I remember the start of the re-development at Brunswick/Coburg docks. whilst i have little objection to the regeneration of our fair city, i have the following issues...
1. There are far too many apartments in the docklands/city center areas already
2. the current developments mainly take no account of the heritage and appearance of the old docks and as such are an eyesore...what the deuce are the apartments next to the cockle hole near Brunswick all about? And don't even get me started on the white apartments next to the Albert Dock!
3. The quality of build and finish of the current developments (since the early 90's) is, quite frankly, rubbish and i would think that, especially around Brunswick dock with particularly salt and moisture rich air, re-re-development will be required within 20 years.
4. Brunswick/Coburg/Waterloo and Wapping docks used to be great places to live. I lived in Coburg Wharf 15 years ago but moved when developers got hold of the land on either side of Brunswick, along the river front and adjacent to the cockle hole.
The same is the case when i lived in Waterloo Warehouse.
It's already too crowded simply because developers have seen the potential of selling 'a waterside lifestyle'.
Whilst this is fine from a business perspective, Take a look at the docklands developments in The Isle of Dogs area of London...urban regeneration and abject poverty side-by-side...not a good combination.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that people on the other side of Sefton Street live in poverty but there is definitely a divide.
Regrowth is great, forgetting history and leaving people behind is not so.
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I left Liverpool 10 years ago, i visit from time to time and whilst i look at the recent growth with admiration, I'm left feeling slightly sad when i look around and see that lots of the areas and buildings which made Liverpool the city it is are fast dissapearing and the areas that really need attention are being left until last and possibly until it's too late.
There is far worse in our society today than a lack of trendy living spaces in clique areas with bars, restaurants and gyms on every corner.
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