Stroud Green Beautification

[Deleted User] · September 2011

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Mirandola · September 2011

Special bike racks for SG would be great, but it's always riskier and takes more resource to go for something new. The PlantLock works, and we could use our collective ingenuity elsewhere. Setting up a traditional tearoom where Soba/Yemek is, for example.

@Misscara - thanks for the news about the Pymmes Brook Trail. Must check it out.

[Deleted User] · September 2011

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ADGS · September 2011

Not strictly the right area, but prior discussion of original street frontages makes me think this is the place for it:
I notice the TBird has changed their sign for a new, very generic one. Now, I always understood that the old, shop-style sign was listed, which was why they retained it in spite of it making the place look nothing like a pub. Was this simply an urban myth? If not, can the wrath of planning gods be unleashed upon them?

Arkady · September 2011

Terrible news. The currently charting Ed Sheeran used to live above there and play at the open-mic most weeks. This recent publicity shot of him may be one of the last pictures of the old sign: <http://londonist.com/2011/09/listen-up-interview-ed-sheeran.php>;

Ian · September 2011

@ADGS I doubt it was listed as I think they only put it up in about 1998 when the place was opened.

ADGS · September 2011

Really? Then it seems I have been told (and retelling) a somewhat dubious account of the place's history. Ooops.

Arkady · September 2011

I'm hoping to do some work on this tonight. Busy busy at the moment. I have a best man's speech to write too.

[Deleted User] · September 2011

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Arkady · September 2011

I have approached Hornsey Historical Society about recruiting John Hinshelwood to our prospective first meeting. I'm hoping to persuade him to give an abbreviated version of his history of Stroud Green talk – with slides – focussing on the urban development of the area. Perhaps he'd sell a few books too. It had occured to me to also invite an advisor from a Hornsey Architectural Mouldings on Tottenham Lane to give some professional advice concerning restoration. We might learn something, and they might be lurred by the prosect of future business. I've contemplated contacting the Victorian Society, who might be able to advice us on tactics. Obviously we should ask the conservation officers from Haringey and Islington. Any other candidates for an invite?

Arkady · September 2011

OK, here's the proposed mission statement. Everything including the name is up for debate. Anything obviously need amending, removing or adding? THE STROUD GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY 1) The Stroud Green Preservation Society (hereafter SGPS) holds the following to be true: a) That Stroud Green (hereafter SG) is an attractive north London suburb characterised by varied Victorian architecture. b) That SG would benefit from an organisation dedicated to the preservation, restoration and beautification of its urban environment. 2) SGPS Policies: a) That the Haringey and Islington Stroud Green Conservation Areas, and that of Tollington Park, should be better co-ordinated and enforced. They should also be expanded to encompass those Victorian buildings on Stroud Green Road and neighbouring streets not currently covered by those conservation areas. b) That funding and volunteers should be sought, and landlords and councillors engaged, for the purpose of preserving, repairing and restoring SG's Victorian and Georgian architecture. Projects to include: i) repair and repainting of plaster moldings and other traditional features ii) restoration of traditional shop-front uniformity c) That SG's streetscape should be improved, for instance by: i) removing unnecessary street clutter, while seeking new sites for cycle racks ii) ensuring that appropriate and attractive streetlamps and other necessary features are selected by councils iii) re-planting suitable London planes in unused tree-pits, and seeking other appropriate sites for planting. d) That proposals should be developed and implemented for a public square on Stroud Green Road to replace the current utility road (Charter Court) and plantings currently bounded by Stroud Green Road, Osborne Road, Upper Tollington Park Road and the neighbouring post-war building. e) That low-quality or inappropriate new developments should be resisted in those areas where Victorian buildings are predominant. f) That current low quality, underdeveloped post-war structures should be advocated as candidates for redevelopment. Too much? Too little? Pointless ramblings? All of the above? I'm going to bed. Arky

krappyrubsnif · September 2011

Brill

Mirandola · September 2011

@Arkady,

Very many thanks for all of this. My worry is that we talk about resisting 'bad' development, but don't say anything about encouraging 'good' building. In an area with brownfield sites and a housing shortage, that could be problematic.

I hate using quotation marks when not quoting, but couldn't think of a better way of signalling that people don't agree on what counts as good and bad - my favorite London building is the Brunswick centre, but others would demolish it.

Arkady · September 2011

@Mirandola: Point taken. I could remove the last two points altogether if that’s the general feeling – perhaps it could be discussed at the meeting. As you know, I am not opposed to new development – very keen on John Jones etc. My personal ‘policy’ would be: a) Brownfield sites that are not dominated by architecture of a particular period or style are perfect candidates for modern developments, as long as they are respectful of scale. Sometimes a bold contrast works, a other times developments can benefit from referring to their surroundings with colour and materials. Much of this is subjective of course. b) Where architecture of a particular style and/or period predominates then new or redevelopments should match that style to maintain uniformity of the streetscape. This is the policy in the centre of Bath, which gets prettier by the year.

ChangN4N6 · September 2011

This is all excellent. Count me in.

nick_m · September 2011

Arkady - i think policy points a-d are excellent. Pointed and specific; something concrete to work towards. Although I think agree with what you are saying, I think e & f are a bit vague and could be received by the council (and others) as potentially obstructive to almost any development. This might not help the concept being accepted. But, as you say, these points can be honed during later meetings. As much as I admire the architectural legacy in SG, I think we've some way to go to get it considered in the same bracket with Bath! I think this is great stuff; the type of civic initiative possibly all too lacking in London these days.

Arkady · September 2011

Cheers. Though perhaps working in concrete is something we should be opposed to! :-) I agree that we should discuss whether to refine or remove e)-f). I am very much pro-development and have strong views on what sort of development is appropriate in different places, but I’m aware that unless carefully handled they might become divisive points. Still waiting to hear from HHS. If anybody happens to make it to the talk at SG Library on Saturday perhaps they could raise the prospect then, and take some contact details.

krappyrubsnif · September 2011

I have not been very impressed with HHS over several attempts to make contact in the past - they are very good at churning out historical research but otherwise don't seem to be much with-it. They have probably only just discovered the telephone - probably don't read their emails.

Mirandola · September 2011

This is interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2005/apr/20/communities.guardiansocietysupplement

Mirandola · September 2011

In a similar vein:

Do you have an idea on how to improve your neighbourhood or your local services? Do you want to win the chance of getting people to turn your idea into reality?

We’re organising a competition to stimulate collaboration between public services, entrepreneurs and communities to develop innovative ways of using technology to improve your neighbourhoods…and we need your ideas! Click on "Post a Solution" to post your idea!

Cross-posted from haringey online.

https://dotgovlabs.direct.gov.uk/Page/ViewSector?sectorid=3352&;

andy · September 2011

Like a community website or something like that?

Mirandola · September 2011

Quite. It could, perhaps, fund the making of a smartphone app for a community website.

SBW · October 2011

Is it my imagination or has the building above K1 been given a new day glo paint job? I had to shield my eyes when I walked past it yesterday afternoon, but it might have just been the light. It's an underrated landmark imo - I aways use it to give directions to people: "If you go past the most lurid buildng in London, you've gone too far"

Arkady · October 2011

Yes it has, and they’ve done an excellent job. Even the window frames are different colours! I also noticed that the scaffolding is going up at the World’s End, presumably for the much–delayed fourth floor project. Sorry to have been a bit quiet about the SGPS project; it’s been a crazy couple of weeks. Also I’m yet to hear back from HHS. If necessary I will go down there myself at the weekend. It occurred to me to approach Paks, whose frontages so dominate lower Stroud Green Road. If they could be persuaded to get on board and paint & repair the plaster mouldings between their buildings it would set a good example that could be used to persuade other businesses. I don’t suppose anyone has contacts at Paks, or knows which of their many premises is the right one to go and ask in?

Thomas · October 2011

I think someone from Paks posted on here a month or so ago? - something to do with the Finsbury Park Business Forum / Association.

Arkady · October 2011

Thanks, now I know to ask for a gentlman called Peter. Incidentally, Peter was trying to set up a trading association alligned with finfuture. this took me to the Finfuture website, which appears to have been hacked by douchebags: <http://www.finfuture.co.uk/about_us.php>;

SBW · October 2011

Posted under Traders Assoc for Stroud Green Road, no idea how to link to it. Looks like Paks are also renovating another shop front towards the station. Pink shutters

nick_m · October 2011

I hope this isn't too tangential, but if you are interested in planning, it might be an idea to respond to the national consultation on the new proposed framework. This, if legislated, will remove the prioritization on brownfield/urban development and allow for unrestrained development on any greenfield site that is not either designated Greenbelt or a Site of Specific Scientific Interest; i.e. the majority of greenfield sites in this country. Couched in platitudes on 'sustainable development', the framework essentially ties local councils' hands by enforcing them to give a default go-ahead to all greenfield developments. It is a totally inappropriate response to both the housing shortage and the current economic climate. It hands over the countryside to the developers and side-lines local communities. It is short-term and environmentally damaging. You only need to go to coastal resorts in Spain or Greece to see what decentralized, "light-touch" planning laws can deliver. I have written to Lynne, who has in turn written to Dave on my behalf, and she for one (not sure about Lib Dems in general) is supportive. But you can make your own mind up and respond here: <http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/draftframeworkconsultation>;

Ali · October 2011

Are we going to see a slashing of sign clutter in Stroud Green Road? <http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=421595&SubjectId=2>;

gardener-joe · October 2011

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