopia'</a>. <br />
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Included is an interview with one of the last 11 residents: Adrian Glasspool who bought his flat on the Estate in 1997. Mr. Glasspool argues that: "<br />
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<blockquote>a tightly knit community, with many residents who had been here from the beginning in 1974, has been destroyed and scattered to distant parts of the borough. He says one elderly woman, long decanted, still comes back to walk her dog.<br />
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Glasspool calls the destruction of the Heygate an example of "environmental determinism". "It's part of the same discourse that was being bandied around in the 1960s," he argues. "Then it was said that the tenement buildings needed to be demolished because they didn't create an environment where people could live happily. It was precisely what is being said now." He believes the idea that the estate was "blighted" by crime and drugs was part invention – the product of an excitable media and of film-makers who liked to use the Heygate as a set for gritty realist dramas – and part self-fulfilling prophecy, as the council neglected maintenance and replaced long-term tenants with short-term licensees, who tended to be more disruptive.</blockquote><br />
From another of the remaining residents: <br />
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<blockquote>"It's been a long road," A cold one, too: the communal heating system has ceased to work, and he is reduced to warming his flat with small convector heaters. "But the harder things get, the more determined you become." Like Glasspool, he doesn't understand why the estate had to go. "There are a lot of bright, enthusiastic, imaginative architectural students who could do something amazing with it – a coat of paint, lighting. And there must be professional architects who would be interested in it as a social project. But it's not about that; it's all about the gentrification of the area. They've chosen to knock this estate down because it's in a prime location."</blockquote><br />
Also interviewed is Tim Tinker, the estate's architect, who visits the almost abandoned estate after an absence of ten years: <br />
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<blockquote>"I don't think it was in any sense a failed estate," he tells me as we survey his decayed handiwork. "There are failed estates, but this wasn't one of them. The hardware – what we provided in concrete and brick – was relatively OK. The problem was there wasn't the software to run the damn thing. There was a huge influx of new housing [in the 60s and early 70s], and management never really understood what they had."<br />
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Tinker also believes the council wants to knock the Heygate down because of its central location. "There weren't any problems [with the estate] until relatively recently, but the council eyed it as an opportunity. Councils always go for big-bang, new-build solutions, as opposed to looking after what they've got. Now, sometimes big-bang solutions are right, but quite often they're not and the net gain is limited."<br />
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For someone whose principal architectural legacy is about to be knocked down, the 75-year-old Tinker is remarkably philosophical.<br />
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"It's the past," he says. "People buying their houses wasn't an issue then. The idea in those days was that local authority housing should be for all. It wasn't only for the people who'd fallen under Mr Cameron's 'big society'. There was a clear feeling that local authority housing should avoid that stigma."</blockquote><br />
Tinker adds: <br />
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<blockquote>"Utopian is a dangerous word . . . but if you're working in local-authority housing you're bound to have a utopian view. What's the point of doing it otherwise? You look back now and ask why people were enamoured with modern architecture, and I would suggest it was to do with light, sunlight. At that time these inner-city areas were extremely nasty, smoky, dirty places. The Elephant was still pretty bad, with tanneries and God knows what else." The flats he designed were light and airy, and the now despised walkways were created to keep people away from cars, which back in the late 60s when the estate was planned were just on the point of becoming ubiquitous.</blockquote><br />
He says the early tenants responded to those utopian intentions. "I used to go into the flats for the regular defects inspections," he recalls, "and it was always interesting to see what people had done to their flats or maisonettes. People did amazing things inside."<br />
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The last word goes to Dickson Powers, former housing director of Peabody Trust: <br />
<blockquote>"It's ridiculously expensive to knock estates down, After they've knocked them down, they're still paying for them. They were all built on the basis of a 60-year payback period. These are not dysfunctional buildings. If you invest in them, they will be perfectly fine. There's been this vogue recently for this kind of approach, which says, 'This is an awful estate, we give up, we can't manage it, what we're going to do is knock it down, redevelop it at three times the density and fill it up with owner-occupiers who will be a good example to these feckless local authority tenants.'"<br />
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He finds the approach naive as well as patronising, because many of the flats are bought not by owner-occupiers but by investment companies on a buy-to-let basis, and their tenants often lead even more chaotic lives than people in social housing.<br />
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Like Power, he favours a more flexible approach. "It's unsustainable to build such robust and structurally sound properties, and then take them away after 30 or 40 years. We have to build on a much longer cycle, and if necessary we have to be prepared to allow the people in those buildings to change. Let them evolve. If you have the right kind of buildings, uses can swill backwards and forwards. Supposing someone wanted to convert part of the Heygate estate into office suites; great, let's do it. It's the organic city, as opposed to the tidy-minded planned city that says, 'You were once social housing, so you will always be social housing.'"</blockquote>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-48149284880122633292011-02-23T09:18:00.000-08:002011-02-23T09:18:09.446-08:00Short Video Tribute to the HeygateI know I haven't posted in a long time. I'm planning a round-up, but in the meantime, here is a short video tribute to the Heygate: <br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RG1Bz_tiwLI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-66546744391124453292010-04-30T04:20:00.000-07:002010-05-09T15:03:25.645-07:00Montly (or thereabouts) round-upBit late on this one this month folks . . . well, here we go:<br />
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Some nice images of <a href="http://flickriver.com/photos/44639544@N00/popular-interesting/">the Heygate from james_rawimages</a><br />
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<a href="http://ymmitphotography.co.uk/articles/read/6">Nice photo essay of remaining residents </a>from Yimmit Photography <br />
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From Milkshake: the Heygate wind turbine <a href="http://heygate.heroku.com/pages">produced half the electricity as originally predicted</a><br />
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According to the Worker's Revolutionary Party, <a href="http://wrp.org.uk/news/5223">heat and hot water shut off 'permanently'</a> and coucil sends out notice promising 'alternative arrangements. Interview with some remaining tennants. This confirmed by <a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,19279,185,00.htm">Southwark News</a>. Also, from Southwark News: '<a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,19389,185,00.htm">Waiting for new home mental torture' says Estate pensioner.'</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.zaralloydphotography.co.uk/projects/heygate-estate-se17-london">Empty Heygate Estate </a>by photographer Zara Lloyd<br />
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From People's Republic of Southwark: <a href="http://www.peoplesrepublicofsouthwark.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=309:heygate-myths&catid=4:news&Itemid=3">Heygate Myths</a>. According to an MORI poll, 11 years ago, 55% of Heygate residents were satisfied with life on the estate, undermining the myth of the 'infamous' Heygate sink estate promulgated by the media.<br />
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<a href="http://celinemarchbank.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/on-the-roof-of-the-decanted-heygate-estate-in-the-elephant-castle/">Views from the roof of the Heygate </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,19377,185,00.htm">Arty Elephants from Southwark News</a><br />
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And last, but certainly not least, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=568442215&v=info#%21/pages/The-Original-Heygate-SE17/216237344732">the Original HeygateSE17 has now reached 501 members </a>(thus giving more backing to the 'Heygate Myths'.<br />
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All for now - I'll try to get up to speed this month with another post in a couple of weeks.HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-62484884059205071872010-03-22T07:17:00.000-07:002010-03-22T07:58:52.114-07:00Monthly (or thereabouts) round-up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcegiiTc_3dvY4peMTs3t6GLq3bUlaPOb-U0swza2Fdea0_0u0d8-kWgTPdheFLHDTbH1V-4IYKIK0l1j5yKEBrdAVrxKSWiEcSsBIoL_WdGRdgNve-nYmMJaA2AMwBiSh_fW5cWlJoej/s1600-h/Will's+Heygate+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcegiiTc_3dvY4peMTs3t6GLq3bUlaPOb-U0swza2Fdea0_0u0d8-kWgTPdheFLHDTbH1V-4IYKIK0l1j5yKEBrdAVrxKSWiEcSsBIoL_WdGRdgNve-nYmMJaA2AMwBiSh_fW5cWlJoej/s400/Will's+Heygate+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Photo: Will Montgomery (shot early morning on the Heygate). <br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/10205669">Utopia Revisited</a>: an evocative short of the Heygate by Dan Tassell. Post by Dan at Captured City blog <a href="http://capturedcity.blogspot.com/2010/03/d-entry-day-1.html">detailing his latest return to the Heygate</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.selvageflame.com/">Will Montgomery</a> has an exhibit with <a href="http://nastybrutalistandshort.blogspot.com/">Owen Hatherley</a> (author of Militant Modernism) at the Southbank Centre on April 21st. From the program notes: <br />
<blockquote><i>Will Montgomery presents a sound-art piece recorded and shot at the various locales in Elephant and Castle - one of the most contested public spaces in London's history. Using field recordings combined with architectural imagery, Montgomery presents the work and then talks to Owen Hatherley, author of Militant Modernism. </i></blockquote><br />
London SE1: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4426">Final regeneration deal between Lend Lease and Southwark Council postponed until after elections</a>. From Southwark News: <a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,18859,185,00.htm">Eviction Notices In as Demolitions Start</a><br />
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From Milkshake: <a href="http://heygate.heroku.com/after-the-heygate/the-tower-block">The Tower Block</a>. Fascinating ebook. <br />
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<a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4422">random at theatre local, Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre. </a><br />
See Random review <a href="http://londonist.com/2010/03/review_randomtheatre_local.php">here</a>.<br />
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Some references to music videos on the Heygate <a href="http://www.dissensus.com/showthread.php?10540-The-Heygate-Estate-in-Elephant-And-Castle">on dissensus.com,</a> including <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwb9jOVRtU">a video by Madonna</a>! Who knew? Madge gets down on the estate stairwells at 00:45.<br />
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<a href="http://www.estatesgazette.com/blogs/london-residential-research/2010/03/elephant.html">Estates Gazette: All go at the Elephant</a> crows on about the Strata Tower. Asking price at the Strata: A cool half million pounds. According to the related Times article <a href="http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article7067417.ece">'The High Life in the Elephant</a> and Castle', 20 of the 310 flats in the Strata are reserved for former residents of the Heygate. Another 98 'affordable flats' are to be launched. <br />
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<a href="http://londonist.com/2010/03/a_tour_round_the_strata_tower.php">More pictures and descriptions of the view from the Strata</a> at Londonist<br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/mar/20/location-shoots-gone-bad-shank">Shank and the perils of shooting on location </a>Remaining Heygate residents called in the police after a mock gang war breaks out on the estate. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank_%28film%29">Shank </a>is a dystopian drama set in the future when the divide between rich and poor have grown to massive proportions. Wait! That sounds like now! <br />
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More nice pics of <a href="http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=52092037">Heygate and Strata from skyscraper city </a><br />
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Last but certainly not least:<a href="http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/The-Original-Heygate-SE17/216237344732"> The Original Heygate SE17 Facebook group is up to 505 members</a>!HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-17709367597080601232010-02-24T05:27:00.000-08:002010-02-25T05:42:38.208-08:00Monthly (or thereabouts) round-upExcellent write-up from London blogger Joshua Surtees walking around the estate. <a href="http://lovesoflondon.blogspot.com/2010/02/london-lovehates-towerblocks.html">He interviews a couple of remaining residents. </a><br />
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From Southwark Notes: <a href="http://southwarknotes.wordpress.com/heygate-estate/">A history of the Heygate regeneration </a><br />
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An amazing slide show from Milkshake, Heygate plans first in 2009, then 1969: <a href="http://heygate.heroku.com/pages">'First as tragedy, then as farce'. </a><br />
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A couple of art projects involving the Heygate: <br />
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<a href="http://matteoborzone.com/index.php?/portfolio/heygate/">matteo borzone's collage of garage doors from the Heygate</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.paulchristian.ca/heygate.html">A fictional re-inhabitation of the estate </a><br />
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A documentary series called <a href="http://broadcast.roundhouse.org.uk/ham">HAM</a>, by William Williamson. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IovlbdwmVTQ&feature=player_embedded#">HAM episode 1, is divided between the Heygate estate and Commercial street. </a><br />
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Photography:<br />
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Photographer Mauro Battoro's series: <a href="http://www.maurobottaro.it/gallery.php?number=6&select=14">Mainliners</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijbeLWFE0w">An amateur slide show of the estate early this year.</a><br />
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Latecomer: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazkinz/sets/72157623366411408/">fellow named gaskinz on flickr </a><br />
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Yet more filming on the Heygate: <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2858460/The-Bill-films-football-hooligans-scene-in-South-London.html">The Bill</a><br />
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And last, but certainly not least: Facebook group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/The-Original-Heygate-SE17/216237344732">The Original Heygate SE17 is close to 500 members! </a>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-57701767326711850962010-02-01T14:37:00.000-08:002010-02-01T14:37:38.594-08:00Update (monthly or thereabouts)At last an update . . .<br />
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What with the hols and being ill for weeks after said hols, I haven't had the energy to update this blog. But not much in the news has come my way either . . .<br />
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A couple of things<br />
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From the South London Press : <a href="http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/News.cfm?id=3201&headline=Facebook%20group%20for%20Heygate%20Estate">Facebook group for the Heygate Estate</a>. <br />
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As of this writing, 412 former residents of the Heygate Estate have joined a group called <a href="http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=216237344732#/pages/The-Original-Heygate-SE17/216237344732">'The Original Heygate SE17</a><br />
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Another Elephant-related facebook group: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=216237344732#/group.php?gid=10315007505">The Elephant and Castle is a dump but we like it that way</a><br />
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From Southark News: '<a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,17257,185,00.htm">Council Looks to Government for 'payment holiday' on Debt</a>'<br />
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Apparently, Southwark council is still paying off the debt, with interest, incurred 50 years ago to build, among other things, the North Peckham Estate and the Heygate.HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-71559628871588844142009-12-19T06:16:00.000-08:002009-12-19T06:16:51.668-08:00Snow on the Heygate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFoAckPYh4v7m7vwo9HkPF1uItiSx1sFg8xPsRZK-DhIbtQHqBTTluK4yBNBrb8IaKlYTRoWPAKnN0uIHM4pHyjTVcz6o4DPwfhfGVvEc_u5Tkrz25OlEDcKo3seQIuH58tRxzI3N6oIv/s1600-h/img010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFoAckPYh4v7m7vwo9HkPF1uItiSx1sFg8xPsRZK-DhIbtQHqBTTluK4yBNBrb8IaKlYTRoWPAKnN0uIHM4pHyjTVcz6o4DPwfhfGVvEc_u5Tkrz25OlEDcKo3seQIuH58tRxzI3N6oIv/s640/img010.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> Photo: Johnathon Gales<br />
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A couple of new photo essays of the Heygate have turned up in my google news feed, taken during the recent snowstorm in London. The above photograph, taken by Johnathon Gales, is of my old home, Claydon House, with the new 'gateway to the Elephant' the Strada Tower, rising up behind it. His blog, <a href="http://thoughtsnotthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/12/heygate-estate.html">thoughts not thoughts</a> has more photographs.<br />
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What was most striking, aside from the empty windows, was the desolate quality of the Strada. At first I wasn't even sure what it was - the tower was still at the foundation stage when I left last year. From this angle it looks like a giant American flag . . .<br />
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Also, more haunting images from Dan Tassell at <a href="http://capturedcity.blogspot.com/2009/12/bleak-beauty-of-heygate-estate.html">Captured City: the bleak beauty of the Heygate Estate</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosroZ_dKwcMLW2w4wJq-OUVOdNpWyum4uUMVsq9cfhdtDFWDG-JJDO2E3VK8oFMpiqQn7aJbXgoZUmonEbiDkSlv6XwrelhciZW3DgZ6HBJ77CghtbXAniC_IogjSVgA0NpTlIs4KiFyf/s1600-h/IMG_0826+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosroZ_dKwcMLW2w4wJq-OUVOdNpWyum4uUMVsq9cfhdtDFWDG-JJDO2E3VK8oFMpiqQn7aJbXgoZUmonEbiDkSlv6XwrelhciZW3DgZ6HBJ77CghtbXAniC_IogjSVgA0NpTlIs4KiFyf/s320/IMG_0826+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> Photo: Dan Tassell<br />
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Apperently, some people still live on the estate. These images remind me of one of my last entries when I still lived on the Heygate:<a href="http://livefromtheheygate.blogspot.com/2008/04/endgame-one-more-step.html"> Endgame One More Step</a>, when I wrote:<br />
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<blockquote>How will it be when the whole estate is empty but for one or two holdouts? How would it be occupy a single flat in a building this vast, to feel the emptiness spreading out through the building at night, to walk down gangways past sealed off flats, knowing no one else’s steps will tread the concrete stairwells – to know the building will soon be rubble? <br />
</blockquote>I wonder how that feels to occupy these hulking empty buildings now . . . <br />
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HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-85096060913762034892009-12-03T14:23:00.000-08:002009-12-08T15:56:24.642-08:00Weekly (or thereabouts) round-up . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvclXaeIYd2sse5-JucMdy5npL2rpiKEUzUynD4_CxIuMtmHQyOBNptclFHHCVGr1RxK-2lzSwF1t_sehoPDr2hPdhowbCPWABSK1VZC-lLmX4na2doP8YzSF56rmIL9QRlFq57zwUdiV/s1600-h/Heygate-in-the-fog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvclXaeIYd2sse5-JucMdy5npL2rpiKEUzUynD4_CxIuMtmHQyOBNptclFHHCVGr1RxK-2lzSwF1t_sehoPDr2hPdhowbCPWABSK1VZC-lLmX4na2doP8YzSF56rmIL9QRlFq57zwUdiV/s320/Heygate-in-the-fog.jpg" /></a><br />
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I've put off writing this post because even if the deadline came and went Monday evening it is still a little unclear what is exactly is going to happen:<br />
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From LondonSE1: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4227">Elephant and Castle Deal 'excellent value for money' says Southwark leader.</a><br />
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Southwark Council's executive agreed to a 'heads of term' agreement with developers Lend Lease, which means at least a part of the Elephant development will go through. However, questions remain. Also from London SE1:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1259693731251"><br />
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<a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4230">Call for Greater Transparency over Elephant and Castle Regeneration Deal</a><br />
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The development would be in six phases. Phase 1 to 5 involve the Heygate, phase 6 the shopping centre. However no timetable has been set for the latter. Demolition would begin on eastern end of the estate, down by Rodney Road (which if memory serves is off the main section of the estate) in February.<br />
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It seems that Lend Lease's investment in the 1.5 billion project is small: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/healthcareSector/idUSSYD42978220091201">Lend Lease wins London bid, shares jump. </a>Though a Lend Lease spokesman later reiterated that Lend Lease is responsible for all six phases of the development, and as such is responsible for investment.<br />
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The reaction on <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/89994/page=43">the SE1 forum remains skeptical,</a> as few details of the plan and what it will mean for the Elephant and Elephant residents are being released: <br />
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Lib-Dem Councillor Tim McNally writes:<br />
<blockquote>"I look forward to the bulldozers going onsite in February 2010 to start the demolition, and will welcome the creation of additional new homes of all tenures - including social for rent in excess of that in the current Heygate, shared ownership and private - in what will surely be the revitalised centre of South East London" <br />
</blockquote>To which, one forum member responded:<br />
<blockquote>"All the planned regeneration is going to do is to replace a load of architecturally ambitious post-war social housing slums with some bland early 21st century private rabbit hutch slums." <br />
</blockquote>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-75751845968519256062009-11-26T07:47:00.000-08:002009-12-08T15:59:27.504-08:00Weekly (or thereabouts) round-up . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eSGRH0aNKH-7en6ueeIjyffoDZCRLkMsV07T1UNZjRutObgoDISBD_oEpWjtCaF59UqWrUEspl0U6fSW2ORKt-gaLVLzqPumkIHd7oaPkxfPV88tO9LrDmVhPxGiBs85hY0cwN-8Kyen/s1600-h/fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eSGRH0aNKH-7en6ueeIjyffoDZCRLkMsV07T1UNZjRutObgoDISBD_oEpWjtCaF59UqWrUEspl0U6fSW2ORKt-gaLVLzqPumkIHd7oaPkxfPV88tO9LrDmVhPxGiBs85hY0cwN-8Kyen/s320/fungus.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fungus on decayed gangways - Heygate<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I delayed writing this because on Tuesday evening, the council was meant to rubber stamp its deal with Lend Lease, the Aussie developers. However, no deal was signed, and another meeting is set for Monday, the 30th of November, after which the exclusivity agreement between Lend Lease and Southwark Council will end. <a href="http://livefromtheheygate.blogspot.com/2009/07/deal-still-not-signed.html">This has already happened in July. </a>A new deal could be signed, or both parties could end their relationship, putting the whole regeneration in limbo. <br />
<br />
From Southwark news: <a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,16611,185,00.htm">Yet Another Delay in plan to regenerate Elephant and Castle</a>:<br />
<br />
London SE1 reports:<a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4218"> Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre redevelopment to be delayed indefinitely</a>. <br />
<br />
The article quotes Peter John, leader of the Labour group: <br />
<blockquote>"This new deal with Lend Lease amounts to little more than throwing Heygate residents out of their homes and building new luxury housing which they won't be able to afford. What are tenants and residents getting out of it? The Lib Dems are selling Elephant & Castle short and betraying the existing community.<br />
</blockquote><blockquote>"Demolishing the shopping centre and removing the roundabouts and underpasses is absolutely central to starting a new chapter for Elephant & Castle, but this new deal put those plans on ice. It doesn't even include an indication of when the Lib Dems expect the core of Elephant & Castle to be transformed. <br />
</blockquote><blockquote>"Leisure facilities which made up such a central part of the original deal aren't even mentioned in this new deal, and neither is the new school, library or Northern line station which were also promised."<br />
</blockquote>Also from London SE1: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4217">Could Elephant and Castle be the new South Bank? Southwark Council holds culture conference. </a><br />
<br />
I have also discovered the community forums on LondonSe1, including a lively discussion under the heading: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/89994/page=39">E&C: back to the drawing board?</a> which began in June, 2008 and continues to this day. <br />
<br />
I tried to find some information on <a href="http://www.southwark.gov.uk/MediaCentre/Homepagenews/">the Southwark Council news page</a> but nothing has been posted as of yet.HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-2964861425910060902009-11-11T05:17:00.000-08:002009-12-08T15:59:17.045-08:00Weekly (or thereabouts) round-up . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1dYqWg3Wdi5h2G_ANtDqyiE84IcTJZ8VS9IX4hjytxboTwg2FVR4xIGMdWHsHa8f1OGHdpJ8XGv0SIoCLlCNml4TpUFc6jcLT1IboemyNodG6uyi3O0cQaYG8lKuFVTd4Ezia3G-lO2e/s1600-h/Red-Condo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1dYqWg3Wdi5h2G_ANtDqyiE84IcTJZ8VS9IX4hjytxboTwg2FVR4xIGMdWHsHa8f1OGHdpJ8XGv0SIoCLlCNml4TpUFc6jcLT1IboemyNodG6uyi3O0cQaYG8lKuFVTd4Ezia3G-lO2e/s320/Red-Condo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> New face of the Elephant? Condos behind the Heygate Estate<br />
<br />
From London SE1: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4186">Boris Johnson 'actively trying to broker Elephant and Castle regeneration deal'</a>. Developers Lend Lease are 'in a dire position' due to the credit crunch. Boris goes on to say:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"It's a fantastic project and we'll do everything we can to help it go ahead," said the Mayor.<br />
"The trouble is we've got a credit crunch and the developers – Lend Lease I think it is – are simply in a dire position.<br />
"So the [section] 106 money that's normally available is not going to be available to do the fantastic things.<br />
"I know that we're actively trying to broker a deal between <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/community/borough/southwark">Southwark Council</a> and Lend Lease. We want to get it done, and if we possibly can, we will."<br />
</blockquote><br />
Micheal Caine has been all over the papers, of course, due to his film 'Harry Brown', part of which is being filmed on the Heygate.<br />
<br />
From the Sun: '<a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2711130/Screen-legend-Michael-Caine-on-Broken-Britain.html">Screen Legend Micheal Caine on Broken Britain'</a> (Sir Micheal blames Labour). And from femalefirst.co.uk: <a href="http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/Harry+Brown-7769.html">Harry Brown Looks at Broken Britain</a><br />
<br />
And even Clint Eastwood has been spotted on the Heygate and the Walworth area. From South London Press: <a href="http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/News.cfm?id=43262&headline=Clint%20Eastwood%20rides%20into%20Walworth">Clint Eastwood rides into Walworth</a><br />
<br />
And from the blog Love London Council Housing: <a href="http://lovelondoncouncilhousing.blogspot.com/2009/11/were-backand-in-south-london-at-heygate.html">a live report from the Heygate Estate</a>. Aside from complimenting yours truly, they write:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>. . .as of last Friday (Oct. 30th), there wre 117 secure, non secure tenants and leaseholders left - 67 secure tenants, of whom half have direct offers for alternative accommodation. Those left behind . . . are living surrounded by vacant properties boarded up to keep out squatters. <br />
</blockquote> So the drama continues. According to London Se1, Lend Lease's exclusivity agreement is due to expire at the end of November. If all falls through, maybe the council can turn the Heygate into a movie set! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: courier new;"><br />
</span>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-47792844661767893932009-10-24T03:32:00.000-07:002009-10-24T03:32:01.577-07:00Valentines Day on the Heygate, 2009.Found this on Youtube this morning: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHcU7bEWAbg&feature=player_embedded">Valentines Day Ball at the Heygate</a><br />
<br />
Mostly old folks gathered in a community hall - I"m guessing the hall behind what used to be the doctor's office, now the office for the Heygate Tennant's Association. Probably the last time people got together like this on the estate. <br />
<br />
It says a lot that in the six or seven months I lived on the Heygate, I was hardly aware that this older, white working class still existed. The faces I saw were mainly those of immigrants - Africans, South Americans, East Euros. This, I"m sure, had a lot to do with the fact I was an immigrant myself, albeit of a different kind. But it does say a lot about the alienating power of the estate, when you can't even get a sense of the people who live around you. <br />
<br />
Where are these folks now, I wonder?HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-76085097348349294252009-10-23T16:54:00.000-07:002009-10-23T16:54:12.528-07:00Call in Guardian for more council housing . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsChq4_YgVbWDd1_Xmq3kU2Xm7EfPbcu1ltWKd0OlFET38KE24f_HInmYS-qOpZtBlTGcw0pNYhDte6aTlLCA4iOEaNPAQ9SEG5JDLBcbN6wJ-tma6kZscCIhOOE2zGbR2xfGYvbm7KGA_/s1600-h/3137946_3_propertyDetails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsChq4_YgVbWDd1_Xmq3kU2Xm7EfPbcu1ltWKd0OlFET38KE24f_HInmYS-qOpZtBlTGcw0pNYhDte6aTlLCA4iOEaNPAQ9SEG5JDLBcbN6wJ-tma6kZscCIhOOE2zGbR2xfGYvbm7KGA_/s320/3137946_3_propertyDetails.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The new elephant. The Strata tower, looking down the tracks to Walworth Road.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />
</div>From last week in the Guardian (busy week last week, knocked out with a bad cold so haven't had time to update): <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2009/oct/16/council-houses-heygate-estate?showallcomments=true">High Time for More Council Housing: </a><br />
<br />
Columnist Patrick Collinson bikes by the Hegate Estate every morning. Apparently, the Heygate is 'the best known and least loved' housing estate in Britain. I would have thought the much worse Aylesbury or the since-demolished North Peckham Estate (never mind a few choice estates in Liverpool, Salford, Edinburgh . . . . the list goes on) would qualify. But never mind.<br />
<br />
He makes the very valid point that the architectural mistakes of the 50's and 60's have colored Britain's view of council housing, leading to a housing shortage. I certainly experienced this in London - the quality of housing for the non-rich was appallingly bad - which is partly why I moved onto the Heygate.<br />
<br />
Of the new housing across the roundabout, he writes:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>A grim walkway under a busy roundabout connects the Heygate to the first major new residential development in Elephant & Castle, built on the site of a demolished council block, Castle House. But the evicted residents of the Heygate can only look up in awe. You can find a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats in the 43-storey Strata Tower, now nearing completion. But housing benefit won't quite stretch that far. Upmarket estate agents Savills is marketing a <a href="http://www.savills.co.uk/residentialsearch/propertydetail.aspx?pID=N196082" title="Details for one-bedroom property in Strata tower">one-bed flat in the new block for £850,000</a>. A three-bedder is <a href="http://www.savills.co.uk/residentialsearch/propertydetail.aspx?pID=N161842" title="Details of penthouse flats in Strata tower">in the millions</a>. <br />
</blockquote> What struck me most about all the talk of 'regeneration' when I lived in the Elephant, was how little attention was being paid to the neighborhood that would result. It seemed pretty much a given that this nice new Elephant, with it's tram lines and boulevards lined with cafes, would no longer be working class. Sure, they'd put in a few low rent flats, but after how many years of development, what community had existed on the estate would be broken up and very unlikely to come together again. Certainly the posters put up around the Oakmayne site ('Believe in Oakmayne!'), showed nice white very middle class people on those boulevards or sitting in the terraces of their nice little flats.<br />
<br />
The Elephant has always been a working class neighborhood. When I first moved there in the 80's, it was Irish working class (or at least my section of it, on the Rockinham Estate, was Irish), in my most recent experience, it was populated primarily by immigrants. Either way, it was inhabited mainly by poor people, and that was it's identity and it's (sort of) charm. T|he Heygate, by dint of it's ugliness, was a kind of rampart against the ocean of gentrfication pouring in across the tracks. Take it away, and the Elephant will be just another boring Zone 1 neighborhood.<br />
<br />
I mean what kind of moron pays 850,000 pounds for a one bedroom flat? Anywhere? And next to one of the world's biggest construction sites at that. Will these people be going down to the East Street Market, I wonder?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wL7zpxBvLfgM33Iz-dPnj5it2HrFsIlMCbPEhV3duD9b29TAR_00hFEoZKQZlXz-KZJuFpFMQ_t_NxZgylQZ6Sp5n8KJhK1wVm6l-oRvvLYkbxQfzQBLLAW9WuBid3fGWQAuw-ljzA5R/s1600-h/South-View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wL7zpxBvLfgM33Iz-dPnj5it2HrFsIlMCbPEhV3duD9b29TAR_00hFEoZKQZlXz-KZJuFpFMQ_t_NxZgylQZ6Sp5n8KJhK1wVm6l-oRvvLYkbxQfzQBLLAW9WuBid3fGWQAuw-ljzA5R/s320/South-View.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View looking south from Ashedon House. <br />
</div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-27450854961841448172009-10-15T11:37:00.001-07:002009-10-16T15:36:47.206-07:00Latest Developments<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGnFsRhwd9K1dGhERdkVQTLzVL-6dcx4Y__lxvuagYfhzqfy978RNTnP2S6P-18PD09pC0l3u6gS07V03uDZA-QMraUYLo_PBdjzBRf292k5GXirkxE1437XW_j-3IB0jnKI7_SjgJa1i/s1600-h/CharatydsII.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392898145322709090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGnFsRhwd9K1dGhERdkVQTLzVL-6dcx4Y__lxvuagYfhzqfy978RNTnP2S6P-18PD09pC0l3u6gS07V03uDZA-QMraUYLo_PBdjzBRf292k5GXirkxE1437XW_j-3IB0jnKI7_SjgJa1i/s200/CharatydsII.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 134px;" /></a>From London SE1:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2006/oct/21/homes">Lend Lease "still very interested" says chief executive, Dan Labbad. </a><br />
<br />
"We believe that we're close to the bottom of the market in the UK . . . It's the right time to invest in regeneration schemes which is why we are very interested in our position at Greenwich, our discussions at Elephant & Castle and also being involved in Stratford for the medium to long term," <br />
<br />
Despite this, Mr. Labbad said 'significant barriers' still existed for 'entry' including the credit market, and a suitable partnership with the government.<br />
<br />
Meawhile . . . The two Caryatids sequestered in the little garden in the middle of the estate, have been moved out. The two caryatids (a column carved in the shape of a person, in this case an imitation of the stone lady statues on the Parthenon) were carved by Henry Poole in 1885 and decorated Rotherhithe Town Hall, until bombing destroyed the Town Hall building in 1945. The caryatids survived however, and were installed on the Heygate.<br />
<br />
I discovered the two stone ladies last year, but had no idea of their history. They seemed totally incongruous in the conext of the estate, but they were a nice touch nonetheless. If you looked into the little garden from the right angle, the green blocked the towers on either side, and you could imagine you were somewhere else entirely.<br />
<br />
Also, from the Independent: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-the-city-of--broken-dreams-1790039.html?action=Popup">London: City of Broken Dreams: reports that East Euros made desperate by the recession are squatting the Heygate.</a> The council claims that there are no squatters on the estate (of course). But if the deal with Lend Lease is NOT signed, I wonder if the whole estate will be taken over? Who would stop them?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJe02-I5LjeF_pSIFMKJ27HtAe0XZkN3JocbesdtfZ4yNOUVxvonxjdEAjhYlaVCzA1snwCM3RS_WBGvvxp6Ds4QQbaXMuKzVTwRRtdvfDsAvMz0ZfWfJcj6Vp-vQNNRIxfHtJ84fsBur/s1600-h/CharatydsIII.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392898304673042258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJe02-I5LjeF_pSIFMKJ27HtAe0XZkN3JocbesdtfZ4yNOUVxvonxjdEAjhYlaVCzA1snwCM3RS_WBGvvxp6Ds4QQbaXMuKzVTwRRtdvfDsAvMz0ZfWfJcj6Vp-vQNNRIxfHtJ84fsBur/s400/CharatydsIII.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 267px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 400px;" /></a>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-38822604068181589742009-10-09T05:01:00.000-07:002009-10-09T05:10:46.016-07:00Regeneration Skyscraper Plans Under Threat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqe6vQduUqjjbI-UXw5envdvFAiUK4Vu9OrRUAZ6nZwUfseZo0-T6DLt6EzChj5KxnVhOZ7T7d2QtJ3SG1CbweQFCn9065-9Vyf6RZuvgDgh59D3b0_NpEPeiLe_A4Qd1pbD0dsY-sHB0/s1600-h/1254951827_80.177.117.97.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqe6vQduUqjjbI-UXw5envdvFAiUK4Vu9OrRUAZ6nZwUfseZo0-T6DLt6EzChj5KxnVhOZ7T7d2QtJ3SG1CbweQFCn9065-9Vyf6RZuvgDgh59D3b0_NpEPeiLe_A4Qd1pbD0dsY-sHB0/s320/1254951827_80.177.117.97.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390571277417869954" border="0" /></a><br />From London SE1:<br /><a href="http://stewarthomesociety.org/blog/"><br />Boris Hyde Park Policy Change Could scupper SE1 skyscraper plans</a><br /><br />From the article:<br /><blockquote>"In June Boris Johnson <a href="http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/spg-views-2009-draft.jsp">published draft planning guidance</a> to protect significant views of London landmarks. <p>Among the new measures proposed in the document is an additional protected view from the bridge over the Serpentine in Hyde Park towards the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>On Tuesday night Southwark's planning committee was told that this new protection could affect proposals for tall buildings as part of the regeneration of Elephant & Castle.</p> <p>The council's head of design & conservation Michael Tsoukaris told councillors that the effect of the policy would be to cap the height of future developments at some locations around the Elephant & Castle northern roundabout at 65 metres."</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Among the buildings affected would be Oakmayne Plaza, the hi-rise complex along New Kent Road which would replace the Heygate. Oakmayne, as it is proposed now, would be 87.5 metres.<br /></p>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-13445014808493979282009-09-17T09:24:00.000-07:002009-09-17T09:28:50.105-07:00But of course . ..From the South London news . . .<br /><a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4098"><br />Should pink elephant be Southwark's Olympic Icon? </a><br /><blockquote><br />Southwark residents have been invited to choose whether their borough should be represented by the Elephant & Castle or Shakespeare's Globe in a set of souvenir pin badges to be produced for the London 2012 Olympics.</blockquote><br /><br />Maybe they should have a model of the whole shopping centre. Or the Heygate.HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-29505222405913979012009-09-15T14:09:00.000-07:002009-09-16T09:02:21.229-07:00Deja Vu All Over Again.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YvwukldNmKT6x3JZTk0j_pQQ42KANbxlijGC8JLwRYsc65TvYyyFRv6KSUju9pHc7V6umHZ2BGwUWO_lSU849DD10cOMkOEhiV2OfPizEZWjvZEDKny2GZHZtTrbU3T_tFO8ctcySjCC/s1600-h/Curtains-out-the-window.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YvwukldNmKT6x3JZTk0j_pQQ42KANbxlijGC8JLwRYsc65TvYyyFRv6KSUju9pHc7V6umHZ2BGwUWO_lSU849DD10cOMkOEhiV2OfPizEZWjvZEDKny2GZHZtTrbU3T_tFO8ctcySjCC/s320/Curtains-out-the-window.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382096225648249298" /></a><br />From the Guardian:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/It%20sounds%20like%20a%20fairy%20tale%20-%20until%20you%20get%20there.%20But%20now%20a%20magic%20wand%20is%20poised%20over%20the%20Elephant%20and%20Castle.">It sounds like a fairy tale - until you get there. But now a magic wand is poised over the Elephant and Castle. </a><br /><br />From the article:<br /><br /><blockquote>'This is the week that the London Borough of Southwark sets about asking local people and businesses what they'd like to be done about one of the city's oldest shopping centres. The Borough has a pretty shrewd idea of what to do, but is asking all the same.<br /><br />'The Borough. . . spurred on by . . . it's intelligent and indefatigable Director of Regeneration and Enviroment . . . plans to transform the Elephant into a "new landmark of urban and environmentally-friendly design: a development that could be seen as exemplary, worldwide."<br /><br />'The emphasis here is on public transport and the linking together of many railway stations and bus stops that serve the area. They may also include working with approved firms of architects - not just developers' puppets, but those who will raise the standard of architecture here to the highest global standards. This includes new housing and the renovation of existing stock.<br /><br />'The borough insists that it is not trying to turn the Elephant into a new middle-class ghetto or just another shiny downtown development . . . in raising it's cultural sights, however, Southwark must be careful not to undermine it's indigenous population . . . It is, at heart, a working-class quarter of London, made up of many creeds and colours. What it needs to do is find ways of engineering in the hearts of those who live and work here a sense of belonging to a new world in which they all stand to benefit if and when the Elephant comes into it's own.'</blockquote><br /><br />Sounds great doesn't it? The problem? <span style="font-weight: bold;">The article is dated, '15 March, 1999'. </span><br /><br />I hadn't realized it until I read this article - I was away from England for over 12 years until I went back in late 2007 - but the regeneration process has been in place for a decade. The original company pulled out not long after this article was written and the plan languished ever after.<br /><br />Today, from LondonSE1: <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4095">Elephant and Castle regeneration: Southwark Council leader 'cautiously optimistic' </a>that a deal can be reached with Lend-Lease by the end of 2009. From the article:<br /><p></p><blockquote><p>"I am cautiously optimistic about the chances of reaching a development agreement with Lend Lease by the end of the year," Cllr <a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/community/councillor/8/nick-stanton">Nick Stanton</a> told members of the cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the town hall on Monday night.</p> <p>"I've said before that if Lend Lease were going to walk away from this they would have walked away by now. They clearly have walked away from a number of propositions where they felt that the numbers weren't stacking up for them."</p><p>"They are still very interested in the Elephant & Castle. They are talking with us and we have been doing some financial modelling work with them. I'm told that that's gone very well."</p></blockquote><p>If a deal isn't signed, what happens then? Does the estate just sit there year after year, falling into total disrepair? Or will the council demolish it, no matter what the cost, just to get rid of it? What then? A vacant lot that sits on the site for years afterwards, taking up valuable land?</p>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-44640045995935315002009-09-14T12:39:00.000-07:002009-09-14T12:41:50.645-07:00Painting Moths on the HeygateBig Brush of the 'Paint the Heygate' project <a href="http://bombthebuilding.blogspot.com/2009/09/us-moths.html">gives a moving description of walking around the nearly empty estate.</a> On the massive Kingshill Building (she calls it the Aylesbury here, but I think she means Kingshill), they find a council worker who shows them round. They find exactly one person left on the whole building, out having a cigarette on the empty terrace. "No comment" he says, as soon as he sees them, obviously marking them for press.HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-6580428452759936692009-09-14T12:17:00.000-07:002010-01-08T09:27:01.723-08:00Will Montgomery's 'sounds of the elephant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhERZKGpvKKkAU7lrk_Oq0FIffVKAO5G2cOIMBdp62DuSArdAgXCTyhw1HsajKAKvCW-fJ8GdzPVK2tCe3fpufXo8lUknQi79UFL9w8CjO71Xd7d7pc4QOjBZvUHmYc6mUuu5RLs7ApDT/s1600-h/elephant-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381407574865604674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhERZKGpvKKkAU7lrk_Oq0FIffVKAO5G2cOIMBdp62DuSArdAgXCTyhw1HsajKAKvCW-fJ8GdzPVK2tCe3fpufXo8lUknQi79UFL9w8CjO71Xd7d7pc4QOjBZvUHmYc6mUuu5RLs7ApDT/s400/elephant-2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 255px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Photograph: Dollan Cannell.<br />
<br />
<br />
Will Montgomery is a sound artist who has posted some sound recordings made inside and outside the Elephant and Castle Shopping Mall.<a href="http://www.selvageflame.com/site/elephant/elephant_article.html"> In an article for the August, 2007 issue of Painted, Spoken, he writes: </a><br />
<blockquote>"I've never lived on the Heygate and I'm glad of that. However . . . one night I was knocked over on the Elephant's north roundabout. The impact destroyed the joint at the base of my left thumb, and the Elephant, like the fused thumb, has nagged at me ever since. . . ."<br />
</blockquote>Then, explaining his interest in the shopping centre (from the same interview):<br />
<blockquote>"What interests me now is it's sound. In the late 199o's, I began to admire it's peculiarly roomy, dreamy acoustic . . .in the shopping centre you get, of course, voices speaking many languages . . . But more important to me is the combination of overlapping human voices with piped pop songs. Often you catch some ancient love tune . . . floating by. Perhaps some of the more worn-down uses of the shopping center went for those songs once. For me, the romantic love hymned decades ago by these tarnished old hits tallies with the pathos that now marks the hopes of betterment expressed in the architecture of the area."<br />
</blockquote>Further, he quotes Charles Dickens, and Walter Benjamin, writing about the Elephant,<a href="http://www.selvageflame.com/site/elephant/elephant.html"> and mixes sound recordings of the shopping centre with pop-up photographs of the centre and the Heygate Estate</a>. A nice testimonial. His site can be found at<a href="http://www.selvageflame.com/"> 'selvageflame.com'</a>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-46461790331211469422009-08-24T07:19:00.001-07:002009-08-24T07:31:34.278-07:00Elephant Saved . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv9aQcEla4XmWRA0x2X4NH5Du-_iB_52k7NSRKoHj74Whn1yP_0gjucPAuD6MwDQK9mIsJZWwEvMJir_eZYV6uBRomgrMvJDoKTTX_G8fYCi66Nmk0ysN6ZcAbQxZaoNYRBBBfXYUJ3tx/s1600-h/elephant-and-castle-s-iconic-statue-has-been-saved_0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 15px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBv9aQcEla4XmWRA0x2X4NH5Du-_iB_52k7NSRKoHj74Whn1yP_0gjucPAuD6MwDQK9mIsJZWwEvMJir_eZYV6uBRomgrMvJDoKTTX_G8fYCi66Nmk0ysN6ZcAbQxZaoNYRBBBfXYUJ3tx/s320/elephant-and-castle-s-iconic-statue-has-been-saved_0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373536675682905378" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> (Times Newspapers)<div><br />Southwark Council has announced that the 'iconic' elephant statue which currently sits in front of the mall will be saved and integrated into the regeneration. <div><div><br /></div><div>From the London Paper: <a href="http://www.thelondonpaper.com/thelondonpaper/news/london/iconic-red-elephant-statue-is-saved">Ionic Red Elephant Is Saved</a></div><div><br /></div><div>That's nice. We'll see what happens when it happens. <br /></div></div></div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-85334736887876970752009-08-17T12:57:00.000-07:002009-08-17T20:26:20.505-07:00Seizure<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I heard about this exhibit a couple of months ago and knew it was in the Elephant - but didn't know where. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Artist Roger Hiorns took a disused council flat, constructed a watertight metal tank moulded around the contours of the property then filled the structure with 16,500 gallons of copper sulphate solution. Two weeks later, he pumped out the excess, leaving behind a layer of blue crystals coating the flat interior. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The National </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090816/ART/708159974/-1/NEWS">has a description of the flat and the exhibit. </a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cowbite/3781629601/in/photostream/">great photos of the Seizure exhibit on flickr.</a> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You can get a rough idea of what</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt4mVHSuwzQ"> the exhibit looks like on, where else, Youtube</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt4mVHSuwzQ"> courtesy of ArtReviewTV</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />The exhibit is not on the Heygate but another derelict, soon to be demolished housing estate up Harper Road in the shadow of Heygate Estate. I used to look out on this estate when I first came to London, living in a squat across the street. The estate is nowhere on the same scale as the Heygate - a bulky hi-rise with a low-rise in front, two duplexes connected by a single gangway which looked more like a bare-bones roadside motel than a housing estate. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hiorns had this to say about the estate: </span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“These buildings were about containing large groups of people who were all living in the same kinds of places and being encouraged to think the same kinds of thoughts, These kinds of buildings don’t work; as a model they have not passed the test of time. They are symbols of a collective will, which treads on an individualistic attitude in the form of small, pokey flats. They give you very little architecture, the nominal amount of expression you’re allowed to have and were ungenerous in that respect,” </span></blockquote><span style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As I wrote on my City of Strangers about <a href="http://cityofstrangers.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/back-in-brooklyn/">an art exhibit on a street in Brooklyn</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://cityofstrangers.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/back-in-brooklyn/"> awaiting demolition to clear the way for another condo </a>(construction has been delayed after the developer ran out of money) this sort of exhibit seems to be inhabiting more and more transitional spaces, an I'm assuming subconcious comment on the role of art and artists in the process of gentrification. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's all very well for Hiorns to talk about the buildings 'treading on an individualistic attitude in the form of small, pokey flats" but these buildings, as uninspiring as they were, allowed poor people to live in the centre. Take them away, and you take away the poor people as well. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The housing estate may not have passed the test of time - although the Trellick Tower and many other so-called sink estates which have been given proper maintenance have stood the tes test of time just fine - but buildings with 'very little architecture' and a 'nominal amount of expression' are still being built at an ever-increasing rate. In North America - and the UK - and even, it seems, Europe, they are called suburbs. Has Hiorns never seen a North American suburb? A big box mall? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps it's important to note that as the working class and the poor are being pushed out of the city centres, and the affluent from the suburbs are colonizing the condos and refurbished neighborhoods of the centre, these bland, cookie cutter, conformist suburbs will become the new housing estates. Where will 'regeneration' be then? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-70159183832896536812009-08-13T07:50:00.000-07:002009-08-15T01:24:57.592-07:00New Design Revealed for HeygateFrom BD the Architect's Website: <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3146747&channel=783&c=2&encCode=00000000019fb6b8">Panter Hudspith Designs Housing for Elephant and Castle</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LUs397QPzLtme-vQYZuvFk61QU6nscRm_xqdhz4X9ahKGSekJ6g6UlopSH2XoSpSbX6zEZeuhHI5l_hqePCsDuroIS-YQWdQ2IYsCiKC4GNxkL9UbU4JVa6su98gKjk3mdybgKjq8Yb-/s1600-h/330_Competition_images_N3_web.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LUs397QPzLtme-vQYZuvFk61QU6nscRm_xqdhz4X9ahKGSekJ6g6UlopSH2XoSpSbX6zEZeuhHI5l_hqePCsDuroIS-YQWdQ2IYsCiKC4GNxkL9UbU4JVa6su98gKjk3mdybgKjq8Yb-/s320/330_Competition_images_N3_web.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369461579427144130" /></a>(image credit: Nick Wharton). </div><div><br /></div><div>A firm named Panter Hudspith (Panter? Hudspith?) has revealed plans for 145 homes at Stead steet and another 100 at Royal Road. The proposals are to go in early next year and construction begin in April (2010). 500 public housing schemes are to be built in total. </div><div><br /></div><div>In theory this looks benign enough - public housing on a human scale, etc. But I just wonder how long public housing like this, with parks, trollies, nice train station etc will remain public. I suppose the construction noise from ancillary developments will keep land value down for awhile. But not forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>But this is assuming Lend Lease and the council sign a deal. And the remaining residents are moved out (South London Press reported as mid-July 200 remain), and the estate comes down. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNT8OL6293zbg_JiY1cLF3wmrDoRJpkHrVuXpTyaCNTevWq5nQyNO43gRqrzlG8CsQHR9qdKfQFkZbFtwXspJdiTc5W4UeTAk1QI4yuaCsIHWeK3myMUgpoZQHA9xh_pQN2ke5d_5Caw_/s1600-h/royal_road_model.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNT8OL6293zbg_JiY1cLF3wmrDoRJpkHrVuXpTyaCNTevWq5nQyNO43gRqrzlG8CsQHR9qdKfQFkZbFtwXspJdiTc5W4UeTAk1QI4yuaCsIHWeK3myMUgpoZQHA9xh_pQN2ke5d_5Caw_/s320/royal_road_model.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369463213928576082" /></a><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Model of final design to replace section of the Heygate. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The Londonist also <a href="http://londonist.com/2009/08/a_21st_century_heygate_estate.php">mentions this story</a> - and also mentions this blog, which is kind of them. Apparently, demolition was due to start in September, has been <a href="http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2009/07/29/70147/slow-start-for-elephant-and-castle-revamp.html">delayed though the council insists demolition will begin next year. </a></div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-22315068883672933212009-07-27T06:40:00.000-07:002009-08-17T20:35:37.366-07:00Deal Still Not Signed . . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2RxrauZD0T4p38OzHjUzku_qPK2A9j7Fuu5VfVJG5AVkwm9yCvxvikYSeMA-1Iioz3nzZ3nwpirmv3a9btENEk4N_Bv99djZeLyEguW1Sikpd-KyNp0J-zTrjRGaIEjfVgqOj560jlgt/s1600-h/Sunny_Day_Heygate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2RxrauZD0T4p38OzHjUzku_qPK2A9j7Fuu5VfVJG5AVkwm9yCvxvikYSeMA-1Iioz3nzZ3nwpirmv3a9btENEk4N_Bv99djZeLyEguW1Sikpd-KyNp0J-zTrjRGaIEjfVgqOj560jlgt/s400/Sunny_Day_Heygate.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371142333277222498" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div>From the Southwark News: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,15664,185,00.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Commitment But Still No Contract On Regeneration</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The council is continuing it's exclusivity agreement with Land Lease, the Aussie developers, but no deal has been signed. The Labour opposition accuses the Lib-Dem/ Conservative council of ceding control of the regeneration process and says: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Regeneration in Southwark is now in total chaos, with an Executive totally out of their depth, the director of major projects resigning [see page 3], and still no deal on the table. There has been a massive lack of political leadership, and this failure rests firmly with the leader of the council, who has so far dodged any accountability, instead blamed everyone else, but still delivered nothing, and just the promise of more dither and more delays.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The council, however, says that everything is still on track despite the 'worst recession any of us have ever seen' and affirms that everyone will be moved off the Heygate Estate by the September deadline. <br /></span><br /></div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-54669221292197146012009-07-23T06:39:00.000-07:002009-07-23T14:02:54.802-07:00Paint the HeygateThe person behind this has made his/ her site invite only (why?) since I last checked it a couple of days ago, but supposedly <a href="http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:2A_N99WKI2UJ:bombthebuilding.blogspot.com/+Paint+the+heygate&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us">there is a campaign on to paint the heygate estate.</a><div><br /></div><div>It was unclear from the site whether this would be the painting of the whole estate, one building - or perhaps just one flat - but it seems the organizer wants to bring in several renowned artists to 'paint the heygate'. </div><div><br /></div><div>From a letter, he/ she sent to Southwark Council:<p></p><blockquote>I have six world renowned well known urban artists (local and overseas) who have told me personally that they want to come down to paint the Heygate and work with this local community. Imagine the possibilities.</blockquote><p></p></div><div><br /></div><div>They list <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GURvHJNmGrc">this video by Sony Bravia </a>as an inspiration . . . </div><div> </div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-31048257622209662742009-07-22T09:54:00.001-07:002009-08-17T20:34:13.664-07:00Lend Lease Back On Board.Seems Southwark Council and Lend-Lease, the Australian developer whose exclusivity deal for the regeneration of the Elephant and Castle lapsed earlier this month, have reached a new agreement, just in time for the July 22nd deadline. <div><br /></div><div>From 'bd, The Architect's Website': </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3145433&channel=783&c=1&encCode=00000000019e509c">New Deal to Save Elephant and Castle redevelopmen</a>t</div><div><br /></div><div>It is not clear how long the new exclusivity agreement is set to last, or when work will actually start. 80% of the Heygate residents have been moved out, and demolition is set to begin next year (last winter, demolition was supposed to start, well, now). </div><div><br /></div><div>The drama continues . . . </div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1743356233605457147.post-51992449613267349542009-07-20T11:44:00.000-07:002009-07-20T11:54:16.481-07:00Heygate Residents Furious at being forced off estate before deal is finalized.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">From the South London Press: </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/tn/News.cfm?id=28301&headline=Heygate%20Estate%20residents%20fuming"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">'Heygate Residents Fuming'</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> 1000 people have so far been rehoused off the Heygate Estate, but many more remain. The council does keep up regular patrols with wardens and make an effort to keep the estate clean. But that doesn't make it any easier or less bizarre for people to live on an almost empty estate - and to be forced out before the Council can even be sure the redevelopment will go ahead. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">From the article: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:12px;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "></p><blockquote><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">A council spokeswoman said: “The rehousing of residents and demolition of the Heygate will continue as planned.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">“The deal with Lend Lease is not over.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">“A decision will be made at the council’s executive on July 21.”</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">She said all tenants would have to be off the estate by September.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">She said: “A phased demolition [of the estate] is due to start in 2010, as was always planned.”</span></p></blockquote><p></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> So by September, the estate will be completely empty - and if the deal falls through, what then? Will some 1200 housing units sit empty in the heart of one of the tightest, most expensive rental markets in the world?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"> </span></span><p></p></div>HeygateLivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02166657993859316289noreply@blogger.com2