Council push to ‘activate’ former Le Cornu site until developer is found

A private pop-up operator could run food truck or wine bars at the former Le Cornu as owner Adelaide City Council continues its search for a developer.

A private pop-up operator could take over management of the former Le Cornu site while Adelaide City Council finds a company to start construction of a major development by 2022.

However, ward councillor Phil Martin said the moved showed any real action at the site was still years away.

“It is just confirmation that this development is a long way off,” Cr Martin said told the meeting.

“All of the hopes they had over a year ago when council purchased the land must have evaporated.”

At the meeting, the council discussed how the site — vacant for more than 30 years — could be “activated” to bring more people to the O’Connell St precinct.

The council will decide next week whether it should go to an expression of interest process to lease or license the site to “interested groups of individuals”.

Cr Phil said if the area is opened to food trucks, wine bars or retail, it could have a “detrimental” impact on traders in the short term.

The council bought the Le Cornu site from property mogul Con Makris for $34 million in February 2018 in a bid to fast-track development of the empty lot.

The Makris Group’s last plan for the site included a $200 million development and hotel.

Mr Makris today said he did not expect development for “at least 10 years”.

“I am so happy I sold it,” Mr Makris said.

“What I was going to do there would have been fantastic for Adelaide and would have fixed North Adelaide for good.”

Progress at the old LeCornu site in North Adelaide in 2018. Picture: Matt Turner

Current use of the site, which includes markets, a pop-up maze and public murals, is infrequent — however a new operator could operate seven days a week.

The council approved the use of the site for a program of “activation” events with 60 carparks for up to two years in 2018.

Cr Mary Couros, behind the push, said finding the appropriate developer takes time, so something had to be done in the interim to reinvigorate the site.

“Let’s be realistic, in any development that we do, does it get built in a year?” Cr Couros told the The City after the meeting

“You are looking at a 7500sq m site with major development opportunity … of course it is going to take at least two years.

“In the short term, we can’t leave the site like that.”

If the council receives no suitable expressions of interest applications, it would likely consider temporary parking at the site.

It could write to Planning Minister Stephan Knoll requesting a development plan amendment or submit an application to State Commission Assessment Panel to allow for parking, depending on the amount of spaces it wants.

Acting Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad told the meeting activation or carparking would be well-received by the North Adelaide precinct.

“We are better to have activation rather than no activation,” Mr Abiad said.

Adelaide City Council chief executive Mark Goldstone anticipated construction would begin by 2022, subject to council and planning approval.

“Selection of a preferred development partner is anticipated by the end of this year, subject to council consideration,” he said.

The council will make a decision about whether it should go to EOI process next Tuesday.