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Brixton news, rumours and general chat - April 2013

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Anyone know anything about this long abandoned building on Coldharbour Lane?

abandoned-house-coldharbour-lane-3.jpg


http://www.urban75.org/blog/derelic...ane-is-this-brixtons-longest-abandoned-house/
 
Crispy said:
Apparently etc
Click to expand...
I saw the owner a couple of days ago.
The property has an odd history - I heard one side of it back in the 1990s from George in the electrical shop formerly at 342 Coldharbour Lane.
As for the current owners side - he says it is family property - and visits regularly.
If this was a normal borough the house would have been issued with repairs notices or compulsorily purchased. But Lambeth is not an ordinary borough - enforcement is virtually non-existent, as we know.
 
CH1 said:
I saw the owner a couple of days ago.
The property has an odd history - I heard one side of it back in the 1990s from George in the electrical shop formerly at 342 Coldharbour Lane.
As for the current owners side - he says it is family property - and visits regularly.
If this was a normal borough the house would have been issued with repairs notices or compulsorily purchased. But Lambeth is not an ordinary borough - enforcement is virtually non-existent, as we know.
Click to expand...
That roof doesn't look like it's been watertight for years, and the collapse of the top right window doesn't auger well.
 
editor said:
That roof doesn't look like it's been watertight for years, and the collapse of the top right window doesn't auger well.
Click to expand...
It surprises me that the adjoining property owners have not complained - but maybe they have!
I have found it best not to discuss the state of the property with his nibs. It induces apoplectic "verbal" that would put a 1960s lorry driver to shame.
One wonders what the empty property officer does in Lambeth. There must be one - there has to be by law.
abandoned-house-coldharbour-lane-3c.jpg 298chl.jpg
To repeat a story that I have told here before - about 15 years ago I had a success with 296 Coldharbour Lane - which was in an even more derelict state. That was an intestacy though. Owner died in care with no heirs. Council had to erect scaffolding to hold up the structure - there was actually a tree growing inside.
After some prompting the council legal department charged the unclaimed estate for the scaffolding rental (about £18,000 I think, at the time) the derelict building was then sold to developers who restored it quite efficiently and it is now two flats.
So they can do it- if they try.
 
Notice in the latest Weekender: Dog Star applying for planning permission for a roof terrace. Presumably the same issues apply as did for the Dex, see page 4 of the design statement:
"This proposal seeks to further extend what the pub can offer to its
customers, particularly on fine weather days, when historically the
pub has suffered. The roof terrace will be compactly contained
within the existing balustrade and will be utilised in a similar fashion
to that operated at The Prince. Given that the existing roof is in
need of a major overhaul, improving and investing in the existing
building premises will help prolong its usable life."

On page 6 benefits for bees are cited:
"6.0 Layout, Amenity and Landscaping
The layout of the proposal is logical and simple – access to the
space will be possible by extending the existing stairwell. A glass
atrium (in the style of those exiting at the side of the premises) will
provide access to the terrace, sheltering and naturally lighting the
stairwell. The flat roof will be adequately paved, lit and landscaped
by arranging a collection of planters around the periphery of the
terrace – the choice of vegetation is to bring privacy and interest to
the roof top space. Environmental benefits could be achieved
through the selection of autochthonous vegetation and flowering
plants to create a microhabitat suited to local insects (i.e.: bees)
and bird populations through the provision of bird boxes. Also, the
reduction of watering requirements and of water-run off could be
other interesting routes to be explored."
 
Felt genuinely disturbed and uncomfortable last night when walking through the throng of cocktail-swilling rich kids in Market Row with mellifluous lady

We went to the Express Cafe (greasy spoon I only go in when the Phoenix is shut) which turns into L'Express Cafe at night for a wicked veggie meal. Really good - a real haven. Chilled out. Nice music playing off an old record player. No rich kids. Friendly staff. Great veggie food. £13 each for starter and main course :cool:

The only place I've really felt comfortable eating in the 'Village' - thumbs up. :)
 
CH1 said:
Notice in the latest Weekender: Dog Star applying for planning permission for a roof terrace. Presumably the same issues apply as did for the Dex, see page 4 of the design statement:
"This proposal seeks to further extend what the pub can offer to its
customers, particularly on fine weather days, when historically the
pub has suffered. The roof terrace will be compactly contained
within the existing balustrade and will be utilised in a similar fashion
to that operated at The Prince. Given that the existing roof is in
need of a major overhaul, improving and investing in the existing
building premises will help prolong its usable life."

On page 6 benefits for bees are cited:
"6.0 Layout, Amenity and Landscaping
The layout of the proposal is logical and simple – access to the
space will be possible by extending the existing stairwell. A glass
atrium (in the style of those exiting at the side of the premises) will
provide access to the terrace, sheltering and naturally lighting the
stairwell. The flat roof will be adequately paved, lit and landscaped
by arranging a collection of planters around the periphery of the
terrace – the choice of vegetation is to bring privacy and interest to
the roof top space. Environmental benefits could be achieved
through the selection of autochthonous vegetation and flowering
plants to create a microhabitat suited to local insects (i.e.: bees)
and bird populations through the provision of bird boxes. Also, the
reduction of watering requirements and of water-run off could be
other interesting routes to be explored."
Click to expand...

I was sitting in the top floor having dinner at a staff party with the infamous merritt brothers in attendance when the original roof fell in. was a comedy moment. are those guys still connected to the dog btw?
 
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Brixton Hatter said:
The only place I've really felt comfortable eating in the 'Village' - thumbs up. :)
Click to expand...
Though to be fair, I've only ever been in a few places.

I want to try that WAG Free place. I recently found out I'm sensitive to wheat (gutted, cos I love bread, toast, pastry, pasta, cornish pasties etc etc). Anyone been there?

Even the Albert now (apparently) does gluten-free bread.
 
gabi said:
I was sitting in the top floor having dinner at a staff party with the infamous merritt brothers in attendance when the original roof fell in. was a comedy moment. are those guys still connected to the dog btw?
Click to expand...
Great story! LM was an arse. Any more details?!!!

They sold up to Antic I think. They were also involved in the Living Room/Living Bah for a bit iirc. And they also wanted to turn the old bike shop into a bar, which locals managed to stop (including many of the posters on here.)
 
Some people got hurt i think. ive googled it but cant find any mention of it. i think that may have been their last staff party, with those guys in attendance anyway.
 
Brixton Hatter said:
Felt genuinely disturbed and uncomfortable last night when walking through the throng of cocktail-swilling rich kids in Market Row with mellifluous lady

We went to the Express Cafe (greasy spoon I only go in when the Phoenix is shut) which turns into L'Express Cafe at night for a wicked veggie meal. Really good - a real haven. Chilled out. Nice music playing off an old record player. No rich kids. Friendly staff. Great veggie food. £13 each for starter and main course :cool:

The only place I've really felt comfortable eating in the 'Village' - thumbs up. :)
Click to expand...
I've been going to the Express cafe for years they are very nice people,never been at night but your experience means I may very well try it.
 
Brixton Hatter said:
Felt genuinely disturbed and uncomfortable last night when walking through the throng of cocktail-swilling rich kids in Market Row with mellifluous lady

We went to the Express Cafe (greasy spoon I only go in when the Phoenix is shut) which turns into L'Express Cafe at night for a wicked veggie meal. Really good - a real haven. Chilled out. Nice music playing off an old record player. No rich kids. Friendly staff. Great veggie food. £13 each for starter and main course :cool:

The only place I've really felt comfortable eating in the 'Village' - thumbs up. :)
Click to expand...

mentioned L'Express before.. their reviews divide opinion (I mean the veggie outfit which is run by different people as I understand it - not the daytime outfit):

http://www.veggieplaces.co.uk/list_reviews.php?place_id=3724

they have a good FB page.

Brixton Hatter said:
Though to be fair, I've only ever been in a few places.

I want to try that WAG Free place. I recently found out I'm sensitive to wheat (gutted, cos I love bread, toast, pastry, pasta, cornish pasties etc etc). Anyone been there?

Even the Albert now (apparently) does gluten-free bread.
Click to expand...

I can vouch personally for the excellent cooking of one of WAGfree's owners in general and on the few occasion I've eaten there (no issues with WAG personally) it's been lovely. I hope the owner in question doesn't mind me mentioning that their cakes (I believe) are good/popular enough to be sold in Selfridges and I believe their customers come from far and wide to get their food.
 
Brixton Hatter said:
We went to the Express Cafe (greasy spoon I only go in when the Phoenix is shut) which turns into L'Express Cafe at night for a wicked veggie meal. Really good - a real haven. Chilled out. Nice music playing off an old record player. No rich kids. Friendly staff. Great veggie food. £13 each for starter and main course :cool:
Click to expand...

I want to eat at the veggie place. How do you book, I'm assuming you need to? Which is the Express Cafe, the one in Market Row next to what used to be Wild Caper?
 
Will Self shops at WAG because he's gluten intolerant!

I also saw a bunch of rich kids descending on the Village this lunchtime. They were wearing those quilted jackets beloved of the horsey set, which have crossed over into fashion territory recently. It was a bit disconcerting.
 
nagapie said:
I want to eat at the veggie place. How do you book, I'm assuming you need to? Which is the Express Cafe, the one in Market Row next to what used to be Wild Caper?
Click to expand...
I don't think you need to book. We just turned up at about half 8 or 9pm - it was about half full, got a bit busier later, but never full. Which was good.
 
Ms T said:
I also saw a bunch of rich kids descending on the Village this lunchtime. They were wearing those quilted jackets beloved of the horsey set, which have crossed over into fashion territory recently. It was a bit disconcerting.
Click to expand...
I've seen a few of those types queuing outside Honest Burgers recently.
 
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