Eyesore set to become car park
Chemist Warehouse expansion plan
A DERELICT eyesore on Sheridan St held for the past 15 years by a Victorian-based company has at long last been demolished to make way for a car park.
The infamous stretch of main road that included the rundown Unisex Body Grooming Centre has been largely unmaintained for some time.
But recently the broken louvres, rust-stained window frames and sun-faded lettering was erased from the Cairns city streetscape as demolition crews moved in.
According to property records, land at 59-61 Sheridan St is owned by 59 Sheridan 50 McLeod Pty Ltd, who list a Victorian address shared with Chemist Warehouse’s head office.
Last month Chemist Warehouse parent company CW Retail Services applied to Cairns Regional Council for permission to build a parking station at the site.
It’s likely the car park will be for the use of Chemist Warehouse customers who could soon be parking off Sheridan St and entering the McLeod St shop through the rear of the building.
Employee of a neighbouring business Braden Tyrrell was wary about commenting on changes to the Sheridan St streetscape but was supportive of the development if it meant Music City Cairns customers could use the car park.
“I reckon it would be good in terms of making it more available for customers to come through, because half the time it’s a bit of a struggle for people to find parking out the front. And you have to pay for parking as well,” he said.
Dilapidated city buildings, including Sheridan St properties, were the focus of a council push to tidy up the CBD in 2014 when the authority made $100,000 available on a dollar-for-dollar basis for businesses willing to make improvements to their facades, with the council’s contribution capped at $10,000.
However only four businesses made applications that met the funding criteria.
Included in the vision for the site is an application for a building works permit to construct an awning at the rear of Chemist Warehouse to allow access from the proposed car park into the store.
Glossy artwork reveals a 40 space car park assessable from Sheridan St however in correspondence with the developer, council stated the application was not correctly made and no fee had been paid.
“(And) written consent of the owner of the premises has not been provided,” acting senior planner of development assessment Ali Davey stated.
Chemist Warehouse has been approached through the company’s building arm AMS constructions.