US Embassy goes on sale for £90m

[homesick_american 1]

Eh? I haven't heard a peep about this. The alt tag on the BBC's website says the building closed last month. #######? That can't be right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6610419.stm

The United States Embassy in London has gone on sale with a £90m price tag.

The building, in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, is being marketed as an ideal venue for a five-star hotel.

It is part of a global sell-off of US embassies, residences and diplomatic premises as staff are moved to locations with increased security.

An embassy spokeswoman said they were "pursuing alternatives... to provide a modern secure facility for this important mission".

Military history

The New Statesman has reported the US is moving its embassy to a property in Isleworth, west London, or Greenwich in south London.

Any new premises will have to meet strict safety requirements brought in after the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and tightened after the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001.

Those that do not, or cannot be upgraded, with the exception of about 150 "culturally significant" properties and others given special waivers, must be abandoned by US diplomats.

The 133,300 sq ft property has 939 years left on the 999-year lease.

General Dwight Eisenhower is said to have worked there in the 1940s while planning the invasion of North Africa in World War II.

Edited May 1, 2007 by homesick_american

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Eh? I haven't heard a peep about this. The alt tag on the BBC's website says the building closed last month. #######? That can't be right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6610419.stm

I heard something about the Embassy needing to move, but the alt tag is wrongwrongwrong! Who's going to volunteer to let them know they need to research a bit more thoroughly? I mean, come on, BBC -- like the US Embassy would close COMPLETELY without having a place to move to?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Who's going to volunteer to let them know they need to research a bit more thoroughly? I mean, come on, BBC -- like the US Embassy would close COMPLETELY without having a place to move to?

Tee hee -- stepped up to my own challenge and just let the BBC have it!

(Can you tell my boss is on holiday this week? )

[rebeccajo 14]

Who's gonna buy that ugly London eyesore?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Ooh, more inaccuracies:

"General Dwight Eisenhower is said to have worked there [the Embassy] in the 1940s while planning the invasion of North Africa in World War II." (BBC newsitem)

Now, I knows me some London architecture and I knew this had to be wrong. I mean, there was no way that building predated about 1955, so how could Eisenhower have worked there during WWII? So I decided to look on the Embassy website (as our hapless correspondent might have had he/she done some fact checking) and there is a very good little potted history of the Embassy there: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcambldg.html And indeed, the building was designed by Eero Saarinen (who designed an ice hockey rink in my hometown, of all things) and completed in 1960. Eisenhower was indeed in Grosvenor Square during the war, but he was at one of the old Embassy buildings, 1 Grosvenor Square. I see what the writer was aiming at -- Eisenhower worked at the Embassy during the war -- but it was not the current embassy. Should have been clearer...

Hmmm...I really should do some real work...

[flutter95 4]

Ooh, more inaccuracies:

"General Dwight Eisenhower is said to have worked there [the Embassy] in the 1940s while planning the invasion of North Africa in World War II." (BBC newsitem)

Now, I knows me some London architecture and I knew this had to be wrong. I mean, there was no way that building predated about 1955, so how could Eisenhower have worked there during WWII? So I decided to look on the Embassy website (as our hapless correspondent might have had he/she done some fact checking) and there is a very good little potted history of the Embassy there: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcambldg.html And indeed, the building was designed by Eero Saarinen (who designed an ice hockey rink in my hometown, of all things) and completed in 1960. Eisenhower was indeed in Grosvenor Square during the war, but he was at one of the old Embassy buildings, 1 Grosvenor Square. I see what the writer was aiming at -- Eisenhower worked at the Embassy during the war -- but it was not the current embassy. Should have been clearer...

Hmmm...I really should do some real work...

Thats funny, you can tell your boss isn't there!

But seriously though, thats one ugly building to want to buy.

[homesick_american 1]

I just reported it too. Told them they were pathetic.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I just reported it too. Told them they were pathetic.

Ta! I just wrote mine in a "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" fashion.

Whatever developer buys the eyesore/carbuncle/pile of sh*t will hopefully tear it down. I shall come back there for that event and dance in the demolition dust!!!

[MaydayDas 1]

I am gonna buy the Embassy :devil: :devil: ...to approve all the visas for you guys :P

[homesick_american 1]

Ooh, more inaccuracies:

"General Dwight Eisenhower is said to have worked there [the Embassy] in the 1940s while planning the invasion of North Africa in World War II." (BBC newsitem)

Now, I knows me some London architecture and I knew this had to be wrong. I mean, there was no way that building predated about 1955, so how could Eisenhower have worked there during WWII? So I decided to look on the Embassy website (as our hapless correspondent might have had he/she done some fact checking) and there is a very good little potted history of the Embassy there: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rcambldg.html And indeed, the building was designed by Eero Saarinen (who designed an ice hockey rink in my hometown, of all things) and completed in 1960. Eisenhower was indeed in Grosvenor Square during the war, but he was at one of the old Embassy buildings, 1 Grosvenor Square. I see what the writer was aiming at -- Eisenhower worked at the Embassy during the war -- but it was not the current embassy. Should have been clearer...

Hmmm...I really should do some real work...

The BBC is really getting pathetic. The site is riddled with grammar errors and their geography is piss-poor. I must have sent about 20 corrections during Hurricane Katrina; I even offered to send them a damn atlas.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I just reported it too. Told them they were pathetic.

How do you report inaccuracies to BBC?

(I've seen serious miscalculations in their series on India automobile industry--just one of a plethora of places)

[homesick_american 1]

I just reported it too. Told them they were pathetic.

How do you report inaccuracies to BBC?

(I've seen serious miscalculations in their series on India automobile industry--just one of a plethora of places)

Via the 'contact us' link at the bottom of almost every page.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Thats funny, you can tell your boss isn't there!

Oh yeah, savouring his absence biggie style! I adore him, but he is one of those people who exude anxiety and is the world's worst when it comes to prioritising work. I get scads more done when he isn't around. However, I am now scuttling down to the boardroom to drink champagne -- one of my co-workers is getting married this weekend so I suppose I have to celebrate. Won't enjoy it though, not one bit, none of that champagne for me...

[Londonlassie 0]

You have all put a huge smile on my face....thankyou!!!

And, I loved the idea of someone buying it up and handing out visas to everyone.

Thanks

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I just reported it too. Told them they were pathetic.

How do you report inaccuracies to BBC?

(I've seen serious miscalculations in their series on India automobile industry--just one of a plethora of places)

Via the 'contact us' link at the bottom of almost every page.

Is it able to take a book (say about the size of "Gray's Anatomy") of volume?