Podgor Development - Revision history

Philip: Added more information from newspaper articles with dates

2021-01-05T00:56:12Z

Added more information from newspaper articles with dates

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 5 January 2021
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	== Abandonment ==		== Abandonment ==
	Following the 1988 election, the new council sought to extract itself from the deal struck with Pogdor. It was eventually forced to pay Pogdor Developments $25 million in 1992 after it unilaterally backed out of the deal and was sued by the company.<ref name="BattleStations" /> This ~~put~~ the ~~City~~ of ~~Camberwell~~ in ~~a tenuous financial position which almost bankrupted the council~~.<ref ~~name="Camberwell199293AnnualReport"~~>~~Camberwell City Council~~. ''~~City of Camberwell 1992-93 Annual Report~~''. ~~1993~~. ~~Accessed at Camberwell Library~~: ~~LH 338~~.~~7405 CAMB~~</ref> Although the council planned to pay the money buy selling properties and avoid increasing rates, when the council was amalgamated into the [[City of Boroondara]], the new council introduced a one-off rates increase to pay the costs associated with the settlement.<ref>Porter, ~~David~~. ''Council ~~will sell land to pay Pogdor $25 million~~''. ~~27 August~~ 1992. The Age: Melbourne.</ref>		Following the 1988 election, the new council sought to extract itself from the deal struck with Pogdor. It formally withdrew from the contract in September 1989<ref>Bruce, David. ''Camberwell may have to pay $46m over Junction''. 17 August 1991. The Age: Melbourne. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A297334793/STND?u=slv&sid=STND&xid=6b16aa0a, accessed: 5 January 2021</ref> and was eventually forced to pay Pogdor Developments $25 million in 1992 after it unilaterally backed out of the deal and was sued by the company.<ref name="BattleStations" /> This followed a failed appeal to the Supreme Court of Victoria in April 1992.<ref>Magazanik, Michael. ''Council appeal on Podgor case fails''. 1 April 1992. The Age: Melbourne. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A296783652/STND?u=slv&sid=STND&xid=865c485a, accessed: 5 January 2021</ref><ref>Gregory, P. & Porter, D. ''Council breached deal with Podgor, court rules''. 9 May 1992. The Age: Melbourne. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A296781635/STND?u=slv&sid=STND&xid=2c4d71fc, accessed: 5 January 2021</ref>

	This ~~situation contributed to~~ the council~~'s dismissal by the state government in 1993~~.<ref>~~Brewer, Peter~~. ''City ~~Council facing the sack: Kennett~~''. ~~9 July~~ 1993. ~~Canberra Times~~: ~~Canberra~~. ~~http:~~/~~/trove~~.~~nla~~.~~gov~~.~~au/newspaper/article/127238218, accessed~~: ~~4 March 2017~~</ref>		This put the City of Camberwell in a tenuous financial position which almost bankrupted the council.<ref name="Camberwell199293AnnualReport">Camberwell City Council. ''City of Camberwell 1992-93 Annual Report''. 1993. Accessed at Camberwell Library: LH 338.7405 CAMB</ref> Although the council planned to pay the money buy selling properties and avoid increasing rates, when the council was amalgamated into the [[City of Boroondara]], the new council introduced a one-off rates increase to pay the costs associated with the settlement.<ref>Porter, David. ''Council will sell land to pay Pogdor $25 million''. 27 August 1992. The Age: Melbourne.</ref>

	Following the ~~dismisal~~, administrators sold a series of properties and reorganised the Council's finances. Those properties sold were:<ref name="Camberwell199293AnnualReport" />		== Aftermath ==
			This situation resulted in an [[1993 sacking of Camberwell Council\|investigation into Camberwell Council by the State Government]].<ref>Conroy, Paul. ''State orders council inquiry''. 7 July 1992. The Age: Melbourne. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A296784927/STND?u=slv&sid=STND&xid=cb33917a, accessed: 5 January 2021</ref> It also contributed to the council's dismissal by the state government following the investigation in 1993.<ref>Brewer, Peter. ''City Council facing the sack: Kennett''. 9 July 1993. Canberra Times: Canberra. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127238218, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

			Following the dismissal of councillors, administrators sold a series of properties and reorganised the Council's finances. Those properties sold were:<ref name="Camberwell199293AnnualReport" />

	*12 Marden Street, Canterbury (dwelling)		*12 Marden Street, Canterbury (dwelling)
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	These and other actions taken resulted in a budget surplus rather than forecast deficit.		These and other actions taken resulted in a budget surplus rather than forecast deficit.

	~~== Aftermath ==~~
	In the midst of the controversy, the founder and owner of Pogdor Developments, Floyd Podgornik, committed suicide in his Melbourne apartment on 4 March 1990.<ref>Beyer, Andrea. '''Tycoon' what demons drove him?''. Washington Post. 16 November 1990. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/11/16/tycoon-what-demons-drove-him/af5124e6-2f05-416c-affc-155b7ab0283e/?utm_term=.a663c27f6643, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref><ref>Canberra Times. ''Developers body found''. 5 March 1990. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120882677, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref> The CEO of Camberwell Council, [[Brian Jones]], also passed away in 1992.<ref>Carpenter, Ross. ''Edge City''. 2010. http://www.users.on.net/~rcarpenter/images/g4/projects/Edge.html?TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=885, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>		In the midst of the controversy, the founder and owner of Pogdor Developments, Floyd Podgornik, committed suicide in his Melbourne apartment on 4 March 1990.<ref>Beyer, Andrea. '''Tycoon' what demons drove him?''. Washington Post. 16 November 1990. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/11/16/tycoon-what-demons-drove-him/af5124e6-2f05-416c-affc-155b7ab0283e/?utm_term=.a663c27f6643, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref><ref>Canberra Times. ''Developers body found''. 5 March 1990. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120882677, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref> The CEO of Camberwell Council, [[Brian Jones]], also passed away in 1992.<ref>Carpenter, Ross. ''Edge City''. 2010. http://www.users.on.net/~rcarpenter/images/g4/projects/Edge.html?TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=885, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

Philip: Added politics category

2020-04-22T11:43:46Z

Added politics category

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 22 April 2020
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	[[Category:Developments]]		[[Category:Developments]]
	[[Category:Developments in Camberwell]]		[[Category:Developments in Camberwell]]
			[[Category:Politics]]

Philip: /* Abandonment */ Added more info

2020-04-22T11:28:36Z

Abandonment: Added more info

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 == Abandonment ==
-Following the 1988 election, the new council sought to extract itself from the deal struck with Pogdor. It was eventually forced to pay Pogdor Developments $25 million in 1992 after it unilaterally backed out of the deal and was sued by the company.<ref name="BattleStations" /> This put the City of Camberwell in a tenuous financial position which almost bankrupted the council. Although the council planned to pay the money buy selling properties and avoid increasing rates, when the council was amalgamated into the [[City of Boroondara]], the new council introduced a one-off rates increase to pay the costs associated with the settlement.<ref>Porter, David. ''Council will sell land to pay Pogdor $25 million''. 27 August 1992. The Age: Melbourne.</ref>
+Following the 1988 election, the new council sought to extract itself from the deal struck with Pogdor. It was eventually forced to pay Pogdor Developments $25 million in 1992 after it unilaterally backed out of the deal and was sued by the company.<ref name="BattleStations" /> This put the City of Camberwell in a tenuous financial position which almost bankrupted the council.<ref name="Camberwell199293AnnualReport">Camberwell City Council. ''City of Camberwell 1992-93 Annual Report''. 1993. Accessed at Camberwell Library: LH 338.7405 CAMB</ref> Although the council planned to pay the money buy selling properties and avoid increasing rates, when the council was amalgamated into the [[City of Boroondara]], the new council introduced a one-off rates increase to pay the costs associated with the settlement.<ref>Porter, David. ''Council will sell land to pay Pogdor $25 million''. 27 August 1992. The Age: Melbourne.</ref>
 This situation contributed to the council's dismissal by the state government in 1993.<ref>Brewer, Peter. ''City Council facing the sack: Kennett''. 9 July 1993. Canberra Times: Canberra. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127238218, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>
 == Aftermath ==

Philip: Created page with "The '''Podgor Development''' was the term given to a proposed shopping centre in Camberwell in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a controversial project that stimulated vocal op..."

2017-03-04T05:18:57Z

Created page with "The '''Podgor Development''' was the term given to a proposed shopping centre in Camberwell in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a controversial project that stimulated vocal op..."

New page

The '''Podgor Development''' was the term given to a proposed shopping centre in [[Camberwell]] in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a controversial project that stimulated vocal opposition from local residents which eventually resulted in the development being abandoned.

== Background ==
Podgor Developments, owned by Floyd Podgornik, purchased a large site to the east of [[Burke Road]], Camberwell, with approved plans and permits for a three-storey shopping complex from the [[wikipedia:National Mutual Life Association of Australia|National Mutual Life Association]].

=== 1988 Lease ===
In May 1988, Podgor signed a long-term lease agreement with [[City of Camberwell|Camberwell Council]] following a council meeting on 16 May which approved the document. Hundreds of residents attended to protest the decision and stormed the meeting after councillors voted in favour of the agreement. Police were called to maintain order at the meeting, during which several residents were ejected and councillors were forced to retire to a back room.<ref>Slattery, L. ''Camberwell residents storm council''. 17 May 1988. [[wikipedia:The Age|The Age]]: Melbourne. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HEQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2299,4892840&dq=podgor+camberwell&hl=en, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

The lease's term was 75 years with two further 12 year extension options. The planning permit contained in the lease required the developer to provide a total of 2,230 parking spaces to cater for expected demand. Council would also pay a total of $2.3 million to Pogdor in exchange for providing 182 public parking spaces that would then be leased back to the City.<ref>Weigell & Crowther. ''Agreement between Camberwell Shopping Centre Pty. Ltd. ("Pogdor") and the Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of the City of Camberwell ("Camberwell") Agreement''. 16 May 1988.</ref>

== Design ==
[[File:Podgor_lower_level_plan_1985.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Part of the original 1985 floorplans of the development.]]
The proposal was formed around a three-storey shopping centre with underground car parking and associated landscape works. While it went through several iterations before its abandonment in the early 1990s, the key elements remained the same:

* Lower and middle levels with a department store and major retailers including the existing Safety and Target stores
* An indoor 'Central Hub' with speciality shops and pedestrian plaza
* Over 2,200 parking spaces spread over several levels
* An upper level with restaurants and public amenities including a library and creche.

== Reaction ==
=== Resident opposition ===
Save Our Suburbs (SOS) and other resident groups vigorously opposed the redevelopment plans. [[Camberwell-Hawthorn Planning Watch]] was formed in 1988 following the lease's signing. They described themselves as "...a number of local resident groups and individuals who were concerned about the future of the Cities of Hawthorn and Camberwell".<ref name="PogdorAlternative">Flannigan, Nigel. ''An Alternative Approach to the Podgor Development for Camberwell Junction Shopping Streets''. 1988.</ref>

The group used its considerable resources to produce an 'alternative proposal' assisted by Nigel Flannigan, a planning academic at the [[wikipedia:University of Melbourne|University of Melbourne]].<ref name="PogdorAlternative" /> Amongst other things, the proposal outlined the group's key reasons for opposing the Pogdor proposal, including:

* A large shopping centre would attract patronage away from the old shopping strips along Burke, [[Riversdale Road|Riversdale]] and [[Camberwell Road|Camberwell]] Roads
* The design of the building faces away from the public realm and detracts from the character of the area
* Youths would be attracted to the area and increase crime
* The land which was leased to Pogdor was purchased by Camberwell Council using rates collected from local traders and it would be unfair to use this money to fund their direct competitors<ref name="PogdorAlternative" />

This report sought to ensure that any future proposal was made "on the basis that Camberwell District Centre is at or near capacity".<ref name="PogdorAlternative" />

The group continued its activities to oppose the decision for many years, including protesting outside the Camberwell home of a National Mutual Director.<ref name="BattleStations">Button, James. ''Battle stations''. 28 April 2004. The Age: Melbourne. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/27/1082831566692.html, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

=== 1988 council election ===
{{Main|Camberwell Council election, 1988}}
Camberwell Council held its annual election for one councillor in each of its four [[:Category:Wards of Camberwell Council|wards]]. Camberwell-Hawthorn Planning Watch ran its members as candidates in each ward and ousted all four sitting councillors who supported the Podgor development. Sitting councillors were supported by a media campaign paid for by Podgor including television and radio advertisements. The election result meant that the new council were now seven-to-five against the proposal.<ref>McAsey, Jennifer. ''Podgor plan in doubt''. 8 August 1988. The Age: Melbourne. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EEARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fZYDAAAAIBAJ&dq=podgor%20camberwell&pg=4464,5206340, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

== Abandonment ==
Following the 1988 election, the new council sought to extract itself from the deal struck with Pogdor. It was eventually forced to pay Pogdor Developments $25 million in 1992 after it unilaterally backed out of the deal and was sued by the company.<ref name="BattleStations" /> This put the City of Camberwell in a tenuous financial position which almost bankrupted the council. Although the council planned to pay the money buy selling properties and avoid increasing rates, when the council was amalgamated into the [[City of Boroondara]], the new council introduced a one-off rates increase to pay the costs associated with the settlement.<ref>Porter, David. ''Council will sell land to pay Pogdor $25 million''. 27 August 1992. The Age: Melbourne.</ref>

This situation contributed to the council's dismissal by the state government in 1993.<ref>Brewer, Peter. ''City Council facing the sack: Kennett''. 9 July 1993. Canberra Times: Canberra. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127238218, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

== Aftermath ==
In the midst of the controversy, the founder and owner of Pogdor Developments, Floyd Podgornik, committed suicide in his Melbourne apartment on 4 March 1990.<ref>Beyer, Andrea. '''Tycoon' what demons drove him?''. Washington Post. 16 November 1990. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/11/16/tycoon-what-demons-drove-him/af5124e6-2f05-416c-affc-155b7ab0283e/?utm_term=.a663c27f6643, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref><ref>Canberra Times. ''Developers body found''. 5 March 1990. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120882677, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref> The CEO of Camberwell Council, [[Brian Jones]], also passed away in 1992.<ref>Carpenter, Ross. ''Edge City''. 2010. http://www.users.on.net/~rcarpenter/images/g4/projects/Edge.html?TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=885, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref>

The [[Camberwell Fresh Food Market]] and [[Camberwell Sunday Market]] continue to operate on part of the land where the development was proposed.<ref name="CamberwellMarketWebsite">Sier, Kirsty. ''Four Decades of Camberwell Market''. 25 August 2016. Broadsheet. https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/entertainment/article/forty-years-camberwell-market, accessed: 4 March 2017</ref> The at-grade council-owned carpark also remains on the site.

== References ==
<references />

== See also ==

{{Camberwell}}

[[Category:Developments]]
[[Category:Developments in Camberwell]]