What stings about this one is that the developers had originally planned to keep this building, but later changed their mind. Island House was deemed "a generic value and is not supported to any significant degree" which paved the way for its demolition.
There was significant backlash from people in the city, and the region, but it came to nothing. It was only a few months short of its 100th birthday when it was demolished.
yellow_pterodactylsays
Shameful.
I expect that logic in the US… but man.
TheKingMonkeysays
It was knocked down to make room for HS2. Curzon Street station will be on top or very very close to the site where this building was sited, the roads to the right of Island House (Seymour Street/Fazeley Street/Park Street) have all been permanently closed recently and holes are being dug as we speak. It’s gonna look really different in five or six years. I’m not saying Island House wasn’t a sad loss, but it’s not like they didn’t knock it down for no reason whatsoever.
UltimateShamesays
In what name exactly do things get torn down, when there is a public outcry telling them not do do? In what name do architects speak, when they are against reconstructing, when the public is generally for it? I don’t get it. Must be the quick money, ignoring future.
Yourhyperbolemirrorsays
Damn! And that was a beautiful building. What a tragic waste.
mbrumagesays
Didn’t the Spice Girls Live there once?
haversack77says
Even worse, Island House was one small remaining slither of the once grand Albert Street, which survived WWII and was knocked down piecemeal by developers. Now it is mostly wasteland round there.
HS2 would not have resulted in it being knocked down, as the station will be built just to the south.
Maya-K says
What stings about this one is that the developers had originally planned to keep this building, but later changed their mind. Island House was deemed "a generic value and is not supported to any significant degree" which paved the way for its demolition.
There was significant backlash from people in the city, and the region, but it came to nothing. It was only a few months short of its 100th birthday when it was demolished.
yellow_pterodactyl says
Shameful.
I expect that logic in the US… but man.
TheKingMonkey says
It was knocked down to make room for HS2. Curzon Street station will be on top or very very close to the site where this building was sited, the roads to the right of Island House (Seymour Street/Fazeley Street/Park Street) have all been permanently closed recently and holes are being dug as we speak. It’s gonna look really different in five or six years. I’m not saying Island House wasn’t a sad loss, but it’s not like they didn’t knock it down for no reason whatsoever.
UltimateShame says
In what name exactly do things get torn down, when there is a public outcry telling them not do do? In what name do architects speak, when they are against reconstructing, when the public is generally for it? I don’t get it. Must be the quick money, ignoring future.
Yourhyperbolemirror says
Damn! And that was a beautiful building. What a tragic waste.
mbrumage says
Didn’t the Spice Girls Live there once?
haversack77 says
Even worse, Island House was one small remaining slither of the once grand Albert Street, which survived WWII and was knocked down piecemeal by developers. Now it is mostly wasteland round there.
HS2 would not have resulted in it being knocked down, as the station will be built just to the south.
SirFreedom1776 says
Well I say REBUILD!!!
EyesWhichDoNotSee says
Criminal to tear this down