Our Dance Academy plans were thwarted
OH HOW I struggled holding in my screams and shouts of frustration on reading the headline I'll Bring Dance Academy Back to Life" (Tuesday).
This was not through disapproval, for such an architectural wonder and marvellous building of Victorian craftmanship deserves nothing more than tender restoration. No, my frustrations were born out of disbelief.
Why? In the early part of 2010 I and a small group of like-minded businessmen got together to discuss the very same building. Plans were set in motion to draw up our own restoration programme for the beautiful Grade 2 listed building.
After lengthy public research it was noticed that the general consensus was one of fondness for the Dance Academy, and that it should be saved from neglect and if possible restored to its former glory as The Palace Theatre as it was on its opening in 1898.
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Unfortunately, back then, we were thwarted at every step with problems including some from the likes of English Heritage, The Theatres Trust and Victorian Society. But our main hurdle, and most frustrating obstacle, was in persuading the present owner Mr Manoucehr Bahmanzadeh to part with this marvel.
In our efforts we managed to find original photographs, drawings and plans of the spectacular interior. Such was our passion that we tracked down skilled stonemasons and craftsman whose skills would see the internal structure restored with as much skill and splendour as its original designer wished for.
However, I would like to wish Mr Bahmanzadeh all the luck with his proposed plans, and can't wait to see the Dance Academy once again become iconic within Plymouth's cultural heritage.
PIP MORGAN
Via email
Comments
by timplymouth
Sunday, July 29 2012, 10:21AM
“He was only in jail for a couple years and yet the building is literally falling apart. Clearly he wasn't maintaining it properly in the first place.”
by itar5127
Saturday, July 28 2012, 8:55PM
“Don't denigrate Aldi - it at least has an incremental attitude to the services it provides to the community - it has not started out brash, is obvious, and improves the area in stages.
This is not the same with Lidl (next to overgrown sidewalk/path that it said would be trimmed, closed public houses) or opposite Aldi (Grand Hotel that is anything but, closed shops with rotting frontages), or the (ex) Pine Shop , Tattoo parlour and closed discount warehouse opposite the Dance Acadamy, so get real will you! How about getting into the Discount Warehouse former lodging - or is that building not good enough for whatever purposes you wanted The Dance Acadamy for, or was it just that was the point - it was someone elses?”
by jaygeek1
Saturday, July 28 2012, 5:57PM
“Well said Davedave2.
Goodluck to you PIP MORGAN in looking for another unfortunate person to take advantage of and make money out of.
Next time make plans on a building you own instead of attempting to take advantage of someone elses misfortunes.
So many business people make me feel so sick.”
by DaveDave2
Saturday, July 28 2012, 3:50PM
“I'm not really sure why you're expressing disbelief at Mr Bahmanzadeh. He owns the building and is under no obligation to sell it to anyone. The fact that he was imprisoned for so long has long been a source of controversy amongst those of us in Plymouth who found the Dance Academy was one of the few places you could still enjoy yourself on a night out in Union Street. Since its demise, Union Street has become a sewer of teenage drinking/fighting clubs and smack-heads. What would be the point of restoring the building in such an area of utter deprivation unless you've got a suitable use for it? No client is going to want a high-brow venue sandwiched between Aldi and the druggies/drunks. It would be a target for drunken vandalism and theft. The building worked well as the Dance Academy, and it might breathe some much-needed life back into the area if it came back.”
by itar5127
Friday, July 27 2012, 7:43PM
“Will you pass the information onto Mr Bahmanzadeh if asked for? Or at least the location of such information if in the public domain.
Did you perform any search on the Grand Hotel opposite and along? - that area of Union Street is looking very dilapidated compared to the Dance Acadamy and it dates from the same era - especially as the tree in the chimney is approaching its 20th year, and closure the 40th year.”