Making Things Happen – in Glasgow
“Making things happen” is the new logo for revitalising one of Glasgows iconic main shopping areas, “Sauchiehall Street”
Various plans are cautiously being put into place to regenerate Scotlands second city, but to date, those plans look to have faltered.
We went to see some of the fabulous architecture Glasgow has to offer and it really is vast. But we can only wonder at how much empty, unused, square meterage in the city centre there is? Whilst Glasgow, like many UK cities, champions stand alone projects (Hydro and Armadillo) and revitalises dockland areas, its city centre remains un-cared for, tired and abandoned. Empty shops and abandoned department stores add to the empty space crying out for ideas. It’s not just at ground level but it’s a similar story further up. Look up and you’ll see decades of decay, nature starting to take root in the overflowing rainwater gutters and parapet walls. 1000s and 1000s of empty rooms above closed shops, above open shops, sometimes three or for storeys high. The cost is probably £billions to restore this city centre and bring life back to where it should be .
If you’re reading this and think “poor Glasgow” then look at many other towns and cities and you’ll find similar stories across the country. City centre abandonment in favour of out of town new builds. It’s a theme we’re getting used to, but how will it all end?
