20 March 2021

Changing face of Aranda and Cook shops?

| Filipio
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I see a temporary fence has recently been erected around the derelict Aranda shops. Presumably something to do with the ACT government’s notice of intention to terminate the Crown lease held by the current owner/developer.

Any inside story on this?

On a related note, I’ve been told by the owners of the IGA at Cook that the Cook shops are soon to be re-vamped with new landscaping, paving, seating etc taking up some of the existing car-park. Plus a rumour the newly leased premises which had been empty for quite a while (formerly family counselling of some sort) is to be a cafe. This is something I’ve heard many a neighbour in Cook fantasising about.

READ ALSO See Aranda Differently

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I think the first developer was also responsible for the Latham shops. He had 2 goes, the 2nd was better but still packing in too many shoeboxes. “The parking/traffic won’t be a problem because of 40 zone.” Um, no, it’s a School zone !

The 2nd developer actually had a decent proposal. My worry is the “restaurant”. If it is a McDonalds then littering and other offences will rise. That was my experience of James Court when I was nearby in Braddon.

The Aranda shops have been deserted for, what, about ten years now? It’s just too close to Jamo for something like an IGA to survive there, especially since the dramatic facelift the Jamison centre got a few years ago. It went from being a derelict monument to the 1980’s with a Coles in it to a shiny new testament to 21st century consumerism with an even bigger Coles in it and the abandoned shop-fronts are now all home to thriving new businesses.
I just can’t imagine what kind of commercial ventures would do well in such a spot. Maybe an above average restaurant or a real estate office would do okay, but with the amount of variety provided at Jamison combined with the fact that it is literally five minutes walk (or less) from the Aranda shops there doesn’t seem to be much reason to revitalise the place.

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