You really should get downtown more
Growth has taken on such a pace downtown lately that it is almost impossible for us to keep track of it all. Walking to a series of meetings today took us through areas that are changing fast , with all sorts of intensely interesting things breathing life back into them.

From Lime St to the top of Bold St, around the Ropewalks and back across Paradise St to Liverpool Vision's offices there must be over thirty schemes of varying sizes taking shape and innumerable new business' taking space in other recently completed schemes. Get out of the office/flat and take a really good walk around a few downtown districts and see for yourselves... we guarantee you will be amazed!

Catastrophe or simply a sign of ongoing renaissance
The 'shock, horror' reaction to news of 'public sector incompetence' (again) that will mean redevelopment of Lime Street Station's new plaza and tower will be delayed... work will still be taking place during 2008... was quite dumb we are embarrassed to say.

Why on Earth would visitors streaming through downtown's main station see building work on a nice tall tower, (that incidentally should have a nice tall companion over the road) as a sign of anything other than that of a city on the move... just as they would when experiencing London, Paris...indeed anywhere of true dynamism?

Just think about it...building...going on .... in a city that says it is on the up... Fiasco? Quite silly really... we must have been out of it for so long that some have forgotten just how good cities work...and what that entails.

Liverpool's the 1 for improving the downtown mix
Grosvenor have unveiled their new website detailing the 'Liverpool 1' retail-led development of downtown's Paradise St area. A vital part of the overall mix of facilities this scheme goes some way to undoing the damage of previous 'utopian' grand plans.

Aimed as much at potential tenants it is well worth taking a look at the site.

Just down the road, in Whitechapel the Met Quarter is looking surprisingly sturdy and a fine urban addition to downtown's offer as well. Opens early March.

When there is a critical mass of scouse boutiques that require these sorts of environments we now have them. but the environment that helps nascent business to thrive (as they always can in the greatest cities) is not appreciated by most of those in charge of 'downtown renaissance' at present. We have heard some really strange comments about the city now 'maturing' so must generate the offer of the big malls...oh, the fools!

We would like to cast an eye to the future and see how the Liverpool 1 district develops over the next century... in the meantime why not get along and take a look around the building site. A good vantage point are the steps leading up to the Friends meeting house on Paradise St, though be quick, as those too are soon to disappear... interesting times for downtown for sure.

On the right track?
Council Leader states that "the Culture Company cannot do everything on their own"... too true. Plans to make the Culture Company a permanent feature of Liverpool's cultural infrastructure are more difficult to understand. The first point makes eminent sense,, the second.....? 2008 belongs to you.

View from the top
The strange penthouses that will sit atop downtown's Unity development are clearly now taking shape... we hope that the developers are secretly planning to finish off this cracking scheme with the huge sign that was originally envisioned for the scheme... Chrysler Building style.

Pink clouds! Unity takes shape

Downtowners will undoubtedly know that the Chrysler Building's spectacular spire was secretly constructed inside and only hoisted into position at the last possible moment... making it the tallest building in the world, until surpassed by the Empire State a short while later. Imagine how our planners would react to such a great stunt?

A great little downtown theatre
Searching for a link for the above piece we came across this... Liverpool's ORIGINAL UNITY. If you have never been to this little downtown cultural gem then be sure to get along soon? Fascinating history to the building as well as the company itself.

Another word on 'tall buildings
It is time to remind ourselves of the intellectual/ideological context which is driving down development scale around the downtown area. If you would like downtown to be as vibrant as possible, as forward looking and as powerful as it could be economically. if you like new stuff that helps the city's physical realm to adapt, adopt and change appearance, over time, look at this document [Draft tall buildings policy - download PDF]and see if the language betrays that of an approach of similar and positive nature... or are they describing the growth of a museum?

Up on the roof (etc), exploratory indeed
Diversifying downtown's evening activity is a constant mantra of this site. Downtown must be able to cater for every taste. But what do you make of this type of downtown interest?

Interesting perspective on Hanover St at night - those flats on Skelhorn St the heritage bods go mad about actually provide a great backdrop don't you think?

An alternative take to a night on the tiles

Put Liverpool in their search facility and take a look around this unbelievable site.

We say, as with things like street art, whilst very much an extremely fascinating pursuit when undertaken by a few talented and dedicated adventurers, it gives an alternative take on urban exploration and expression, we would not encourage every downtowner to give it a go... having said that... brilliant and utterly inspiring!

Not forgetting the downtown mainstream
We are glad to report that downtown's 'offer' has been improving greatly over the last 18 months or so. An ever widening range of activities, there have been plenty of new bars, restaurants niche and cultural initiatives to chose from, exactly what downtown is all about.

We must also remember that downtown has had thousands of folk doing stuff for many years... from the fantastic lime milkshakes you can only get from Wimpy in Williamson Sq to News from Nowhere and the World Shop in Bold St... and of course there is the image side to downtown association... just how cool would you really be if you bought a guitar anywhere except downtown?.

Eco your way out of that!
As we have mentioned innumerable times on this site, one of the great advantages of intensive, entrepreneur-led downtown growth is that it actually provides a better platform to look at serious aspects of some of the more ecological potential of development.

Both physical and business fields have an advantage to grasp from seriously looking at this potential...so why not do so? Whilst some opportunity lies in the small, almost incidental, there is nothing wrong with also looking at what the corporate's and tall buildings can do as well. Some steps, however, seem just a step too far?

Another aspect - Until we have everyone living downtown in our 'eco, metro Nirvana' why not get downtown through one of these ways suggested by Ecotravel?

Celebrating the downtown mix
The Mersey Partnership is to highlight Liverpool’s Italian heritage at BiT in Milan this coming week. The Italian community dates back over 125 years to 1880, when the city’s ‘Little Italy’ began to take shape. 
 
Situated downtown, near the Everton area, the Italian community grew into an important settlement by 1913. Residents soon became an integral part of Liverpool’s cosmopolitan society, distinguishing themselves as craftsmen and entrepreneurs.
 
The district also became renowned for producing world-class boxers, none more famous than Dom Volante. Born of Italian parents in Gerard Street, Volante became an exceptional boxer and topped the bill many times at New York’s Madison Square Garden in the 1930s.
 
Craftsmen from Little Italy were responsible for many beautiful marble and mosaic works in downtown's most important buildings, monuments and churches. The Daily Post, will celebrate their work this week, inviting former residents of Little Italy to gather for a special feature. Cheers to the Scottie Press for making sure this aspect of the city's make up has been taken on board.

And now the world is getting the message
Talking of special features, be sure to get hold of a copy of Saturday's Daily Post as there is a fantastic feature by Mike Chapple highlighting how news of Liverpool's renaissance has spread around the world... great stuff!

Bidding to improve
Downtown Church Street's 'City Central BID'has got of to a steady, if unspectacular start since it's launch last October. Regular street washing is now being implemented and other basic management routines are being consolidated.

If this part of downtown is to avoid the planners fatalistic worries about 'drift' down to Liverpool One then the programme will have to become more dynamic and imaginative... for that to happen entrepreneurs in the area have to step in and help.

They'll be stopping us voting next
The conclusions to the latest (otherwise excellent) IPPR report, part of their Centre for Cities investigations, advise that Liverpool City region should be denied the tools to further renaissance because our politicians are not up to the job. Instead it is suggested that Manchester and Birmingham be given further advantage over our metropolis.

We are the first to rail against the inward looking, inept and unimaginative take that infests metropolitan politics here, the current situation is appalling. It is because of the desperate need for change and a metropolitan focus that we have supported campaigns like amayorforliverpool and the initiative M.P George Howarth was running before the last election for a metropolitan focus - and why we have been so vehement in our opposition to 'regional' proposals for governance.

We feel that the conclusions with regards to Liverpool's problems actually miss the point... our need for chage is much more pressing than either Manchester or Birmingham.

Surely, rather than exclusion, a warning to our 'political elite' from central government that the tap would be turned off if such attitudes persist would suffice to raise noses from the trough and shake them out of current mindsets. Better still could be the the opportunity to find new blood that major systemic change may bring?

There are lots of sub texts to this reports conclusions we are sure, but the issue is vital to the future of the city-regions very future. Allowing government to confine the city to the slow lane because of our politicians shortcomings must not be countenanced. If our politicians do not make sure that the recommendations do not become actual policy decisions then we all have a job to do at the ballot box when (and maybe IF one day, if you follow the logic of the report) we next have the chance.

With this new 'city-region' focus we notice that some former passionate advocates of 'regionalism' have turned about face... now we're not that gullible are we? We would, as always urge extreme caution... and get a big block of salt ready!

Please let's hope the answer is no!
One of our downtowners has posted this sorry tale on your forum:

A current work colleague and friend is looking to open a Spanish food shop in Liverpool. He has everything in place - banking, supply chain, licensing agreements etc, but his 8 month long search for a suitable lease in Liverpool is driving him crazy.
Basically he is telling me that the commercial estate agents he has encountered in Liverpool are more disorganised and lazy (i.e. unprofessional) than he could have ever imagined - the tales really are apocryphal.
Is his experience reflective of Liverpool, or has he just been unlucky?

Are there any good agents out there who could help and prove that he has indeed just been unlucky?

But there's nowhere for the kids to go!
We cannot help but think that an opportunity has actually been missed to provide something really good (and safe) for kids to get them downtown. Reaction to news that owners of 051 had organised under 18's nights was so venomous that the organisers have now called them off!

Building and reaffirming that sense of identity of children from around the metropolis with downtown is as important as generating the diversity of activities in themselves, so surely we should be encouraging this and other types of interest?

Quality counts, and quality will out
Downtowner, Louise McWatt, takes a quick look at the world of downtown public art and it's commissioning:

There has been a boom in downtown public art in recent years, but has it ever crossed your mind that with the increased quantity of what is being produced, we might be seeing more projects of poorer artistic quality? In a new and controversial report published by indie think tank Policy Exchange arts academics and cultural commentators argue that the current agenda-driven government policies for the arts are in fact damaging the quality and value of art we see in our cities.

The report, "Culture Vultures; is UK Arts Policy Damaging The Arts", asserts that Government policy has created a Culture of Bad Art. This is because for all the Government's generous cash injections, those wads of cash usually come with strings attached, and attached strings all too often get the whole creative process tied up in knots.

Not all public art has to be of Victorian men in stovepipe hats or overly 'inclusive'.. but it all should be good quality... and appreciated, like this one in downtown Williamson Sq

Munira Mirza - arts commentator, broadcaster and editor of the report has written a stirring introduction to it here so you can dip your toe into the debate before you get your walking shoes on and out the house to contemplate what we have on offer in our fine metropolis, and consider how it shapes the whole experience of being downtown.

You'll be spoilt for choice. We have the biggest collection of public art in the UK outside London. A quick trot around town in any direction and you'll be confronted by works that span the history of the city - celebrating and commemorating the people and events that have shaped downtown (and often the rest of the world) as we know it today.

In the blood you see
Our main call, for scouse enterprise to be tapped as the best way to ensure ongoing renaissance seems to be borne out by this recent report by the Local Knowledge project. We are an entrepreneurial culture, but this is terribly under utilised at present.

We would say that it also helps confirm the value of another of our rallying cries, that of having the focus placed on cities and their regions, rather than the current, painful 'regional approach'. Cities make wealth and identity. The only 'dynamism' in't Northwest is that determined by beancounters... and as oxymorons go, well that's a whopper!

Just a reminder
Last week we asked you to to tell us your favourite downtown neighbourhood. We got lots of replies and, as we expected, the choices ranged across all of them. We agree, ALL of downtown Liverpool is special.

Whether banks, buildings or bongos... downtown is about encapsulating it all

There are still lots of problems and opportunities, downtown's never finish, they are always evolving, or at least the healthy ones do... and that's the central point.

The buildings, the uses, the culture and creative process downtown, the entrepreneurs and residents create a constantly shifting palette of interesting colour. Downtown's great - don't you just love it?

But wer eez zees seetie centaur?
They so nearly got it right. An excellent joint initiative between the Mersey `Partnership and the Culture Company has been announced. A series of walks/bus tours for business and downtown workers to get to know more about their downtown... especially the major changes taking place, 'xept, of course, they use that bland, alien (to scouser's) and antonymous monika 'city centre'. Are we really Basildon?

Visit the website and download 'talk the walk' for more details... we would encourage all downtowner's to take advantage of this freebie.

City in transition?
If you have been lucky enough to receive or to have picked up the Jan-June 'Liverpool Performs 06' pamphlet (the one with 'the city in transition' project centre pages) take a close look at the picture of downtown's Pierhead that features on the main inside front page.... and what century/decade are we in? Can you spot some long gone old favourites too?

Talking of walking the talk!
The folk behind the Mayor for Liverpool initiative have called a public meeting for those who are interested in the idea.
The event is taking place on Wednesday 15th February, 7.00pm at the excellent Sir Thomas Hotel, in downtown Sir Thomas Street.

We wish them the very best of luck and would encourage all downtowner's who have talked about the need for positive change in how the city is run to get along (drop Liam Fogarty a line to let them know if you can) and show your support. Some of the briefing going on against this campaign is coming from quarters you would not really expect... or would you? So much for smoke and mirrors.

All's well at the Met
When downtown's latest shopping galleria opens for trade next month, as well as the niche, top market boutiques and other 'shopping experiences' there will be a nice gesture to the building's past and the city's history.

The owners have paid for the post office memorial to staff who died in the world wars to be restored at Liverpool museums downtown conservation centre (just down the road at the other end of Whitechapel) and placed in a prominent position... well done.

How do you keep up?
Both The Liverpool Daily Post and The Echo have had a flurry of development news lately as well as some excellent correspondence. Best of the week? Despite the good news items provided our favourite so far has to be the letter by Neil Cardwell, former Liverpool City Councillor, who first raised the idea of applying for a WHS designation.

Just be sure to buy them every day ... in the meantime check out the icliverpool link at the bottom of this page

None more blind than those who insist on remaining deluded
The unveiling of the official certificate inscribing vast areas of downtown Liverpool as a World Heritage Site is being 'celebrated' at Liverpool Town Hall with a special ceremony 5 - 6.30 p.m. on Monday 6th Feb..

The nomination document has been turned into a book 'Liverpool - Maritime mercantile City' and is on sale from Monday also. All interested in the future of downtown and the FULL consequences of the designation should actually get hold of a copy. All of the issues we have raised as causing serious problems with regards to downtown development are now in black and white.

Deluded? Read the quotes in the press release. You may notice that, even though the site described is HUGE, even the obsessed seem to have forgotten that it actually also winds it's way down to and includes the whole Stanley Dock complex along the dock wall... THEN there is the buffer zone! God Help us.

Wi-Fi, why not?
Despite all of the initiatives and supposed 'advantages' downtown Liverpool has with regards to broadband, fat pipes and techno savvy agencies we have still not seen Liverpool show on this website. Why not?

Is downtown keeping up?[pic credit PBS... now there's another story]

The spoils of war?
Maro's decision to give the 30 firms remaining at Brunswick Business Centre two months notice to quit may seem a little harsh, but everyone has known of their desire to redevelop the site, and that the redevelopment would not include those business'.

Perhaps Maro could have done more, that is something we don't know - but a few things that we do know are;

Planners and councillors have been playing politics with those firms

An initiative bringing resources together to help these firm find suitable places to relocate to should have been a priority.

A similar situation with 3345 in downtown Parr St has elicited a completely different response - but then they are lucky enough to have good contacts and proactive local councillors who want to help find positive solutions. 3345 may end up moving, things are happening, ideas are being tried.

We hear of some interesting stirrings down in Parr St that could provide a benchmark as to how to help firms suffering displacement as a result of downtown's renaissance. A little lateral thinking could build something more comprehensive. There is enough money swilling around the public sector 'business support' trough, so why not use some of it wisely?

Looks interesting
Two events at the Tate Gallery should be of interest to downtowners with an architectural bent. On 17th Feb. There is a talk by prof Ricardo Castro, titled' Dialogues between architecture and Photography'. Starts 6p.m

The following afternoon there is a book launch. Transculturation: Cities, spaces and architecture in Latin America. Meet the authors - kicks off at 2p.m. For further details about both events contact Anna or call into the ace RIBA bookshop in downtown Wood St.

'My Liverpool' and that's a FACT
No, not a breakout of megalomania amongst the downtown team, just news on the latest 'Tenantspin' webcast. The team want to know what is your favourite place in Liverpool.

Always worth a trip to FACT, even if just to look at the lobby!

All are welcome to wonder down to Wood St or log-on to the broadcast from 1.45 - 3p.m next Wednesday 8th Feb.. Call Patrick Fox on 0151- 707-4479 for details.

Why not do it this way?
Downtowners have the chance to quiz planners and put forward ideas regarding future land use and development issues in Liverpool. A 'consultation seminar' has been arranged to discuss core strategy issues and options.

All takes place on Friday 10th March at the Glaxo Neurological Centre in downtown Norton St 9.a.m - till 1p.m (buffet provided)

The seminar is aimed at residents, though other interested parties are more than welcome. Try your best to get along as it's not only downtown where stupid ideas are being implemented?

Limited spaces so book early e-mail Claire Victory for details or go to website.

Raising the threshold
The resignation of Sir David Henshaw and the departure of others now gives the city a wonderful opportunity to raise above the small town mentality that has afflicted the city for many years, by making a genuine attempt to seek out a replacement with actual experience of running a big, vibrant city. The world IS full of urban successes after all.

We need top officers and elected members that understand that great cities have many 'counters' to monopoly control, that this is desirable. and and are eager to work with them. Facilitation and genuine partnership not control freakery is the only way the city will consolidate it's current boom.

Talking of 'Glocalisation'
As all good downtowners know, downtown does not exist in a bubble, there are many complex layers of interaction that help shape and determine what it's opportunities are as well as what threatens it. Any number of things, from Alan Greenspan leaving the Fed to confusion over the direction and intent of the proposed Company Law reforms , will impact directly on downtown Liverpool.

Building as powerful an economic base as we can downtown helps us to maximise the benefits and mitigate any downside of external forces and the make up of that base must be as complex and as diverse as these external factors are in number.

Despite the fantasies of some we, thankfully, are utterly linked to what's going on in the rest of the world... so let's use it?

Onward and Upward!

As you can see from this detail the Unity complex looks better as it gets taller... who said tall buildings disfigure our beautiful city? (for full pic and others go to Liverpool Pictorial)