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james73

‘Ecotowers’ plaza plan to save city high-rises

PLANS have been unveiled to turn a dozen high-rises facing demolition into "ecotowers".

Developer Paul Mugnaioni claims the condemned blocks, and the reputation
of multi-storeys in Glasgow, can be "rehabilitated" to become affordable private
apartments.

He says his proposals would be 23 times greener' than current plans to demolish
and build new houses on the sites.

Mr Mugnaioni, director of housing at Glasgow City Council in the 1980s, wants
to transform two multi-storeys in Laurieston, next to the successful New Gorbals
scheme, into "ecotowers" - called Laurieston Plaza - as well as three in Ibrox
and one in Maryhill used as a backdrop in the comedy series Still Game.

He claims that by saving the costs of demolition - £6m for Norfolk Court
alone - and buying the blocks from Glasgow Housing Association, the public
purse would also benefit.

Two of the four towers in Laurieston are to be demolished this summer and it
had previously been claimed the proposals to retain Norfolk Court would delay
the planned regeneration of the area, with the resident-led steering committee
having rejected the scheme.

It's understood Mr Mugnaioni has also been told by senior figures in the city
council they are hostile to the plan, with concerns over car parking and the need
to amend the city plan.

But Mr Mugnaioni is confident he will be able to persuade the owners of the blocks,
GHA, and the steering committee to save the remaining two, claiming they will
become an anchor development for the wider regeneration of the area.

Norfolk Court would provide a template for the other high-rises, with external
walls removed and reclad in thermally-efficient glass, with wind turbines providing
much of the power.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...

james73 · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

‘Ecotowers’ bid for flats set to be thrown out

CONTROVERSIAL plans by a property developer to transform flats earmarked
for demolition into "ecotowers" are likely to be thrown out today.

Former Glasgow City Council housing chief turned property magnate Paul Mugnaioni
offered to buy two blocks in Laurieston from Glasgow Housing Association and
transform them into affordable apartments.

As reported in the Evening Times last week, Mr Mugnaioni's ambitious plan for
the two towers, at Norfolk Court, would have seen them re-clad in thermally-efficient
glass and powered by wind turbines.

However, a committee of local residents and housing associations strongly opposed
the idea, saying it would put their long-standing masterplan to redevelop the
area into jeopardy.

The council is also against Mr Mugnaioni's proposal for the same reasons.

GHA bosses today make the final decision at a meeting of their regeneration
and investment committee.

The Evening Times understands they will knock back Mr Mugnaioni's offer, thought
to be in the region of £6million.

The cost of demolition and clearance, scheduled for this summer, is £4m.

However, the property developer said he would now concentrate his efforts on
other multi-storeys in the city - including the two remaining tower blocks at Norfolk
Court and others in Ibrox and Maryhill.

James H
_________________
Happiness ain't at the end of the road - Happiness *IS* the road...