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James Harrison
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« Reply #125 on: March 15, 2010, 09:02:45 pm » |
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You must forgive me if this has been mentioned before, but whilst travelling into work this morning I saw (as I do every morning) a derelict Victorian warehouse and immediately thought that it would make an ideal steampunk settlement, if repaired of course.
Most of the issues around setting up a settlement seem to revolve, to me, around scale. If we build from scratch we need a minimum number of people and therefore a miniumum number of dwellings and when we get into that we quickly find ourselves imaging districts of cities, which is a nice idea but sadly I fear out of our reach. We also run afoul of various planning laws and beaureaucratic red tape.
However, if we take one building of a medium scale (such as a warehouse in a city), a smaller number of people can renovate/ repair it, split it into a small number of apartments and maybe even turn part or most of it into a gathering place for others as a hub of a settled steampunk community. It may sound naive or foolish but it has been done before- witness, for example, the episode of Grand Designs in which a small group of 11 or so people got together to build themselves their own homes as a considered development rather than ad-hoc 'one off' houses.
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Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #126 on: March 16, 2010, 04:37:35 pm » |
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Can you get a map reference or a google maps link?
But the problem as mentioned before is money.
We see a derelict building, the owners however see it as building land.
Land that has already been built on will get planning permission, therefore sells at a premium.
Either way I'd be interested in the building.
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lady joanna
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« Reply #127 on: March 16, 2010, 09:06:03 pm » |
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James Harrison
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« Reply #128 on: March 16, 2010, 09:18:12 pm » |
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The ruined building in the middle is the one I see each day, Mechanical Mouse. It's not too far from Duddeston railway station in Birmingham. |
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19th Century Space Pilot
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« Reply #129 on: March 16, 2010, 09:24:11 pm » |
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Hmmm. Would you be able to check with the local council and discover who it is registered to?
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Gentlemen and ladies, it appears our Parliament of late has been getting... ideas, to which any civilised man should feel obligated to revolt.
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James Harrison
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« Reply #130 on: March 16, 2010, 09:48:34 pm » |
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It is possible, but just to reiterate there are trees growing in it  So yeah, it'd be one heck of a 'fixer-upper'. But it has potential, and to those of an architectural bent (like myself) that's all it needs. |
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #132 on: March 17, 2010, 02:35:09 pm » |
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Hmmm. Would you be able to check with the local council and discover who it is registered to?
I think it costs £50to do a land search to find the owner. Trying to think of the exact legal body we need to talk to. |
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James Harrison
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« Reply #133 on: March 17, 2010, 02:52:03 pm » |
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It is possible, but just to reiterate there are trees growing in it So yeah, it'd be one heck of a 'fixer-upper'. But it has potential, and to those of an architectural bent (like myself) that's all it needs. Lallians Mill.... There are trees, however there are also photos ... it was an old flour mill apparently http://www.flickr.com/photos/8776781@N02/sets/72157607039742722/Further photos herehttp://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42429 lasst owned /rented possibly by H.S. Kang and sons...of whom I can find no trace.... Great set of photos there. |
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Sir A Poiselamppe
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« Reply #134 on: March 18, 2010, 12:11:41 am » |
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Hmmm. Would you be able to check with the local council and discover who it is registered to?
I think it costs £50to do a land search to find the owner. Trying to think of the exact legal body we need to talk to. The land registry... http://www.landsearch.net/services.asp£22 |
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #135 on: March 18, 2010, 09:16:30 am » |
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cheers thank you Sir A Poiselamppe
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19th Century Space Pilot
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« Reply #136 on: March 21, 2010, 02:11:58 pm » |
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So, there's three ideas at the moment, it seems:
1. Ground-up. This involves buying a plot of land and building all the homes, or using something like old railways carriages. Pros - we get to design it as we wish, although planning laws may get in the way. Cons - initial investment size?
2. Minipolis. Gerrymander control of a small neighbourhood, and apply to form a parish council. Pro's - it can be taken over incrementally. Cons - would take a long time, and you'd need to buy out everyone.
3. Warehouse renovation. Buy an old warehouse and convert it into a steampunk apartment block. Pro's - it can be done by a small group of people, and will be close to a city. Cons - the owners will tend to see it as prime development land and refuse to sell except for an exorbiantly high price, as well as planning regulaions getting in the way.
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #137 on: March 22, 2010, 03:09:27 pm » |
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http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=derby&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.292461,31.728516&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Derby,+United+Kingdom&ll=52.929007,-1.497059&spn=0.000647,0.016222&z=16&layer=c&cbll=52.926298,-1.497565&panoid=MBfEP4Egl08Ir8-w1yhxkg&cbp=12,317.08,,0,-7.34It appears the buying a old factory may not be as expensive as I originally thought. The above property is for sale for £195'000 with salloways.com. I'm going to do some more searching.
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NazT
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« Reply #138 on: March 22, 2010, 03:59:52 pm » |
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http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=derby&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.292461,31.728516&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Derby,+United+Kingdom&ll=52.929007,-1.497059&spn=0.000647,0.016222&z=16&layer=c&cbll=52.926298,-1.497565&panoid=MBfEP4Egl08Ir8-w1yhxkg&cbp=12,317.08,,0,-7.34It appears the buying a old factory may not be as expensive as I originally thought. The above property is for sale for £195'000 with salloways.com. I'm going to do some more searching. Really??? Flippin eck! That really IS cheap!! Only thing is do you get business rates on tax and leccy until you do a change of use? There has GOT to be a reason why its sooooooooo cheap.... or maybe I'm just being pessimistic!. |
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #139 on: March 22, 2010, 04:55:15 pm » |
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Maybe not a great area, or heavy metal contamination of the building.
Or the fact its Derby.
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lady joanna
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« Reply #140 on: March 22, 2010, 05:11:31 pm » |
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I just can't get excited about converted apartments in an innercity location - sorry! Maybe I've got a rose tinted idylic view of a small holding in the country, but that's just me  |
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #141 on: March 22, 2010, 05:19:17 pm » |
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Personally, I'd prefer the settlement away from the city too. But here's another nice factory not far from me. If I knew they where going this cheap I'd have moved into one years ago. High Street, Sileby, Leicestershire £100,000  FOR SALE - Conversion Opportunity This 4 storey property forms part of the former Maltings site to the rear of High Street, Sileby in the centre of the village. The property is directly to the rear of 14 High Street and will benefit from vehicle access and parking for 4 cars from High Street to the left hand side of The Maltings Public House. Conditional Planning Permission for conversion to residential accommodation on the whole building. Interested parties should contact Charnwood Borough Council to discuss any specific proposals. 757 m2 / 8148 ft2 Max Size |
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lady joanna
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« Reply #142 on: March 22, 2010, 05:34:02 pm » |
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A village location is certainly preferable, but it's interesting to hear all the different ideas none-the-less.
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markf
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« Reply #143 on: March 22, 2010, 06:08:05 pm » |
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lady joanna
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« Reply #144 on: March 22, 2010, 06:16:20 pm » |
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NazT
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« Reply #145 on: March 23, 2010, 09:32:57 am » |
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I just can't get excited about converted apartments in an innercity location - sorry! Maybe I've got a rose tinted idylic view of a small holding in the country, but that's just me Me either but there again I probably wouldnt convert it the way a developer would. With all that space I'd have free rein to do what I want. Plus at that price its vastly cheaper than a small holding in the country. |
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Sebastian Gaunt
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« Reply #146 on: March 24, 2010, 03:49:51 pm » |
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This all sounds very interesting, and I would love to see it happen, just to come and visit if nothing else. A rural small holding would be great but might not be the cheapest option [I haven't read all the links just skimmed the entries]. Wheras a factory/warehouse would be big enough to include apartments, or even houses and land inside. I have been to victorian street mock ups in museums. Maybe there is an old warehouse in a rural area that would suit both sides?
How would people be planning to make a living? I assume there would be some bills still even if you owned the land and were as self-contained as possible, eg internet. would some or all just be planning to do steamy stuff for sale, and to get visitors in? or would some folk still be planning on doing mundane world work? if so then proximity to a town/city would be needed.
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"The fastest way to travel is by Gaslight"
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lady joanna
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« Reply #147 on: March 25, 2010, 10:38:03 pm » |
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If you read the link in Mechanical Mouse's first post I think you'll find a lot of the details you request have been discussed here if not in this particular thread I think it's been pretty much accepted that most people, whether city dwelling or good life country folk, would still have to subject themselves to the trials of modern life and I think we also concluded that we would still be pretty dependant on modern technology such as cars, internet, electricity. It all makes for intersting reading |
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MechanicalMouse
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« Reply #148 on: March 26, 2010, 11:47:33 am » |
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We discussed how such a community would make a living, though to be honest I don't think we ever got a solid plan.
If you've got any thoughts or Ideas please throw them into the mix.
I think the most likely scenario would have people still commuting or teleworking. Which makes location important.
Or some kind of amusement park or camp site, with seasonal income.
Ideally the community would be a craft and makers hub, selling items and services. Though could limit who could join the community and what it could do.
Or a combination of all the above.
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NazT
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« Reply #149 on: March 29, 2010, 08:19:06 am » |
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This is interesting in a self sufficiency kinda way plus the farmer makes his living by it as well. http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/26/sepp-holzer.htmlI'm not suggesting that any of us could afford this scheme but I feel it could maybe inspire people in some way. |
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