Top floor of various buildings

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 08 Jun, 2009 11:55 pm

BIG N wrote: Now you have started me on a new interest, instead of looking at pub signs, or for painted advertising or for signs of tram tracks whilst driving my bus through Leeds I will be looking at the top storys of the city centre buildings.I swear one day I will have a bump and it will all be down to you guys LOL You should try doing that coming out of City Aqyuare onto Boar Lane - would clear the Taxi-Jam and make TykeBhoy's day

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 12:18 am

BIG N wrote: cnosni wrote: What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel) The Griffin hotel - its name replaced the numbers on the clock that used to hang on the corner of the building (go on - count them) I'm sure the sign for the Griffin is still there at the back if you look at the back of the building from New Station Street. It's painted on. There are loads of these unoccupied top floors on Briggate. H Samuels for example, it's like a castle-turret type affair. Always reminds me of the Rapunzel story as it looks like something from a fairy tale! (i'm sure it;s the H Samuel building, if not it's the on opposite)

Post by **cnosni** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 12:41 am

LS1 wrote: BIG N wrote: cnosni wrote: What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel) The Griffin hotel - its name replaced the numbers on the clock that used to hang on the corner of the building (go on - count them) I'm sure the sign for the Griffin is still there at the back if you look at the back of the building from New Station Street. It's painted on. There are loads of these unoccupied top floors on Briggate. H Samuels for example, it's like a castle-turret type affair. Always reminds me of the Rapunzel story as it looks like something from a fairy tale! (i'm sure it;s the H Samuel building, if not it's the on opposite) This one Lee?

liits · Post by **liits** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 12:41 am

Many upper floors in pubs may have filthy windows but are not necessarily empty. Most pubs don’t have clean upstairs windows because of the cost. My window cleaning bill was £55 per week for the windows in the public areas of the pub. That was for 159 panes done inside and out. Some of the windows on the first floor and all the ones on the second floor needed a damn long ladder which was an extra cost, ten quid I think. As a result they only ever got done about every six months. Think of the number of panes of glass in a pub then how much more expensive your beer would be if the landlord was paying to clean the windows in the staff accommodation every week. Hence, dirty upstairs windows!

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 8:52 am

cnosni wrote: LS1 wrote: BIG N wrote: cnosni wrote: What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel) The Griffin hotel - its name replaced the numbers on the clock that used to hang on the corner of the building (go on - count them) I'm sure the sign for the Griffin is still there at the back if you look at the back of the building from New Station Street. It's painted on. There are loads of these unoccupied top floors on Briggate. H Samuels for example, it's like a castle-turret type affair. Always reminds me of the Rapunzel story as it looks like something from a fairy tale! (i'm sure it;s the H Samuel building, if not it's the on opposite) This one Lee? Na, I got it wrong. The other side where Carphone Warehouse is. Why would anyone build what seems to be such a pointless tower!

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 9:37 am

BIG N wrote: cnosni wrote: What happened to the old hotel rooms above what is now Bar Censa on Boar Lane (cant remember the name of the hotel) The Griffin hotel - its name replaced the numbers on the clock that used to hang on the corner of the building (go on - count them) The clock's still there - I took this photo a couple of months ago.

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 10:51 am

I always thought that the Griffin was now in use by that "Comfort" Hotel who's entrance is in between Scarborough Taps and Spencers but I don't think it's even the same building. Must be empty I guess.If it's the case that some pubs upper floors are in use what are they used for? Accomodation? Storage?

Post by **cnosni** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 11:52 am

Reginal Perrin wrote: I always thought that the Griffin was now in use by that "Comfort" Hotel who's entrance is in between Scarborough Taps and Spencers but I don't think it's even the same building. Must be empty I guess.If it's the case that some pubs upper floors are in use what are they used for? Accomodation? Storage? they do look out of use,judging by what i can see at street level.You would have though flats would have been a natural modern day conversion of use,though who on earth would want to try and relax with all that music blaring out downstairs answers that quandary.Shame really,these old buildings need new life upstairs and when the recession is over we need to breath new life back into the centre.Conversion of these types of empty sections of property would make the best use of existing properties ,and which lets be honest most on Boar Lane still look better than any of these fancy flat developments,and would also enable s street level interaction which the edge of town multi storey developments do not.That why,such as in the case of Clarence Dock,you have an almost desolate feeling.Theres no interaction at street level because the inhabitants are seperated not only geographically from the centre but also from their immediate vicinity.Making the best use of existing building stock in the centre would produce an atmosphere akin to Barcelona (obviously noyt on a November night though).This in itself would stimulate local businesses and amenities.That is the sort of city centre living we should promote.Oops,going of subject.....

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 12:12 pm

cnosni wrote: Reginal Perrin wrote: I always thought that the Griffin was now in use by that "Comfort" Hotel who's entrance is in between Scarborough Taps and Spencers but I don't think it's even the same building. Must be empty I guess.If it's the case that some pubs upper floors are in use what are they used for? Accomodation? Storage? they do look out of use,judging by what i can see at street level.You would have though flats would have been a natural modern day conversion of use,though who on earth would want to try and relax with all that music blaring out downstairs answers that quandary.Shame really,these old buildings need new life upstairs and when the recession is over we need to breath new life back into the centre.Conversion of these types of empty sections of property would make the best use of existing properties ,and which lets be honest most on Boar Lane still look better than any of these fancy flat developments,and would also enable s street level interaction which the edge of town multi storey developments do not.That why,such as in the case of Clarence Dock,you have an almost desolate feeling.Theres no interaction at street level because the inhabitants are seperated not only geographically from the centre but also from their immediate vicinity.Making the best use of existing building stock in the centre would produce an atmosphere akin to Barcelona (obviously noyt on a November night though).This in itself would stimulate local businesses and amenities.That is the sort of city centre living we should promote.Oops,going of subject..... I've got a feeling the problem might be access for the disabled. You might struggle to convert small upstairs rooms if you are bound by regulations.It's sad because there are so many homeless people who could use them and try to get their lives back on track and why would someone who is disabled want to live on the 4th floor of a 150 year old building which will remain disused unless allowances are made. I grew up wanting a New York style apartment with a metal fire escape type ladder in an alley way. When you go East out of the station you pass a few flats near the calls. I guess no-one would want to risk money on city center accomodation at present. You could probably pick up a purpose built studio for £50k right now.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 09 Jun, 2009 12:47 pm

I've heard that lenders are very reluctant to give mortgages for the city centre flats. At the moment they have 'no value' as people aren't buying them. Slums in the offing.