What's Behind the Façade ?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
December 27, 2016 3:33pm CST
Our son lives in Melbourne, Australia, and we visited him over Christmas. He lives in Collingwood, which is close enough to the Central Business District to be what they call inner-city living. It was once a run-down slum area and our son's tiny rented house is run-down and slummy but now the warehouses are being turned into trendy apartments, slummy houses are being bulldozed and high-rise apartments erected on the same tiny areas and the graffiti is now 'street art'.
The authorities are keen to preserve the 'character' of the place but of course, with more and more high-rise buildings and 'cleaning up' of the area so the character diminishes. In places the facades of buildings have been kept. The photo shows one façade that has been retained. It is in the main street of the area but behind the attractive wall is parking for cars.
20 people like this
20 responses
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Dec 16
Love to see that Woolworth's is still alive and well in Australia. I used to love that store when I was a child, but all the Woolworth's in the US are now closed. Also, my city is seeing a lot of inner city redevelopment, and they are also trying to preserve the historic buildings to preserve the character of the area.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Jan 17
@JudyEv Rents here in our downtown area are starting to skyrocket now that there has been a lot of redevelopment activity. The wealthy who decades ago had fled for the suburbs are now flocking back to the city in droves. It is very interesting to see the transformation happen right before my eyes!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan 17
@moffittjc Yes, it would be. Parking is now very difficult in our son's street although most of the warehouse developments have parking on site.
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@teamfreak16 (43573)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Dec 16
So I take it the building used to be a Woolworths? I haven't seen a Woolworths since the 80's.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43573)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Dec 16
@JudyEv - We had a big one in downtown Colorado Springs in the 80's. They tore it down and put a bank and a fondue restaurant there.
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
28 Dec 16
It's been a while since we drove through that area.. I would love to see those street arts..
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Dec 16
It's good they are doing something with the rundown buildings in the area.
Love the picture. Is the building occupied or empty? You said there were cars behind the facade - upper or the entire building? I haven't seen a Woolworth's sign in many years.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Dec 16
So they pretty mus demolish a vintage building but keep part of it for a facade?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Dec 16
It's a catch 22 in a way. The more development the less the character.
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
28 Dec 16
I like how it looks. Good to know that they still retain that look despite all the contemporary building designs that seem to be the trend in the cities these days.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97957)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Dec 16
That is interesting. I think it looks good. I just noticed that under that is Woolworth I haven't been in or seen a Woolworths in ages. I had thought they were out of business.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Dec 16
The trouble is the developers all want to build high-rise apartments which then destroys the 'character' that the yuppies are so desperately seeking.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Dec 16
Gentrification of the inner cities seems to be happening everywhere. Nice photo!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
28 Dec 16
We have a lot of re gentrification going on here, too. Our little Florida city is becoming a hot spot with new buildings, shops, and restaurants. I'm sure everything goes full circle. I haven't seen a Woolworth's in ages! Oh, the memories it brings back of my youth!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
27 Dec 16
I am more concerned with the character of the jungles that are pulled down to make way for concrete jungles
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
28 Dec 16
That seems rather odd to me but it is a pretty facade.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
28 Dec 16
somewhat amusing when you can see sky through the facade though lol
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
27 Dec 16
I've seen some creative use of old defunct business location. Some are really nicely done. Others, you scratch your head and question, why?
