Adelaide Central Market Arcade traders on edge about redevelopment plans
By Tom Fedorowytsch
Posted about 6 hours ago
Adelaide Central Market Arcade Artist's impression
Photo: Artist's impression of the upgrade planned for the Adelaide Central Market Arcade. (Supplied)
Adelaide's Central Market precinct is set for a radical change with a major redevelopment planned for the Central Market Arcade shopping centre.
The Arcade Traders' Association estimates as few as one-third of the 70 traders will remain in the centre with construction due to start in 2020.
The Adelaide City Council insists any changes to the arcade will be "complementary" to the look and feel of the existing Central Market itself.
"We're looking at how we could improve it. We're looking at how we could future-proof it and make it even better than it is today," Lord Mayor Martin Haese said.
"We know we've got to be really methodical, careful and take the community with us every step of the way, to make sure whatever happens in this place, it's something that continues to be loved by all South Australians."
The Central Market Arcade is sandwiched between Victoria Square and the Central Market itself, and is slightly larger than its more prominent neighbour.
After spending 50 years in private hands, the arcade will come back under council control in 2018.
"Ultimately the vision will be dictated by the marketplace, and that'll be influenced by economic conditions and demand," Mr Haese said.
"Maybe there's an opportunity here for development activity above the arcade ... there could be an air rights opportunity, whether that is institutional, education, residential, or office space."
Most traders expected to permanently quit the arcade
Traders have been offered two-year leases by the council with redevelopment work not expected to begin until 2020 at the earliest, but the council will consider a masterplan due this year.
Craig Lunn from the Arcade Traders' Association said there were more concerns over the redevelopment timeframe than the "exciting" project.
He has started a wholesale arm and obtained a food truck licence to steer his cafe through the construction period.
"We don't want to see this site sit idle, which some sites have done in Adelaide for many years, because they go to start development, and it falls over," Mr Lunn said.
"So we want to make sure everything's iron clad and locked in, before they decide to move us out onto the street."
He estimated the project could cost up to $400 million and take at least two years.
"I would've thought that 30 to 40 per cent of the traders would like to stay, but there's some that will not want to come back in, they might feel that sitting out of the development for a couple years is too long and they might have to look at their options to relocate," Mr Lunn said.
"Or some might see this as a time to retire."
Shopkeeper Harry Krieg was not optimistic the work would be done anytime soon.
"We're talking a 10 or 20-year plan, it can't happen overnight ... and look how long it took them to fix Victoria Square, so if that's an indication we've got half of a lifetime left here."
Change unpopular in traditional produce market
Like the Central Market, the arcade has an eclectic mix of independent shops, restaurants and other businesses, as well as a large Coles supermarket.
Some tenants have been trading at the site since before a 1960s redevelopment.
"One of the beauties about coming to the Central Market is not only can you go to all the different stalls and get all your different produce," Mr Lunn said.
"You can still go right next door to Coles and grab that little jar of mayonnaise that you need to finish that dish off, or pop in and pick up your script before going home.
"That's something that other markets don't have — we've got a shopping complex right next to one of the best produce markets in the world."
Shoppers the ABC spoke to expressed concerns about change.
"No wonderful things with stainless steel and marble and all the rest of it. If it's not broken, don't fix it," one said.
Another said: "We would like it not to change too much, to become too much like a supermarket."
"There's a lot of history in the building so it'd be sad to see that go."
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It will be interesting what will come of this group, and how that will reflect in any action taken.
