I've seen this happen many times
Nice Old Buildings do cost a lot of money in upkeep, and councils do need to make their money somehow.
It's unfortunate, I really do wish there was a way to redevelop these buildings in a manner that keeps the original character.
(
Thinker,
Mon 28 Jul 2008, 9:11,
archived)
Council planning committees are full of distant relatives of developers
Planning departments are full of distant relatives of architects
(
CanonCaliber A big bore,
Mon 28 Jul 2008, 9:55,
archived)