East Enders want a plan for old RAH site
Residents and traders in Adelaide’s East End are worried the looming exit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) will have a tumbleweeds effect.
The new RAH is scheduled to open in two years – but just what happens to the old site remains unclear.
“We wish for no discontinuity, no decay, and no dereliction to occur,” the East End Coordination Group said after its recent annual general meeting.
“We wish for continuity of business, the most appropriate involving hospital, university and perhaps high-end hotel and street market activities.”
And the group does have some ideas of its own: residential apartments; a small hotel; a tram loop around North Terrace, Hackney Road and O’Connell Street; more public spaces, and a private hospital to use current facilities worth keeping.
A spokeswoman for the group of residents, businesses and City Council members said they were concerned that closure of the original hospital site without any activity would have far-reaching negative consequences.
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The group said it expected some disruption, but concerns remain that there has been little planning for life after the RAH.
“It is unreasonable to expect that some demolition and subsequent building will not cause disruption for a period of time, and it is during this time that ingenuity and marketing will sustain the village until completion of the various projects.
“The key will be to begin the creativity and planning for this phase well ahead so that the execution becomes a matter of fact.
“The only definite plan for the site at this stage is for a new secondary school with continuance of a few of the current activities but not the medical school, which will also have to relocate.”
As well as expressing its concerns, the group listed ideas that it said would be a catalyst for community consideration.
They included:
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1. A private hospital or hospitals to immediately take over some of the original Royal Adelaide Hospital with its already functioning world-class facilities.
2. Increased university involvement, including expansion of biomedical research facilities.
3. A boutique hotel in sympathy with the current heritage building’s 80-100 rooms.
4. Removal of all buildings which have no architectural merit.
5. Return of some of the site to the Botanic Gardens – eg fingers of garden through the site, along North Terrace, through the middle of the site, and the current extension already in place linking Frome Road and the Botanic Gardens.
6. Forgoing the current idea of a school at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and placing it on the Women’s and Children’s site, as the hospital there is relocated to the new RAH position.
7. A tramline loop proceeding east down North Terrace, skirting the Parklands along Hackney Road, entering O’Connell Street and then back to North Terrace.
8. A complete upgrade of North Terrace to East Terrace.
9. Integrating the Wine Centre and the Botanic Gardens restaurant into an upgraded food and wine complex with involvement of the hotel and food school for the last two years of training. Developing a high-grade food and wine hub which involves the best of South Australian wine, cuisine and education, following but extending the philosophy of Eataly in New York.
10. Development of some of the site for residential purposes.
11. Development of an all-weather plaza close to North Terrace which can be used for events, markets, performances, etc.
The East End Coordination Group said it welcomes feedback and further suggestions.
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