Apple looks to offload property for Stockholm store blocked by popular resistance
With its original plans to build a Stockholm store mothballed, Apple is reportedly looking to sell back the Kungstradgarden property it intended to occupy.
An Apple concept render, showing how the store would've jutted into the park and occupied a prominent place.
The company is in the process of trying to sell the site -- still hosting a TGI Friday's -- back to the Swedish city, according to Fastighetsvarlden. One member of Stockholm's Urban Development Committee, Bjorn Ljung, indicated that Apple is aiming for a price of 179 million kronor, or about $19.3 million -- more than the 129 million kronor ($13.9 million) the company first paid.
Apple's concept was opposed not just by conservation groups but the general public, and some government organizations like Stockholm's Beauty Council. The city received approximately 1,800 public responses, nearly all of them standing up to Apple.
Corporate representatives were "completely furious" when the Kungstradgarden store was blocked, Fastighetsvarlden said. A real estate firm, Vasakronan, reportedly offered other city properties as an alternative, all of which Apple turned down.
The Kungstradgarden is a historic park often used for public events, and much of the concern over Apple's plans was that they would've commercialized the space -- TGI Friday's is only able to operate because of a deal specific to cafes and restaurants. City officials would've had to rezone for private retail, and go a step further, granting the company another 375 square meters around its current land.
Apple had promised to host its own events, including concerts, but these would most likely have fallen under the "Today at Apple" banner, intended to draw store traffic.
Apple's retail vision has come into conflict with public realities numerous times in the past. Last July the company was forced to abandon its original design for a shop in Melbourne, Australia after people complained it looked like a Pizza Hut and didn't match surrounding buildings.
An Apple concept render, showing how the store would've jutted into the park and occupied a prominent place.
The company is in the process of trying to sell the site -- still hosting a TGI Friday's -- back to the Swedish city, according to Fastighetsvarlden. One member of Stockholm's Urban Development Committee, Bjorn Ljung, indicated that Apple is aiming for a price of 179 million kronor, or about $19.3 million -- more than the 129 million kronor ($13.9 million) the company first paid.
Apple's concept was opposed not just by conservation groups but the general public, and some government organizations like Stockholm's Beauty Council. The city received approximately 1,800 public responses, nearly all of them standing up to Apple.
Corporate representatives were "completely furious" when the Kungstradgarden store was blocked, Fastighetsvarlden said. A real estate firm, Vasakronan, reportedly offered other city properties as an alternative, all of which Apple turned down.
The Kungstradgarden is a historic park often used for public events, and much of the concern over Apple's plans was that they would've commercialized the space -- TGI Friday's is only able to operate because of a deal specific to cafes and restaurants. City officials would've had to rezone for private retail, and go a step further, granting the company another 375 square meters around its current land.
Apple had promised to host its own events, including concerts, but these would most likely have fallen under the "Today at Apple" banner, intended to draw store traffic.
Apple's retail vision has come into conflict with public realities numerous times in the past. Last July the company was forced to abandon its original design for a shop in Melbourne, Australia after people complained it looked like a Pizza Hut and didn't match surrounding buildings.
Comments
Why would people resist these gorgeous structures?
My town doesn't even have one of these flagship beauties.
1800 responses is a rather small number, but the problem is that very few had voiced any opposing view.
Then, after the September election, the new conservative majority chose to go against Apple.
@TuTut every Swede I know has an iPhone and other Apple products, and what is considered "conservative" in Sweden would be a "lefty" in the USA.
Whether it’s unfounded fears of a data centre or a bustling shop (in a city! Imagine that) - it’s good that apple have turned the page on this.
These stores add value to an area, they keep a very high level of foot traffic which has a halo benefit to the area, others invest in an area when they know Apple will be nearby, because they know the foot traffic alone will boost their business. (Or in the case of data centres, jobs, locally paid taxes and community investment.)
So if Apple’s new attitude is: “you know what, fuck it - we’ll go where we are wanted.” Then I think that’s a good thing.
I doubt that Apple would even notice.
”The new finance citizen council Anna König Jerlmyr (M) told the Real Estate World in December that the city can imagine starting to discuss buying the building from Apple - which was sold for SEK 129 million (which gives a price record of SEK 172,000 / sq.m.).
The crux, however, is that Apple now wants much paid, really much more.According to Björn Ljung, Apple now wants SEK 179 million, ie 50 million more.
- It is far beyond what they paid. They claim that they have put a lot of effort into the project, says Björn Ljung, to the Fastighetsvärlden.
SEK 179 million corresponds to a total of SEK 239,000 / sq.m., based on the area of 750 sqm. It is a full 83 percent higher than the highest square meter price for a commercial property known to the Real Estate World.”