Monday, February 11, 2008

Dirty regeneration...

The redevelopment of Island Wharf in Hull has turned a prime riverside location with stunning views over the Humber estuary - a place ideal for a residential development - into a big bloody raft of glass-obsessed identikit, bland Noughties (and currently mostly empty) office space. It includes a World Trade Centre (or Center, if we're to use the brand correctly) at One Humber Quays and, erm, other stuff of absolutely no interest to the majority of people in the city. Ask the people of Orchard Park, Preston Road, Greatfield, Bransholme, Gipsyville et al whether this is the kind of regeneration the city needs and brace yourself for a quizzical look - if you're lucky - or, more appropriately, a smack in the mouth. It is nice to see that they can't even look after the Humber Quays sign, which is covered in a nice load of runny oxidisation and as rusty as the minds of those people who decide to build this shit. Vacant, high cost office space? Let's build some more! And when we can't fill that? Let's build some more!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cynics might suggest that the people responsible for these developments don't live in the city so have no real concern if they work (e.g the transport interchange) just as long as they get their consultancy fees. Next stop for them the 'Fruit Market', then the 'Boom' on the east bank of the river. I wonder why the local newspaper doesn't ask some searching questions?

Anonymous said...

I'm saying nothing while wearing my quizzical expression.
None of it makes sense while people are still living in caravans across the city. Or they're making me give up my allotment so they can regenerate the said plot of land.

Larkin said...

The Freedom Centre and surrounds cost 55 million. Is that quizzical enuf 4 ya?