The state government has just approved the demolition of Lonsdale House to enable the widening of Caledonian Lane to service the re-developed Myer Lonsdale Street store. The decision was made solely by the Minister for Planning, who rejected our arguments for a public process and for the adaptive re-use of the building. The Minister had asked the City of Melbourne for comment – despite the building having a grading of B under the Melbourne Planning Scheme, the Council raised no objection to demolition. So a wonderfully iconic and elegant building will now be replaced by another glass box and a widened lane.