No case for hotel conversion plan

1:03pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in Letters

John Harper’s magnificent St Leonard’s Crescent is unique in York. The only way to “show proper respect for the architecture” (The Press, June 15) is to return it to its original purpose as housing.

The idea that this building might be transformed into a hotel without destroying its essential character is a vain hope. When a councillor expresses such a hope rather than appropriate determination, we see clearly what reliance we may place on our elected members.

Harper, like Brierley and Atkinson, provided some of the most splendid features of York. We should treasure them. There is often a case for conversion when a building has outlived its original purpose. Brierley’s delightful Acomb School is an example. This is not the case here.

William Dixon Smith, Welland Rise. Acomb, York.

Comments(14)

bolero says...
2:31pm Sat 23 Jun 12

The Cedar Court Hotel in Station Rise is a perfect example of how an older building can be sympathetically altered in such a way that its original architecture and interior can be retained 100%. If you have not taken the opportunity of viewing this magnificent edifice then you have certainly missed out and perhaps would be more guarded in your comments. I am not sure that the intention to turn St.Leonards crescent into a hotel is the best idea must admit that anything would be better than the present crumbling mess of a building which has disgracefully been allowed to deteriorate over the years by successive councils.

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Mr Trellis says...
2:51pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Correct Mr Dixon Smith - However CYC policies would make it cost prohibitive to convert to housing (see Laverack letter). What should be a hotel are the offices being vacated by CYC in Swinegate h hopefully such a development would inject some activity in an area that has been overshadowed by the dead hand of CYC for too long. However CYC don't own that property. So the answer is the hotel will be pushed through because it is the best source of revenue for CYC and its employees

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joshe says...
4:55pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Don't care what they do with it. The present building is a disgrace to the City. It's a dump.

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sperare e coraggio says...
5:02pm Sat 23 Jun 12

The St.Leonard' Place offices are no longer owned by the council. They sold them and are paying rent to the new owners. More precisely we taxpayers are paying rent. The future use of the building is up to the new owners (subject to planning permission). Hotel use is appropriate and should be approved but it would have been so much better to restore the terrace into residential use. That would have to be apartments because the original rear gardens have gone and large family town houses complete with servants' quarters would no longer fit in with modern requirements.
The council as previous freehold owners could have ensured the building was converted to residential use before putting it on the market but that would have required a level of intelligence and forward thinking that is sadly lacking in local government. So unless the hotel proposal falls through and the council relaxes its prohibitive affordable housing rules there is little prospect of this once fine terrace again being a place people call "home". Except for students of course. No affordable requirement on student accommodation. Just think of the student parties that could occur in that location! You wouldn't want to live next door to it.

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Jezreel says...
7:38pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Residential use would certainly be the preferred option, but these houses belong to an earlier age. Would we find buyers who would want to live in what is probably Yorks noisiest and most polluted street? It's not just the diesel fumes from the buses which pass within six feet of the windows every few minutes, but the revellers who will be outside serenading the occupants till 5am in the morning from thursday until sunday. No front garden, no back garden and no parking.
A pity, but I think a hotel is the best we can hope for

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bolero says...
8:38pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Jezreel wrote:
Residential use would certainly be the preferred option, but these houses belong to an earlier age. Would we find buyers who would want to live in what is probably Yorks noisiest and most polluted street? It's not just the diesel fumes from the buses which pass within six feet of the windows every few minutes, but the revellers who will be outside serenading the occupants till 5am in the morning from thursday until sunday. No front garden, no back garden and no parking.
A pity, but I think a hotel is the best we can hope for
I believe that these reasons demonstrate quite clearly why the building should not even be considered for housing. However, would not the identical same reasons apply in respect of a hotel? I have no idea to what use it could be put but obviously some very careful and thoughtful planning needs to be employed regarding it's future use.

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mickrick says...
10:13pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Parking is the big issue here . There isnt any, which makes the Hotel option a bit dodgy.
It would have been even more dodgy if our revered leader JA had his way and sold off Union Terrace. I mean where is forward thinking here ? There isnt any. Its make it up as you go along.
The way this council performs is more like a Fred Karnos Circus. Jumping through hoops and performing as clowns.

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Zetkin says...
1:44am Sun 24 Jun 12

Yes, Mr Smith, if I had £2 million burning a hole in my back pocket, the first place I'd look for a family home would be noisy, smelly St Leonard's Place. The bus stops would clinch the deal since there'd be nowhere to park the Roller.

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Jezreel says...
8:57am Sun 24 Jun 12

Mickrick and M. Laverack's (sperare e corregio) obsession with the Council contributes nothing to the debate. It's childish, please stop it.
The Dean Court has a problem with lack of parking as do several other hotels in York. It's a difficulty, but not everyone comes to York by car. In London it is almost impossible to get an affordable hotel with adequate parking but they manage. The noise problem can be alleviated by having public rooms, bars, reception etc, facing the street and bedrooms on the upper floors and at the rear. Triple glazing is very effective. None of this is ideal but these solutions can work for hotels.

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mickrick says...
5:25pm Sun 24 Jun 12

Am I on your hate list now?
Israelis
Royal Family
Mathew Laverack
or anything that makes sense

Just curious

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Mentos says...
10:09pm Sun 24 Jun 12

All valid points: no parking, noise outside the windows etc.

A homeless hostel I think

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mickrick says...
8:23am Mon 25 Jun 12

Yes a homeless hostel so that the council can count all the beds and include them in the runaway success of ~

"AFFORDABLE HOUSING"

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Mr Crabtree says...
12:56pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Jezreel wrote, " Mickrick and M. Laverack's (sperare e corregio) obsession with the Council contributes nothing to the debate. It's childish, please stop it."

Is it because Jezreel is an ex-Labour councillor, that she makes this ridiculous allegation ? There is nothing childish about attacking a council that is making so many mistakes, and exposing the spin and half-truths peddled by it's dishonest, ideologically driven left-wingers. They cannot be trusted and Liz Edge should stop attacking those who make valid substantiated criticism of this ragtag band of bullying liars !

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Jezreel says...
7:04pm Tue 26 Jun 12

I've been rumbled. It's a fair cop guv.
I suppose the fact that I'd rather drink poison than vote labour won't help?
Edgy Liz

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