River Itchen frontage

[spyinthesky]

Have it on reasonably good authority that Mr Cortese has been looking at development potential in and around the stadium area, particularly along the immediate river Itchen frontage.

 

Understand that a river site has become available not far from the stadium

 

Soton City Council has a strategy to 'gentrify' the river frontage between the Northam and Itchen Bridges so I am sure they would be keen to assist with any change of plan use etc.

 

I wonder if this could be an investment opportunity for the club perhaps using our newly borrowed wedge?

 

It would take a lot of money and co-operation but opening up the Aggregate wharves and adjacent properties for public access opportunities would improve the standing and property values around St Mary's

[Saint 76er]

Think the recent loan was merely to cover early season cash flow for the football club, pending receipt of TV monies etc later on.

 

However, I suspect some sort of waterfront development has always been in Cortese's plans. He did a lot of research for Markus on which club had most potential to buy into and the underdeveloped waterfront over the road may have come into it. One persons eyesore can be another's opportunity and this may well be a project for the Liebherrs to invest in and if it has a tie in with the football club such as bars/restaurants to keep people in the area before/after games then so much the better. There is, of course, the issue of a casino but not sure the L's would go for that.

 

I'm sure Cortese has long had his eyes on the aggregate wharfs directly opposite SMS and the stadium redevelopment drawings on the DVD clearly show a walkway from the stadium frontage across the road heading straight for the wharfs, which at present would quickly end at a high fence and locked gates. However, gaining access to that land and redeveloping it may make the L's a lot of money as well as showcasing a revamped stadium and making that area a hive of consumer activity.

 

Problem is that the wharfs are said to be on a very long lease to the operators and that no other site is really viable for their aggregate business. Can they still be bought out of the lease? Well, who knows but that site is the jewel in the crown if SMS is going to represent a more glamorous image that just being a workaday football stadium.

 

Maybe Cortese wants to get some waterside development happening in conjunction with any stadium revamp and just possibly that is how he is hoping to finance it?

[buctootim]

I quite like going to SMS and seeing working wharves instead of cloned flats and bog standard riverfront developments.

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

This can't be true, some skate told me we were on the verge of complete capitulation.

[Dimond Geezer]

I hope they can add a water taxi terminal, preferaby starting at Woodmill.