Road works and cranes seem to be symbols of dynamic development and Manchester's cityscape is dotted with a profusion of them.
A few exciting hubs are re-emerging around Ancoats, Piccadilly and St Peter Square - to focus on the city centre.
Here in Ancoats (top of the Northern Quarter) we are surrounded by potentially fantastic living and working places but they are all empty shells. The economic downturn is here very tangible as most developments have been on stand-by for the past 18 months at least.
But not everything is doom and gloom as Sarah Tower, located between Blossom Street and Jersey Street, and 42nd street are the latest development to be reactivated with work starting this month.
Another interesting project that made the news (again) on Thursday in the MEN was the future of Manchester's London Rd Fire Station.
Owned by Britannia Group, who has been granted various permissions to start work and who has been mentioned over the years (MEN, BBC, Manchester Confidential), the building is at the heart of a polemic between its owner and Manchester City Council.
The CPO (Compulsory purchase order) is still in the news and we will hear a final say in a few months from now.
Argent, responsible for some of the most exciting developments across Manchester city centre (Piccadilly Place, One Piccadilly Garden, The Hive), are striking again in the civic heart of Manchester with Elisabeth House on St Peter's Sq.
St Peter's Square, with the Central Library and the Town Hall extension, is going through a multimillion pound facelift.
Summer 2010 saw 5 projects nominated with inspirational designs for the redevelopment of the square.
Now down to 3 shortlisted (with results in the coming weeks), it seems that September might see the beginning of the Elisabeth House project.
The project is taking shape slowly so watch this space.
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