Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

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SW12Pops
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Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby SW12Pops » Mon May 14, 2018 10:45 am

For my day job I have an alert set up for various bits of property news.

Who knew that NIne Elms was called 'Mini Manhattan".

I don't mean to be rude but it's fascinating to see how our area it sold to overseas investors!

http://www.scmp.com/presented/business/ ... ersea-bold
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Denwand
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby Denwand » Tue May 15, 2018 8:23 am

Mini-Manhattan?

I suppose that's some sort of shorthand for "soulless, empty, windblown desert of a place with anonymous plateglass mega-buildings" :shock:

If anyone takes a walk around the developments by Wandsworth Bridge (especially "Battersea Reach" they will know what I mean.

Empty of human life, little to break the monotony of flat-entrances, well clipped sterile lawn areas that nobody walks on, no kids playing or giggling around, few if any shops, vast plateglass walls showing closed curtains, verandas that show the standard table and two chairs that never are moved but stand in uniform positions outside flat after flat as the eye climbs up the cliff face of each aspect.

Do human beings live there? Apparently not. They may own properties that cost them ££££ but they rarely seem to live there with entrances controlled by bored concierges, windows and verandas triple-locked, curtains closed and apartments hermetically sealed against the outside world - you couldn't design a more alienating,depression inducing environment, it seems custom built to engender despair and dark thoughts of ending it all,

Horrible!

They might as well lift these developments and place them on the Moon , so much are they a part of their environment!

I remember when Chelsea Harbour was developed 35 years ago. Architects drawings showed people walking, chatting, kids playing, dogs sniffing, pedestrians enjoying the harbour. That was how it was originally planned and several fantastic restaurant were opened attracting crowds of people from outside.

Then the owners complained about the noise and the traffic (and no doubt Hoi Polloi that strolled about there)...barriers went up...through traffic restricted to owners and taxis...even if they did get in cars could only park in exorbitantly expensive car parks.

Result? People stopped coming, restaurants failed and closed and the place now resembles the no-mans land between North and South Korea...

...but the owners got their peace and quite and exclusivity, shame they didn't build a ten meter razor-wired wall to complete their gated and sterile environment...I'm sure they are tempted! :D

You can tell I'm impressed with these soulless developments!

What are they doing to London?

These spaces should be integrated and lively, pedestrians and visitors should be encouraged, variety and diversity should be "planned in", super-rich ghettos should be avoided at all costs!

Really ... I sound like Wolfie Smith :D
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Star
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby Star » Tue May 15, 2018 9:31 am

So depressing. Where is the affordable housing for our vital key workers? This is how my sister bought her flat in North Kensington a few years after training as a science teacher in the early 2000s and she continues to teach in the area. I don't think there's any available any more. This state of affairs is so very damaging to London and people need to realize.
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dequacivis
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby dequacivis » Tue May 15, 2018 9:53 am

The Situation is WORSE than you imagine

The Over-development has been ruthlessly pursued by Wandsworth for extra funds, irrespective of what it does to the Borough - People are unaware ... but need to be!!!

Have a look at the attached - THIS IS BUT FRACTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
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Towers2.JPG
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SW12Pops
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby SW12Pops » Tue May 15, 2018 1:26 pm

Looks like there are now TWO mini Manhattans in London!

https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/prop ... 20421.html
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https://roundhousedesign.com/
https://www.create-spaces.co.uk/
https://speakingofinteriors.com/
https://londondoor.co.uk
https://www.hurlinghamdevelopments.co.uk/
http://www.emmagreendesign.com/
https://www.paintthetowngreen.biz/
https://primesteam.co.uk/
https://kitchenrevolutions.co.uk/
https://maroconstruction.co.uk/
Star
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby Star » Wed May 16, 2018 1:17 pm

There are more than 2!! There is a Mini Manhattan near Westfield too and I'm sure many others around the city
How they are marketed to overseas buyers :(
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Denwand
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Re: Nine Elms called Mini Manhattan???

Postby Denwand » Thu May 17, 2018 7:47 am

Ha!

The photograph of the balcony in the website you linked us to SW12pops sums it all up to me.

A sterile space devoid of humanity

Grey furniture in a grey environment placed in millimetric precision, two sparkling coffee cups sit untouched by human lips on the table . A Fire-pit stands in virgin uselessness, it's (plastic?) logs pristine in their mockery that they are warm and inviting.

Where are the occupants?

Out of shot dangling from a noose, having deciding to end their clinical and meaningless existence?

Maybe the thought of another Hermes bag or a new Lexus convertible failed to excite their arid souls?

Is this the future - or worse - is this something to aspire to? A set piece and uncomfortable un-cosy place where you daren't even sit for fear of ruining the symmetry . Where your "home" (or living-module" dictates and makes you a slave to it's pristineness?

...and this photo is meant to attract you in?

Ghastly vision of the future!

Image
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