Combined train of thought

You would have to say that in recent years Cox Architects’ Melbourne office sure has stepped it up a notch in terms of design and have or in the process of putting some serious landmarks on the city’s landscape. I am a massive fan of the under construction Rectangular Stadium (partly because I am a football nut), but their recently completed redevelopment of North Melbourne railway station is also worthy of mention. Since I have moved to Yarraville I get to experience the station on a daily basis and I have say that I am very impressed. It is an excellent blending of the old and the new which I hope my poor photography skills illustrate. If not, go have a look yourself. This successful upgrading of a tired station surely puts pressure on the State Government to seriously consider upgrading Melbourne’s other “gateway” station, Richmond, which now is definitely the poorer cousin.

Saving a Richmond icon – update #1

The latest from the “Save Beloved Dimmey’s Building” group on Facebook:

You may have heard that Dimmeys have signed a 12 month lease on the Swan Street site which provides us with enough time to petition the Heritage Council of Victoria to save the mural on Green Street.

Please share the following link with your friends and networks and I will present the petition to the Heritage Council and City of Yarra in a couple of months.

http://www.petitiononline.com/dimmeys/petition.html

To join this group and show your support on Facebook, go here.

Saving a Richmond icon

From the “Save Beloved Dimmey’s Building” group on Facebook:

For those of you who don’t live near Dimmey’s (Swan St., Richmond) I thought I would let you know that the signage on the front windows has been changed this week to say “We have signed another lease and are staying longer to provide you with more bargains” – or words to that effect.

While this is great in the short term, it may also mean that the planning applications to construct the proposed 9 storey apartment block may be caught up in various legal discussions. Therefore the new building owners need income and have granted Dimmey’s time to continue trading. A win-win for the building owner’s and Dimmey’s however we are still concerned about the long term outcome.

If you have just joined the group, welcome – and please remember we are not fighting to stop Dimmey’s leaving as that is a commercial decision made by the company. What we are lobbying for is the retention of low-rise development in Swan St., preservation of the heritage facade of the original Dimmey’s building, and preservation of the mural that occupies the eastern wall.

To join this group and show your support on Facebook, go here.