New building is ‘too high a price’ (From York Press)
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New building is ‘too high a price’
11:40am Thursday 4th October 2012 in Letters By Readers' letters
THERE seems to be no reaction to the proposal to plonk an industrial building right next to the ancient Black Swan and St Anthony’s Hall that will be a true rival to Stonebow House.
All three are listed but, surely, the latter was as a warning.
That Hiscox are coming to York is wonderful and to be welcomed by all, but I must question the wisdom of placing such a modern angular building right alongside two of York’s most important, ancient and beautiful buildings.
The builders of King’s Pool managed to produce a very sympathetic design for this important quarter. How is it that the horror of the defunct council’s pretend parliament building proposal is to be again visited on us? At least the architect designing that had the grace to place a row of trees in front of it.
All we ask is for something that will blend in with its surroundings.
Maybe we should give in and, scrap the Black Swan and St Anthony’s Hall and set up a fast-food joint and a DIY shed.
JA Whitmore, Springfield Road, York.
• I REALISE York needs to encourage new businesses into the city, but the monstrosity planned to blight Hungate (the proposed Hiscox headquarters) is a price too high to pay.
Are Hiscox just laughing at us because we appear so desperate? Surely this building is a joke?
We may have to bargain over this, but some things are too precious to risk, such as beautiful York.
Beth Izak, Finsbury Street, South Bank, York.
• THE new Hiscox development, with the prospect of up to 600 new jobs, is great news.
Positive gains like this help to counteract the slow drip of job losses elsewhere.
If the occupancy rate of current hotel and B&B sites in York was a healthy 90 per cent, the extra 262 new Hungate hotel rooms would be readily absorbed and bring competition into the industry.
Unfortunately, this is not the case, and the end result will be that the total count of empty bedrooms will increase by this figure.
Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.
Comments(6)
Zetkin
says...
12:25pm Thu 4 Oct 12
That could only come from the mouth of someone who already has a well-paid secure job.
Those of us who expect to lose our job, have no job, or are struggling to get by on the minimum wage (or less) aren't quite as picky about the architectural merits of the buildings that house the better-paid, secure jobs we fantasise about getting.
By all means campaign hard for a design that fits better with your image of what York should be, but don't imagine that everyone in the city has the luxury of putting aesthetics ahead of providing food and shelter for their families.
PinzaC55
says...
2:05pm Thu 4 Oct 12
I've a feeling that COYC will jump through hoops in order to get this building sorted regardless of what it looks like or any protests. And that will be it for the next 50 years, sadly.
Jezreel
says...
2:11pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Nothing has been built yet. Let's hope that the company can be persuaded that an attractive building will enhance its image and help business
Friedrich Hayek
says...
6:08pm Thu 4 Oct 12
Sure, it's kind of ugly, but I've banged far worse.
Magicman!
says...
3:48am Tue 9 Oct 12
meme says...
12:07pm Thu 4 Oct 12
I agree it looks grim and a decent architect could come up with something lighter that sets off the Black Swan rather than dominates it
it does not need to be smaller but more striking so the pair compliment rather than jar with each other
If you go to new york there are huge buildings next to the few historic buidings they have and the judicial use of reflective glass works a treat despite their size