24
Apr

2011

Sunday Statshot with Nick Chu

Post by Gondola Project

A quick look at some of the things that make urban redevelopment work (or not):

World infamous spike house in Chongqing China. Owners fought off developers for 3 years before finally vacating the site.

Definition of a “Spike”: A holdout threatening a larger development plan

Percent of world’s population now living in urban areas: >50%

Urban growth in Seattle between 2005-2008: 10,600 housing units

Number of urban villages: 38

Ms. Edith Macefield: Seattle’s infamous spike

Age of home: 111 years old

Compensation offered but rejected by Ms. Macefield: $1 million

Ultimate fate: “UP” movie promotion house

Austin Spriggs: Washington D.C.’s spike

Age of home: 116 years

Cost of home purchase in 1980: $135,000

Assessed home value in 2003: $200,000

Compensation offered but rejected by Mr. Spriggs: $3,000,000

Ultimate fate: Future pizza shop

Chinese equivalent to a spike: Nail House

Wu family: Owner of Chongqing’s spike

Number of former residents living nearby Ms. Wu: 280

Compensation given to neighbours: $320,000/household

Compensation seeked by Wu family: $777,000

Ultimate fate: Demolition

Cai Zhuxiang: Owner of Shenzhen’s spike

Compensation offered: $650,000

Compensation received before vacating site: $1,000,000

Ultimate fate: Demolition

Score for US developers: 0

For Chinese developers: 2

 



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Comments

  1. Don't' have the background but here's an example in Toronto: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=north+york&aq=&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=33.487161,93.076172&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=North+York,+Toronto,+Toronto+Division,+Ontario&ll=43.774634,-79.410188&spn=0.002281,0.005681&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=43.7746,-79.410343&panoid=MlEqs5vPrqB5BMWydUHXDw&cbp=12,344.8,,0,3.23
  2. I remember well a David vs Goliath brouhaha between a tailorshop owner against developers that resulted in Toronto's 'spike'. At the time it was q 600 parliament st toronto Ontario
  3. I remember well a similar David vs Goliath brouhaha between a tailorshop owner and developers of Canada's largest highrise that resulted in Toronto's 'spike'. It's still there, albeit a lot purdied-up from when I lived there. Google Streetview "600 Parliament St Toronto Ontario"
  4. @ Sam Nice find! I wonder if there's anymore near that area - esp with the new condos going up. @ Dave Are you referring to Del-Ray cleaners? I presume the cleaners won that case since I don't see any high-rises nearby!
  5. @ NickChu Not sure if it's Del Ray Cleaners or not, Nick. Streetview (600 Parliament St Toronto) should take you to the corner of Parliament and Wellesley. Go north a couple hundred meters and treed-in and looking half presentable on the west side is 'New World Cleaners'. In the late 60's I lived two blocks away and ran a youth club and I was sort of in the middle of it. The whole street had been attached row housing, and when the developers tore everything else down, they deliberately left everything hanging out, so to speak - lathing, even plumbing pipes sticking out and for the longest time the place was 'the bad haircut'. I can't locate any news stories in my search, but my recollection was that it was owned by a tailor and that there was, in fact, a dry cleaners associated. Googing "St. Jamestown" brings no mention, which is kind of sad, since it really is a great story.
  6. @ Dave Brough Did a quick google search. Found this bit of info at Urban Toronto if you want to take a look http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.php?5027-Queen-Portland-Lofts-Condos-(Tribute-RioCan-9s-Turner-Fleischer) It talks about the many holdouts (i.e. spikes) in Toronto.

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