John Lewis

[Jeffrey Shaw]

SCC are trying to have it delisted!

See BBC News item today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62574310

[ECCOnoob]

23 minutes ago, Jeffrey Shaw said:

SCC are trying to have it delisted!

See BBC News item today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62574310

I don't often sing praises about the council but this is something I can certainly get behind.

 

Compared to some of the things that have been listed -  I really don't get the significance of the old John Lewis building. What is so vital in preserving its heritage?  It looks exactly the same as many other buildings built in the same era, exactly the same format as many other department stores thrown together in the same period.  Just in Sheffield alone, you could line-up the old Schofields/Cockaynes building, Roberts Brothers building, Walsh's building and Cole Brothers buildings together, take the branding off and they all have similarities. Multiply that by the dozens and dozens of similar stores built in cities up and down the land there are plenty of examples already preserved.

 

I am no architect but they were almost carbon copies.  Some sort of formed concrete shell with either glass or tiling decor, big glass windows at the front, smaller less glamorous entrance at the back with or without service yard/car park, some sort of central atrium with the escalators, lifts at the back, stairs to the side, perfume and fancy stuff on the ground floor, mens shoved in the basement, ladies on the first floor, homeware and cafes on the second floor or above.

 

We are a provincial city, ten penny to many others. The building is hardly Selfridges or Macys.

 

Given the company who built and occupied it certainly stopped giving a toss about it's 'legacy' and 'heritage' once the tills stopped ringing,I don't understand why anyone else should

Edited August 17, 2022 by ECCOnoob

[HeHasRisen]

9 minutes ago, Jeffrey Shaw said:

SCC are trying to have it delisted!

See BBC News item today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62574310

Good for them.

[prince al]

Which clown got it listed?

[HeHasRisen]

Far better than it standing empty because nobody wants to touch it because its a listed building. Be careful what you wish for.

[Thorpist]

Realistically department stores are dead or at least on their last legs.

Large supermarkets are slowly dwindling as online takes over all retail outlets.

The rise in the quick delivery as competition for small shops is eating into the corner shop trade, newsagents/tobacconists  are a dinosaurs who are fading into history. Record and bookshops are hard to find which leaves us with empty city centres.

Would it not be better to use City centres for accommodation and entertainment provision incorporating social areas like community gardens skate parks etc.

The only retail outlets that seem to be prospering are garden centres and even these are becoming destinations sites where people go for a stroll have a coffee/dine or maybe take kids to play areas.

 

[Planner1]

15 hours ago, prince al said:

Which clown got it listed?

As I understand it, Historic England themselves conducted a review of department store buildings of this period to decide whether any merited listing.

 

The 20th Century Society had been campaigning for many years to have this one listed.

[Mr Bloke]

Hmmm...

OK, here's a bit of an 'off the wall' idea.

We're always complaining how rubbish Sheffield is, and that we don't have anything 'different' that anyone would want to see.

Well instead of squabbling about wanting the building knocked down, to no doubt be replaced by yet another anonymous office block like any other office block in any other city...
... why aren't we taking advantage of this unique opportunity?

While other cities are pulling down their bits of history, why don't we, just for once, take the iniative and NOT follow others?

I'm sure there are loads of people with loads of imaginative ideas of what uses the building could have.

Yep! It'll not be a 'quick fix' to 'renovate' the building and it'll cost lots of money...
... but it could also be an investment and something that may benefit Sheffield for 'generations'.

If it's possible to get some 'investors' to build an office block, why wouldn't it be possible to get backers to invest in a totally unique project?

More importantly, it'll take someone with a bit of courage and vision to pop their head above the trenches and support a well thought through idea...
... but that's not going to be the easy option, and is going to involve a lot of hard work and guts.

It needs to be lead by someone who has imagination, leadership skills and drive!

And that's where this idea falls down - where in SCC is there such an individual?

[HeHasRisen]

If nobody wants to invest in a run down listed building full of asbestos, thats hardly the fault of the local authority isnt it? And the minute the local authority spend the money to do so, people would be straight on here to moan what a waste of money it is, so they cant really win.  Think calling it a "historic" building is a bit of a stretch too tbh.

 

They have been very clear that all potential plans involve the building coming down (or most of it far beyond what the listing allows), you cant polish a turd, whoever listed it is an irresponsible moron.

Edited August 18, 2022 by HeHasRisen

[HeHasRisen]

7 minutes ago, Mr Bloke said:

 

While other cities are pulling down their bits of history

 

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-house-fraser-store-set-24262259

 

Only 5 objections for a department store that has stood since the 1950s on the major shopping street in Leeds. Much more sensible.

Edited August 18, 2022 by HeHasRisen