Residents of one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs are up in arms over a proposed $230 million development that would tear down a 1960s apartment block and replace it with luxury units.
Dozens of residents and neighbors of the Billyard Ave and Onslow St apartments in Elizabeth Bay, in Sydney’s east, met the NSW Land and Environment Court this week to express their fury at the developer’s plan Fortis to transform the 28-unit block.
Warren Fahey AM of the Potts Point Preservation Group said the proposal would be “detrimental” to the area’s architectural heritage and community cohesion.
“It’s not the most important building, but in our area you have to understand that there is only 1 kilometer that covers Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point and Kings Cross, and we are losing homes at an appalling rate,” he told ABC Radio. Thursday.
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone in the state or city who is paying attention to help us, so residents have gotten angry and are protesting.”
Dozens of residents and neighbors of this 1960s apartment building in Elizabeth Bay oppose the proposed demolition of the complex
The City of Sydney rejected the development application, but Fortis is appealing the decision to the Land and Environment Court.
Fahey said he and other angry community members were not against all development, but rather what he called “unnecessary development,” noting that the development would degrade housing supply by reducing the number of units to 22.
He said there were five DAs in the area and if they were all approved, the total number of apartments would collapse from 174 to 73.
“That’s a 56 percent loss,” he said.
Artist’s impression of the proposed Fortis development at Elizabeth Bay in Sydney’s east
But no one sleeps in bed, nor studio apartments.
“If we continue to become a yuppie kingdom, we will eliminate all the interesting parts of the history of this area, and this includes the young people and the elderly, who simply cannot afford to spend millions on apartments and that is what is happening before our eyes.’
Fahey also criticized the style and technical aspects of Fortis’ proposal.
“(The) excessive height, volume, scale, insufficient setbacks and, frankly, lacks design excellence,” he said.
‘It is detrimental to the area. We don’t believe that good, solid buildings from the ’60s, ’70s and ’50s should be torn down just so some developer can build some luxury apartments.’
‘We want the architectural landscapes of the streets to remain practically as they are. We are not against development.
“We are just against unnecessary development and we don’t want the social fabric to be changed so that young people and old people can’t afford to live here.”
Many say the proposal would be “detrimental” to Elizabeth Bay (pictured) and its architectural heritage and community cohesion.
The court has the power to overturn council decisions on developments, but Fahey suggested community anger was gaining ground in the battle for the block.
A Fortis spokeswoman said the developer would continue to engage with the community on the project.
“The community is at the heart of our work and we remain open to addressing issues as they arise,” the spokeswoman said.
“We always consider relevant feedback and collaborate with the local community and planning authorities to achieve the best development outcomes for each location.”