MORE FREMANTLE DOUBLETREE HOTEL DELAY
The ongoing development delays of the Hilton Doubletree hotel on the site at Point, Adelaide and Cantonment streets are very disappointing for Fremantle.
SKS Land Pty Ltd bought the property from the City of Fremantle on November 28, 2012 but all they have done so far is demolish the retail buildings along Adelaide and Point streets and left us with a vacant eyesore that is not looked after well.
Now the company, which is developing three hotels in Perth, wants another two-year extension before building commencement, to January 2020, so eight years after they purchased the property!
There is an option in the sales contract for the CoF to buy back the property but the City is in no financial position to even consider that, and SKS are playing hardball in the knowledge of that.
The item is on Wednesday’s City of Fremantle FPOL Committee’s agenda and the officers recommend to approve the delay but that SKS gives the CoF control over the vacant site for $ 1 per year, to activate the area, and hand back the management of the Point Street carpark, so the City can gain revenue from it for the next two and a half years.
One can only hope that the Woolstores shopping centre commercial/residential development and Adina Hotel by Silverleaf will commence soon as the ongoing delays of buildings that have been approved is holding Fremantle back.
Roel Loopers
FREOVIEW - Fremantle's only daily 
I remember our Mayor visiting Melbourne a few years ago to see their inner city development. The advice they were giving then, was don’t sell your property, retain it and hence retain control. But, it fell on deaf ears!
Paul
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Good idea and the site is much bigger than the one UNDA wants to develop in the West End, but is SKS willing to sell and Notre Dame Uni interested in buying?
Roel
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Another suggestion for the Point Street sight, could be that NDA consider putting their proposed school of nursing there. NDA would not have to comprimise on the height restriction, I am sure they would get the sight for a bargain price, Fremantle Council would recoup some money, the University could expand from the West End, Fremantlw would feel more like a true university city,.
NDA’s proposed theatre would replace the one that was bulldozed on Adelaide Street and perhaps a theatre company could call Fremantle home again.
What do you think Roel ?
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Scrap the desecration of Kings Square with an out of place modern building and turn it back int a public square and put the Council and Library etc to this site. Seems like a win win.
Save Kings Square. Council does not need to be there!
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Classic example of the lack of business acumen on the council. This is the first of many of their deals that will result in a poor outcome for the CoF. In an attempt to get development happening at any expense they have sold our asset base and failed to impose any meaningful conditions on the new owners. Developers have simply taken advantage of the lack of business experience on the council, can’t blame them for that.
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I suggested the same as they have been doing it in other cities David, but SKS don’t seem to care much and the City of Fremantle can’t just take over a private property.
The contracts just need to be more tight and precise.
Roel
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The sight has becoming more and more antisocial and is ugly and depressing. Hard to believe that this sight is in the city centre of what is supposed to be a beautiful heritage city. The city of Fremantle should be ashamed in their role in the saga.
I am sure the city of Fremantle could find the funds if this part of the city was a priority. It is time to accept that no hotel development will occur there, especially given that the Woolstores development will fill a market.
Would this be tolerated if this sight was in the West End ? Really sick and tired of how this development has been miss handled.
More than a year ago, I suggested that they create a green space in the area and link this right through to Clancy’s and the Fremantle Education centre. The City often talk about greening the city…..opportunity.
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As much I can’t stand Trump, we seem to need someone in CoF with the balls to stand up to developers. How can the CoF have got itself into such a clef stick situation?
That a single developer has CoF over a barrel. That CoF hasn’t held back enough cash to act wisely.
This is our city, not the Council, not the Staff, and this is very bad decision making. We have entrusted the Council they have overseen this balls up!
Paul
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