Hamilton Hall - SOLD

[Stuart]

Just read this in The Courier.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004 ... 3708t0.asp

Our favourite Quaestor and Factor, Derek Watson, appears to think that this is great news. A typical spin from a man who has spent most of his professional life closing down hospitals.

So, as well as increasing rents to a level that most of us will struggle to afford, the University has now decided to embark on a programme of selling off our halls?

I've never stayed in Hamilton, but I find myself really angry about this. It's one the University's landmark buildings - what will be next? Sallies? Chattan? Regs?

Also, isn't it funny how they have decided to do this during the summer, when most of us are out of town and won't notice?

[Mario]

Whilst Hamilton is the jewel in the crown hall-wise, surely this is too good an offer to turn down? So long as the money is invested sensibly (and its the job of the association to ensure this happens) then the students could potentially benefit massively from the sale.

[richey]

*sighs* It was inevitable....we knew Hamilton was up for sale and had been on the market for a few years. *sobs*

[Al]

Does anyone actually click on, and read, the links people provide here? The hall has not been sold. Yet.

What is obvious is that - for whatever reason - the university wants to get rid of it. £20 million? Seems a very low price. The house on the Links is likely to sell for £1.5m plus.

[hr]Life is too important to be taken seriously.

[randypanthegoatboy]

Em no bothered i'll still be living in Albany Park next year. Still be getting on with my degree and still trying to get laid.

Party on.

[ka25]

i think it is a bit of a shame if it is sold. never lived there and barely been in the building but it won't seem as good as flats. there was always something nice about seeing a hall of residence on tv whilst watching the golf.

[hr]save a tree, eat a beaver

[Prophet Tenebrae]

Didn't everyone get an e-mail about it anyway? I imagine that it'll be replaced with more soul-less shoddily constructed prefabs on the outskirts of St. Andrews because let's not kid ourselves - the university craves suitcases full of money.

Ha, I wouldn't be surprised if they actively started trying to flog Regs/Macintosh etc.

But yes technically not sold yet and if the e-mail is to be believed it won't be happening until 2006 - so it's not as though you're out on your ear if you were promised a place there but I love alarmist threads so by all means...

IF YOU'RE IN HAMILTON START PISSING YOURSELF!

[The Cellar Bar]

[s]Al wrote on 09:46, 9th Jul 2004:
£20 million? Seems a very low price. The house on the Links is likely to sell for £1.5m plus.

that in itself shows just how financially astute the Great Librarian and his crew of perps really are.
I can't remember right now just how many rooms there are in Hamilton but rework them into a series of luxury flats "to be marketed globally" and you can bet your butt that this American company will be laughing all the way to the bank. And most of the laughter will be directed towards those who flogged it.

It also makes you wonder just how apposite the phrase "made an offer we can't refuse actually is". To accept an offer that comes out of the blue, with no suggestion that they upped the ante once they knew someone was interested, shows just how deficient those clowns really are.
"We'll give you 20 mill for it"
"Done"
"You certainly have been"

Mindful of the fact that the previous Princ was intimately involved in the company that negotiated with the University for the Gateway debacle and that the present dolt is intimately involved with St. Leonards School and certain real estate deals that they are involved in right now, this is yet another indication of what this University is really all about. Some might not care because they have a roof (of sorts) over their heads down at the Gatty, but short termism like that is precisely why St. Andrews University plc is getting away with so much of what it is up to right now.

[tordenskjold]

I'm not quite sure why the university is getting more and more interested in squeezing money out of everyone and everything. I thought it was supposed to be a place of academia and not some money spinning factory for producing cut price graduates (well not even that it seems). Hamilton will obviously be sold and when it does I will have just graduated. It just goes to show about how the uni is losing its soul and spirit. Hamilton is such a landmark it would be a travesty to sell it to some Americans who are going to make a killing from it. Sadly the way the uni is behaving is purely based on one thing and it is not preserving the spirit of the university.

[Guest]

if that little house (2 bedrooms) is sold for 1.5 mill. then hamilton should at least be worth 40. If they only want to build 7 apartements its their problem. I am sure they will find millionaires reay to splash out on them. The demand is just enourmous. I however think they should make a hotel ou tof it. It would make them more money on the long run. A hilton is st andrews! ;o)

[Guest]

[s]Mario wrote on 09:28, 9th Jul 2004:
Whilst Hamilton is the jewel in the crown hall-wise, surely this is too good an offer to turn down? So long as the money is invested sensibly (and its the job of the association to ensure this happens) then the students could potentially benefit massively from the sale.



Not really, they'l know doubt use the dosh to build more expensive accommodation with the atmosphere of new hall.

[Guest]

[s]Al wrote on 09:46, 9th Jul 2004:
Does anyone actually click on, and read, the links people provide here? The hall has not been sold. Yet.


I suppose since the title of the thread is 'Hamilton Hall - SOLD' people may have had due cause to think that it had in fact ben sold. This, however, is only my humble opinion.

[Saki]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 10:44, 9th Jul 2004:
if that little house (2 bedrooms) is sold for 1.5 mill. then hamilton should at least be worth 40. If they only want to build 7 apartements its their problem. I am sure they will find millionaires reay to splash out on them. The demand is just enourmous. I however think they should make a hotel ou tof it. It would make them more money on the long run. A hilton is st andrews! ;o)


The article said 26 luxury timeshare flats. Undoubtedly £20 million is paltry considering that.

[nova]

As an ex-hamiltonian, I have to say I have mixed feelings about this sale. I did hear talk of this before, although the price tag I had heard of was £80m. However given the way the rumour mill works in St. Andrews, it was hard to take the entire story seriously, let alone the price. In many ways it is a great shame - several generations of St. Andrews students have been lucky enough to live in that magnificent building and it seems very sad that future alumni will not have the same opportunity. Nonetheless there was a time when the university was in desperate need of cash like this so perhaps old habits just die hard. I very much hope they find something constructive to do with that money, unlike the time when they spent several million building The Gateway, only for the whole thing to fall flat on its face in spectacular fashion. I gather they have bought it back now and intend to turn it into accommodation for the Business and Management dept. Mmmmm. Can we say 'good investment' children?
That said, Hamilton was an expensive hall to run, and despite the fact that, as several people have pointed out, it may well be worth more than the £20m the university is getting paid for it, they would never be able to make such a huge amount of it themselves. I can't exectly see the university going into the timeshare letting market, so why not sell?
In any case I wouldn't get too eager to start mourning the takeover of St. Andrews by the corporations. After all Hamilton has only been Hamilton for the past 55 years. For the 55 years before that it was the Grand Hotel and propbably put up its fair share of Americans for the night.


[hr]"I slopped at the corner on cold chow mein and shot billiards with a midget until the rain stopped."

Tom Waits.

[me]

Don't forget that theyd have to spend a huge amount of money doing it up first. theyll probably spend at least another 20 to thirty million.

[Stuart]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 12:14, 9th Jul 2004:
[s]Al wrote on 09:46, 9th Jul 2004:[i]
Does anyone actually click on, and read, the links people provide here? The hall has not been sold. Yet.


I suppose since the title of the thread is 'Hamilton Hall - SOLD' people may have had due cause to think that it had in fact ben sold. This, however, is only my humble opinion.
[/i]

Yes, ok, my fault. It hasn't actually been sold yet, but I get the impression that the agreement has been reached, and the completion date will shortly be upon us.

[hr]
“That is a Citroen”, said Rose Stanley about a motor car that had passed by. “They are French”.

[echo]

Eh wasn't Hamilton a hotel for rich people until the early 50's (sold to the Uni in 49)? OK not yesterday but hardly the cradle of St Andrews University civilisation. Funny how quickly things become essential to the experience of a place. The outrage all seems a little synthetic.

[hr]Manchester, so much to answer for

[Scully]

The fact that they might sell Hamilton is a shame, but i'm more worried about this new, modern, luxury accommodation for the students they woud build. How expensive is that going to be, as the DRH Apartments aren't exactly student friendly on the price front- i'm worried they are just going to price some students out of the market, as there is only limited places in Fife and Albany Park. I have to pay for accomodation out of student loan, and at this rate, only rich people will be able to afford to go to st Andrews!

[Pedant]

I find it fascinating that people are so vociferous when they know so little.

[S.P.I.G]

Viva la revolution!!!