Mixed message on units

Council votes on development applications

SEPARATE applications for apartment developments have had mixed fortunes at the Hobart City Council.

At Monday night’s meeting, council approved a redevelopment of Kodak House in Elizabeth St mall and refused an amended application for apartments at the former site of the Navy Club in Davey St.

In both cases, council voted in line with planning officers’ recommendations.

Giameos Constructions and

Developments received the go- ahead for its redevelopment of the vacant 1920s Kodak House building.

The project will turn the upper levels into five apartments, with an extra storey to be added to the building.

The proposal included demolition of the heritage Kodak House sign on the front of the building — a factor that initially prompted planning officers to recommend refusal.

Alderman Marti Zucco said a refusal of the application on heritage grounds would not pass the “pub test” or the “common sense test”.

Councillor Bill Harvey said as the building had been derelict for 18 years, the redevelopment should be approved.

Deputy lord mayor Helen Burnett said while the apartment proposal was a good reuse of the building, the destruction of the heritage sign was a “deal breaker”.

Council advised the proponent to consider removing and retaining the masonry and neon signs for display within the development.

The painted Kodak signage on the sides of the building will be recreated and the exterior of the building will retain the “Kodak yellow” colour scheme.

Council again rejected a proposal for a $ 10m apartment development at 63 Davey St after the proponent amended the plans to reduce the height of the building.

The 10- storey building would house 21 student apartments plus a further 30 residential apartments.

Mr Harvey said council was not a rubber stamp for developments. “We don’t agree to every single development that comes before us. It’s been clearly indicated that this development is not suitable for this site,” he said.

Aldermen Simon Behrakis, Marti Zucco and Will Coats voted in favour of the apartments.

Mr Behrakis lashed council’s rejection of the apartments. “Talking to developers, the message they are hearing loud and clear is that they need not apply in Hobart, the result being less investment, less housing and less jobs in our city at a time when we need it most,” he said.