Does Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s silence on this famous yet dilapidated building that’s a blight on the inner Valley indicate he’s given up on trying to force the owners to bring it up to standard?
That’s one possible explanation as to why he has apparently refused to answer questions from this newspaper about what steps council is taking to make the owners repair a litany of visible defects on all visible frontages.
Several years ago, this newspaper congratulated the Lord Mayor for forcing the owners to spend at least some time and money giving the building’s Brunswick Street frontage a lick of paint and tidying up some of more visible defects such as outdated signage.
By issuing a show-cause notice to the owners that listed some 65 defects, Cr Quirk got action where some other politicians had expended hot air and achieved nothing for a long time. We praised him at the time for that, and reinforced that message in a preamble to our questions. They were:1. Do you share this paper’s view that Walton’s remains an eyesore and a blight on inner Fortitude Valley?
2. What is your latest estimate of how many of the visual defects of Walton’s still need to be remedied?
3. Is any new action planned to force Walton’s owners to bring the building up to a suitable standard?
4. Indeed, are there any plans for Walton’s redevelopment? Maybe through a forced sale of the building?
Online searches reveal that the 4000 sq/m site was listed on realcommercial.com.au back in January for sale or possible development as a joint venture, in an area zoned for projects up to 30 storeys.
The Independent understands one architectural firm has mooted development plans for the site that would include an underground council bus interchange under a high-rise commercial or residential project.
Editor’s note: The Independent is hoping the Lord Mayor’s silence on this issue, as well as our request for a CityCycle update, has nothing to do with our campaign against Team Quirk’s disgraceful use of the city council cleat for political use. But if it is, we’ll wear that rebuke as a badge of pride.
