TAS/ HOBART - #APPROVED: Cnr of Argyle & Melville Streets - 11L / office

[Chuq]

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story...0-3462,00.html

Note that this is different to the other "Argyle St" thread in this forum - that is a 12st on Cnr Argyle/Liverpool St.

Extra storeys get nod from council
Article from: The Mercury

MICHELLE PAINE

December 18, 2007 12:00am

A CENTRAL Hobart development has been approved with two extra storeys.
Hobart City Council last night approved an 11-floor development on the corner of Argyle and Melville which would have a supermarket, public parking spaces and offices.

Aldermen also voted in favour of a car park extension proposed by Calbourne Nominees at Centrepoint that would add four extra levels and 280 car spaces, creating 814 in the building.

The Argyle St development -- separate to one proposed opposite the Royal Hobart Hospital -- was to be lower, but Ald Marti Zucco suggested further could be added.

Council staff advised against the two storeys, but the council approved them eight to four.

Deputy Mayor Eva Ruzicka said the city was crying out for high-qualify office space.

She said A-grade office space in central Hobart was urgently needed to avoid a repeat of the direct factory outlets and the move of Hydro Consulting to Cambridge.

Planning committee member Darlene Haigh said the height would have an impact on the cityscape.

"While it's under the height limit, it will have a severe impact on the buildings of Melville St," Ald Haigh said.

But most aldermen said the area was a dead zone that needed to be enlivened and improved, and that the Menzies redevelopment had far more heritage concerns yet was approved.

The Webster building will be knocked down to make way for the development, which would include 597 car spaces, including 437 for the public.

The level was still within height restrictions for the area.

Alderman John Freeman said the council would struggle to justify its decision if the owner took a rejection to a higher tribunal, because it fitted the planning scheme and rules, a point supported by Ald Elise Archer.

[CULWULLA]

great news, any project over 10storeys will be a much awaited additon to hObart

[LanceDriver]

yes, sounds good!

[Tassieboy]

Has anything happened? Tasmania again

[OptomistOne]

This project was effectively cancelled around 12 months ago in its proposed form.

However, I understand that the owners of the site still have plans for a major office development but without the retail/supermarket component. I think they got spooked because the Wellington Centre, being such a large project with a similiar profile, is also definitely proceeding.

Therefore not likely to see much happening for a while - although this is Hobart after all - so while projects seem to stall sometimes new ones just come out of the blue!

[Tassieboy]

Oh well; there is plenty of new ones going ahead still.