Towering apartments to rise above historic North Adelaide cinema
An Art Deco cinema plagued by flooding is set to become a double feature as its owner unveils development plans for a high-rise tower. See the pics.
New plans reveal a 16-storey residential development to be built on top of the historic Piccadilly Cinema in North Adelaide, with much of the cinema building to be demolished in the process.
Unveiled today by SA-based cinema business Wallis Entertainment and Premier Peter Malinauskas, the major development includes a rebuild of The Piccadilly alongside the new tower on O’Connell Street. Its facade will be retained and significant heritage components inside will be repurposed.
The Premier praised the plan saying Adelaide was “growing up and out” and “we need to be prepared to do things differently to get [homes] built”.
“Eighty Eight O’Connell, and now The Piccadilly redevelopment, show what can happen when you get investment moving and give a precinct a future,” Malinauskas said.
New plans for the site come after The Piccadilly has been beset with structural problems, and in July, flooding caused $ 5,000 to $10,000 in damage – leading to the postponement of the state Liberal Party’s AGM.
The new development plan would see the cinema’s existing spiral staircase along with some of its Art Deco interiors retained.
And the modern apartment tower would rise on top of the existing site – the latest high-rise to shake up North Adelaide following last year’s opening of Eighty Eight O’Connell on the long vacant former Le Cornu site.
You might like
Wallis Entertainment director Deanna Flynn Wallis said the cinema “holds a special place in the hearts of so many South Australians” and they were voluntarily undertaking community consultation over the plan starting tomorrow. This would be conducted before a final plan went through the normal assessment process.
“From the very beginning, our focus has been on protecting that legacy while helping secure the cinema’s future for generations to come,” she said.
“This is not about replacing what makes The Piccadilly special. It is about restoring and celebrating those elements, while creating a sustainable future for the cinema.”
As part of the development, Cinema One – the upstairs cinema – will be “replicated and reinstalled”, according to Wallis.
Beloved features like the staircase, the mezzanine level and stained glass windows will be retained.
The Piccadilly also recently underwent a significant upgrade, including boutique luxury cinemas downstairs and a new front bar but Wallis said these would be now also be rebuilt in the new project.
Stay informed, daily
Today, Wallis said, “Historic entertainment venues face ongoing challenges, and this approval allows us to invest thoughtfully in The Piccadilly’s long-term future while respecting and celebrating its distinctive Art Deco heritage character and cultural significance”.
“This project is about ensuring people can continue to enjoy films, events and shared experiences at The Piccadilly for decades to come,” she said.
“The cinema will remain at the heart of the site, with the development designed to support its ongoing operation and contribution to the cultural life of the precinct.
“We’re proud to be investing in the future of this remarkable cinema while respecting the heritage and character that make it so special.”
Half-billion-dollar developer fund opens for applications
The state government today announced its $500 million pre-sale guarantees fund to support off-the-plan apartment developments was now open for applications.
The Premier said the fund – a Labor election commitment – would have an expanded scope to enable faster construction.
The fund was originally slated to target shovel-ready developments only within the Adelaide CBD. Now, the fund can be accessed for developments in North Adelaide and the Port Road precinct in Adelaide’s inner west.
Yesterday, the state government announced it would open consultation on increasing height limits for a section of Hindmarsh to enable developments of up to 20 storeys.
Building heights across this area are currently capped at either two or three storeys.
Applications for the Fast-Track Fund will be assessed on the merits of each project, the government said.
“After feedback from the industry, including the Property Council, the program will now give priority to projects in key strategic areas including the Adelaide CBD, North Adelaide and the Port Road precinct,” Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said.
“This expansion provides an opportunity to strategically increase the development pipeline for support, getting projects off the ground quickly by ensuring developers can meet lender pre-sale requirements, secure construction finance sooner and get more apartments underway faster.”
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
