The Elevate/pheonix scheme

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Atarah

Here are some up to date photos of the new properties now built along the Blackburn Road area, from Lonsdale Street corner. This is where all the smashing terraced houses which had done our town proud for over a 100 years once stood.

Can't say I like the style, why on earth are they building balconies on houses in the North of England, completely out of character. What a shame the old buildings weren't just rennovated. I used to go to the surgery on Blackburn Rd., not far along from the corner of Lonsdale St., as a child -Dr.Harbinson's -it was a lovely stone built house and I remember it still had a lot of original features in -fireplaces etc.

[Wynonie Harris]

Outright vandalism. Ugly concrete boxes to replace craftsman-built stone houses which would've lasted for another 100 years or more.

Why are those in charge so determined to ruin my old home town one way and another?

[Atarah]

Hi Mobertol, was this the doctors you meant?

[accyman]

Originally Posted by mobertol

Can't say I like the style, why on earth are they building balconies on houses in the North of England, completely out of character.

aye but you cant beat sitting out on a balcony sipping on a fine chardenay whilst looking out over solid jammed rush hour traffic until dusk with bored drivers peering into your windows while they wait to move that few extra feet before the lights go back to red lol

some people will buy anything and these houses prove it lol

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Atarah

Hi Mobertol, was this the doctors you meant?

Yes, thanks for that Atarah -is it still there?

It's a fantastic building -hope it hasn't been bull-dozed!

Apart from going to the Docs -used to pass along that way a lot as my Grandparents lived on Exchange Street (top of Lonsdale St.). I saw Exchange St. was a bit run down last time I passed it a few yrs sgo -I think a lot of the properties were being rented out (my Grandparents house definitely was.)

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Outright vandalism. Ugly concrete boxes to replace craftsman-built stone houses which would've lasted for another 100 years or more.

Why are those in charge so determined to ruin my old home town one way and another?

[rant] Not everyone wants to live in a terraced house with high ceilings costing a fortune to heat with front doors straight onto the footpath so dirty dogs pee on your door step. People walking inches from your front room window peering in while you watch corrie. No where to park your car and no garden for the kids to play.

Many people want modern new housing with garden space and off road parking. Cul-de-sac's so the only cars being those that live there so the kids are safer with no boy racers screaming down the street taking short cuts.

We live in a terraced house but it is a good size with a garden, garage and (very) short drive. We bought it because we like it but we would not live in a non garden fronted again unless we had to because we dont like them.

If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]

[Wynonie Harris]

What's the point of knocking down perfectly good houses which have years and years of life left in them to build houses of an inferior quality? As for gardens, I seem to remember that those streets off that particular part of Blackburn Road all had their own gardens anyway. There seems to be a tendency here to destroy the town's rich heritage and replace it with an ugly modernity which is totally at odds with its surroundings.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

What's the point of knocking down perfectly good houses which have years and years of life left in them to build houses of an inferior quality? As for gardens, I seem to remember that those streets off that particular part of Blackburn Road all had their own gardens anyway. There seems to be a tendency here to destroy the town's rich heritage and replace it with an ugly modernity which is totally at odds with its surroundings.

Let's not forget the area just across the road, nearer to Church traffic lights.

An area where once stood for a hundred years, well built stone houses.

They were demolished in the late seventies.

The eighties saw 'new and modern homes' built on the site.

Twenty years they were demolished.

We'll just have to wait with bated breath, to see what they throw up there next.

Whatever it is, won't be as solidly built as what originally stood there.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Neil

[rant] Not everyone wants to live in a terraced house with high ceilings costing a fortune to heat with front doors straight onto the footpath so dirty dogs pee on your door step. People walking inches from your front room window peering in while you watch corrie. No where to park your car and no garden for the kids to play.

Many people want modern new housing with garden space and off road parking. Cul-de-sac's so the only cars being those that live there so the kids are safer with no boy racers screaming down the street taking short cuts.

We live in a terraced house but it is a good size with a garden, garage and (very) short drive. We bought it because we like it but we would not live in a non garden fronted again unless we had to because we dont like them.

If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]

Don't ever move to Chelsea, Kensington, or Belgravia...from the sounds of it, you'd hate it.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I would choose an old terraced house over new build every time.
They have character.......and high ceilings can be lowered.......and most are, when renovations take place.

I don't think people were given a chance to live in them, they were just demolished.
I am pretty sure that if the money spent on building new characterless (my opinion) properties had been spent on renovating and modernising the old terraced houses, then they would have been comfortable and attractive to live in.

Unfortunately some people do not have the luxury of choice, as to whether they have a straight off the street terrace, or one with a garden.......many folk would just be pleased to have a roof over their head.

[Busman747]

Originally Posted by Neil

[rant] If those that have commented about the destruction of our old houses love them so much then fine you live in them but dont moan about those that dont like them its there choice and that is what the builders are offering, a choice of housing. [/rant]

I think that's a little unfair to criticize Wynoni's personal views Neil. You yourself have given your views in your reply which is fair enough. You prefer new-build houses, no problem.

As a "Southerner" I absolutely loved the terraced housing when I moved to Accrington. My house in Bedfordshire looked smart, had a front and back garden, loads of room - - BUT- - we could hear the neighbours walking about at night, TV's and music centres couldn't go against an adjoining wall, before my wife and I had any "night-time" fun, we had to be as sure as we could that our teenage girls were actually sleeping! Our TV often woke the girls and they would often come down to ask if the volume (which was low) could be any lower!

I once decided to take out an interior wall and was surprised to find that between the hardboard was just compressed straw!!

In contrast, the terraced house I now live in (Which is 110 years old) has no garden worth mentioning, the walls are not straight (thinking about it, they are straighter than my old house) but I can go to bed in the knowledge that I can converse with Willow without being overheard in the bedroom next door, I don't hear my neighbours and they don't hear us!

There are pros and cons whatever housing you choose but the point that was being made by Wynoni is that because some people prefer older terrace housing, it was wrong to pull down these houses just to build "modern" houses.

AND DON'T FORGET!!! And I could be wrong on this, Builders, certain tradesmen and I suspect, a few from the council/quango's have profited quite nicely from the arrangements made. In contrast, home owners were at first offered (under compulsory purchase) silly prices for their homes to be knocked down and I believe this was later reduced to "loans" that were available to assist buying new property which had to repaid should the home owner subsequently sell at a profit!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I would choose an old terraced house over new build every time.
They have character.......and high ceilings can be lowered.......and most are, when renovations take place.

I don't think people were given a chance to live in them, they were just demolished.
I am pretty sure that if the money spent on building new characterless (my opinion) properties had been spent on renovating and modernising the old terraced houses, then they would have been comfortable and attractive to live in.

Unfortunately some people do not have the luxury of choice, as to whether they have a straight off the street terrace, or one with a garden.......many folk would just be pleased to have a roof over their head.

In London, just the otherside of the Thames from Chelsea, Kensington, and Belgravia, are some of the most sought after homes in the capital.

Small, brick built, unilke our superior stone built terraced housing, two up, two down, small back yards, with doors opening straight on to the pavement.

Wandsworth council had the vision not to demolish these former workers' terraced houses.

People aspire to live in them.

As long as they have a million quid, with which to buy one.

[garinda]

I've lived in old, new, houses of every sort, and flats.

My preference now is to live in a traditional terraced house.

I've never been happier, than living in my home now.

[garinda]

Everyone does have their own preferences, but quite frankly I'd rather live in a cardboard box, or at least be paid, than live in some modern Brookside Close type house.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by garinda

Don't ever move to Chelsea, Kensington, or Belgravia...from the sounds of it, you'd hate it.

You know where I live and I love houses terraced houses like mine.