‘Spaceship’ battle won – for now

THE controversial application to build a “spaceship galactica” glass office block on the 18th century Martin Melck warehouse adjacent to the Lutheran Church has been turned down by the city – for the time being.

This is the latest development in a five-year battle by the Augoustides brothers to develop the historic warehouse, which is in a heritage protection zone. Their first application was in 2010.

Julian Melck, a descendant of Martin Melck, who represented several organisations opposed to the development, told the city’s spatial, planning, environment and land use management committee (Spelum): “I speak for many. The proposition before us is ugly, brutal and unforgiving. With due respect, it looks like Spaceship Galactica.”

Melck said given the highprofile nature of the proposal, “a wrong decision… will set a precedent not only in this city, but in the country at large”.

The SA Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) had first rated the building as being grade one – buildings “with qualities so exceptional” that they are considered of national significance to be administered by the agency. It had then downgraded the 18th century warehouse to grade 3, a building with significance only “to a particular community”, to be administered by a municipality. He said this regrading had been done in “circumstances which remain questionable and unclear”.

Chairperson Christo Kannenberg said yesterday the committee had resolved to turn down the application because it felt the glass structure was inappropriate for the historical context of the site.

Habitat Council chief executive Marie-Lou Roux said the committee’s decision was not the end of the story. “It is an interim decision. The committee can only make recommendations… The proposal is totally inappropriate… Those walls have been standing there since 1767,” Roux said.

Warehouse owner Casey Augoustides said the decision was disappointing. “We have really put a significant financial investment into this project… At the end of the day it is a privately-owned property and we need to combine a sensitive development to offset the considerable costs of upgrading its heritage value.”