BUDGET FUNDING FOR BURT STREET DEVELOPMENT

It appears that there finally will be commencement of construction of the $ 90 million residential development at Fremantle’s Burt Street, just up the hill from the Fremantle Arts Centre, and on the border with East Fremantle.

$ 35 million has been set aside in yesterday’s WA Government’s budget for the development, so let’s hope they will be starting on it soon.

Roel Loopers

MANIFESTOS SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE AND VISIONARY

Below my-slightly altered- Roel’s Round column in the Fremantle Herald this week:

I was disappointed with the Manifesto the Fremantle Society published in the Fremantle Herald last week. I thought it was very light on and lacked innovative suggestions for the future of Fremantle. A manifesto should be comprehensive and visionary. It is not good enough to say you don’t want taller buildings in the West End, on Victoria Quay, and the old town, whatever the latter means, and that “The location of taller new development should go elsewhere in Fremantle” But where? Why not specify it? That’s what a big picture manifesto should be doing.

Fremantle Council approved Planning Scheme Amendment 49 about ten years ago, targeting 13 CBD sites for substantial development. Which locations in Fremantle are suitable to taller buildings of 6-12 storeys, according to the Society? Where can we create the necessary urban infill to build many more homes, and make serious inroads into the current housing and rental crisis? Where are the boundaries of the “old town” does it stop at Parry Street, or Point Street, or even further east at James Street?

I absolutely agree that high-rise in the West End is not on, and would also not like to see that on Victoria Quay, but the Fremantle Society is on record of opposing in the past two six-storey bookmark buildings at either side of Victoria Quay, so they do not approve of medium-rise at the port either.

The Fremantle Society opposed the Little Lane eight-storey medium-rise apartment building next to Target, and also expressed opposition to the eight-storey medium-rise residential plans by Sirona Urban for the Point Street carpark site. The Society should be clear what they mean when they say they oppose taller buildings, when they also are against medium-rise in the inner city. What does the Society believe is acceptable building height for our inner city?

There is little doubt in my mind that Hesperia will want to add a few storeys when they develop the Elders woolstores opposite Clancy’s. The renders of the current Coles woolstores development, by Silverleaf Investments, also indicate they might want to construct a building, or buildings, higher than ten storeys behind the current development, so Fremantle will have to get used to taller buildings in the inner city.

I do agree with the Manifesto that the WA Government should create a Fremantle Redevelopment Authority, because the huge port precinct development, when the working port moves to Kwinana, is so significant for our city that is demands cohesive, excellent and long-term planning, where housing diversity should be a priority. The redevelopment authority (EPRA) worked very well in East Perth, where they created well designed buildings and streetscape and a real community lifestyle.

No one wants to see only tall concrete boxes. For example the large Point Street residential development would for me ideally have a beautiful streetscape off 2-4 storey townhouses along Adelaide Street, and maybe duplicate that along Cantonment Street. The eight-storey apartment building could rise up behind the terrace houses. Ground level retail is not necessarily good, as shops close at 5pm and create dark streets.

What I was hoping to get from the Manifesto is ideas, instead of only saying what the Fremantle Society opposes. For example, the Manifesto states that housing is not good for the Fremantle Oval development, and I wonder why that is. Why not, and what does the Fremantle Society suggests should be developed there? We desperately need more people living in the inner city.

I would love to see Fremantle Oval become a real community space, a place where people can gather, even when there are no music or sports events on. A kind of parkland, with some medium-rise apartment buildings of up to 6-7 storeys, a modern gym, a nice cafe/bar, and a 24/7 activation. Could Fremantle Oval diversify and also cater for other sports, such as athletics, by creating a running track around the oval, where there was a cycling track in the past?

Substantial development in the Fremantle CBD is not only inevitable, it is desirable, and we need to lose that fear of taller buildings. What we have to demand is excellence, innovation, and creativity in architecture. We need new iconic buildings, that will become the heritage of the future. Our city needs to grow to prosper.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE SOCIETY’S LOW-RISE MANIFESTO

The Fremantle Herald published the Manifesto of the Fremantle Society today, that calls for a Fremantle Development Authority, with input from local experts. That does not sound too bad, since local councils realistically have already lost control over city planning, with developments of over $ 2 million being assessed by JDAP.

But there is always a danger that the opinions of local experts might get ignored by a larger panel of planning, traffic and design experts.

The Manifesto states that Victoria Quay, the West End, and the historic town should not have any tall development, but that is should go elsewhere. That is unrealistic and contrary to the urban infill requirements of the WA government.

The Manifesto rightly complains about the lack of proper steam cleaning of our footpaths. It really is an unsightly mess! And their frustration that the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has left for Claremont, also annoys many Freo people, including this blogger.

I wonder though why the Fremantle Society believes focusing on housing for the development of Fremantle Oval is the wrong priority? We have an enormous housing crisis, and while I would not like to see the Claremont Oval development emulated in Fremantle, some multi-storey residential buildings should most definitely be considered for the future of our Freo Oval.

I know redevelopment authorities well. I was the photographer for the East Perth Redevelopment Authority for seven years, and for the Midland Redevelopment Authority for eleven years, plus a three-year stint as the photographer for the Armadale Redevelopment Authority.

The best one, I believe, has been East Perth. I really enjoy walking there. They have created a really good sense of town centre and community, with lovely medium-rise buildings, great streetscapes, and the Claisebrook Inlet also works very well. Midland was a bit of a mixed bag, that failed to really make the old railway workshops a feature, and the bland Subi Centro redevelopment does not work, in my opinion.

The Fremantle Society Manifesto ends with stating that development of Victoria Quay should respect the height of the existing sheds and not introducing highrise. I have little doubt that buildings of medium-rise, higher that the low heritage sheds, will be seen on Victoria Quay in the foreseeable future. It’s a reality of modern life, that even the Fremantle Society will have to learn to accept one day soon.

Roel Loopers

YELLOW SBIKE AT FREO’S FOMO

Did I ever mention that I like street photography? Nah, probably only a few thousand times in my life.

I took the above photo late afternoon this Wednesday at Freo’s FOMO in William Street.

Roel Loopers

BUILD TO RENT POINT STREET DEVELOPMENT?

I contacted Sirona Urban, to find out what progress they are making with the substantial Point Street development plans, that are very important for Fremantle and the current housing crisis. It would create homes for around 500 people, so that would be a 25% increase of inner city residents.

Sirona’s managing director Matthew McNeilly told me his company is considering making the massive development a build to rent one, and that requires some rethinking and redesign, but if all goes to plan, they hope to start construction late this year. That would be great!

Roel Loopers

LIFE IS A SHORT WONDERFUL CHALLENGE

The sudden death of very likeable Fremantle Ports CEO Michael Parker at the age of only 52, and the death of my good mate Henty Farrar last year, who died within three months of having been diagnosed with a brain tumor, made me contemplate how important it is to get the balance of life right.

It is so difficult to resist the performance pressure we are all under from an early age. We are expected to excel at school, university, work, and with our partnerships. Nothing short of perfection is acceptable, and that often creates huge emotional stress. Many believe they have failed, because they are not great at everything, and they end up with depression.

We live in a time of mad and unsustainable consumerism and entitlement. We demand that our governments bail us out, because we allegedly have the right to a better lifestyle. We whinge about everything, and the main media and politicians in opposition are happy to play the game, and keep telling us that we deserve better and that our governments are failing us. That creates a social media environment of accusations, blame, conspiracy and nastiness.

I have no doubt that there are a lot of people who are battling with the cost of living crisis, but I am doubtful that it is as dramatic as the media want us to believe. As someone who lives on the government pension, that is $ 1,300 a fortnight, I am managing well and refrain from exuberance and over spending. My food shopping is deliberate, so I often buy what is on special. I only go out once a week for a few drinks and share a meal with a mate, and I no longer travel. But I am far away from any hardship. I have a secure, albeit small, income, and secure tenure of the small inner city apartment I live in, and I no longer drive a car. They are small sacrifices I am happy to accept, as long as it enables me to continue to live in Fremantle, the city I love.

The world is full of people who have a sense of entitlement. They believe it should be their right to earn more every year, and that governments should do more for them, without raising taxes or council rates. They believe they have a right to a bigger car, bigger TV, bigger fridge, bigger holidays, etc. The me, me, me society is ruthless in its selfishness. Why care about climate change and rising sea levels, when I want to build a house close to the coast. I have a right to uninterrupted views when I build and no one should be allowed to take them from me.

We go through a long period of our lives getting the balance all wrong, believing life is all about achievement, making a career and earning a lot of money. We forget to take time out to play, relax, and contemplate what life is all about. We forget that life is not indefinite, but only that relatively short period where we make the ends between birth and death meet. Life does not come with guarantees. Shit happens. We are here today, but might be gone tomorrow, so why are we so negative about most things and have so little tolerance?

We’ll all die, and some of us sadly die far too young. And every time that happens should be a wake up call for us all, that life is so much more than career and possessions, and that we should be grateful every day for good friends, good health, and our families. We need to relearn to milk the day, to see and appreciate the beauty in life. We should not allow the negativity of the main and social media, and that of opposition politicians, confuse us into believing all the rubbish that is thrown at us.

As someone who survived two deep and long depressions, I have learned to constantly look for the small beauties that life offers us. It can be something as simple for this photographer as noticing a reflection in a window, a car bonnet, a rainwater puddle, or the lovely smile of someone who takes my coffee order, or a stranger telling me how much they like this blog.

I am immensely grateful that I live in Freo, where most people care and are willing to share. Life is so much better than what the media wants us to believe. Life is good, because most people in the world are good. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Roel Loopers

ARTY IMPRESSIONS OF THE PERTH BIG SMOKE

Tree photos I took this morning during one of my rare visits to the big smoke of Perth.

The top one is the St George’s Terrace entrance to the Central Park building.

The middle one is a young woman having a smoko, just around the corner from a lovely art mural in King Street.

The bottom one was taken from the Murray Street mall overpass. It is a reflection in the ceiling of the mall below. I turned it upside down for this post.

I took a few more architectural images, so will post some of them tomorrow.

Roel Loopers

MONTREAL COMMONS READY TO MOVE IN

While there is very little construction activity in the Fremantle CBD, but for the Silverleaf Investments Woolstores and Warders Hotel developments, the Knutsford Street Precinct is a hive of building activity.

The five-storey Montreal Commons residential development by OP Properties is near completion, with the official opening this coming weekend.

The 39 apartment building, designed by Hillam Architects, is on the corner of Knutsford and Montreal streets, opposite the Fremantle Golf Course and the Containers for Change depot.

It already has the small Montreal Local bar, with alfresco benches looking out onto the golf course.

If you are planning to buy an apartment, go have a look on the weekend. There are a lot of Transperth buses frequenting the area, and your local green space is the great Booyeembara Park.

Roel Loopers

GOOD RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Good to see that during the housing crisis planning approval is being sought by the Locus Development Group for a substantial residential development on the corner of Amherst and Stack Streets.

The developers are seeking approval to build 5 four-bedroom, 43 three-bedroom, and 9 two-bedroom townhouses, plus a four storey building for 15 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom apartments, as well as 7 commercial tenancies. On-site parking will be provided.

The agenda for Wednesday’s Fremantle Ordinary Council meeting shows the Officer’s Recommendation of conditional approval, but the deciding authority is the Metro Inner Joint Development Assessment Panel(JDAP).

Roel Loopers

CANCELLED TOWNHOUSE CONTRACT ENDS UP IN COURT

The crisis in the construction and development industries has ended up in court, with the Yolk Property Group, PARC Developments and White House Property Partners finding themselves embroiled in a legal dispute, following the cancellation of a contract for a townhouse at the Cornerstone Development in North Fremantle.

Home buyer Paul Scanlan took the case to court after they cancelled the off-the-plan contract he had signed for a $ 1.5 million townhouse of the Cornerstone project at McCabe Street.

The controversy comes after extensive delays in construction and development financing, from Yolk Property Group’s decision to cancel the contract with the buyer citing insufficient pre-sales, only to proceed with the development and subsequently relisting the same property for $426,000 more than the original contract price. That is 35% more!

Buyer Paul Scanlan, represented by Siera Legal, has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Western, alleging breach of contract and claiming Yolk Property Group acted in breach of the implied duty of good faith.

Central to the case are questions regarding buyers’ rights in off-the-plan purchases, including the extent to which developers can rely on contractual clauses to cancel agreements and the obligaitons of developers to act responsibly and transparently in their dealings with buyers.

The WA Court of Appeal overturned a previous decision in favour of Yolk, stating that Supreme Court Master Craig Sanderson had made an error.

Many off-the-plan buyers will be very interested to hear the outcome of this legal dispute.

Paul Scanlan told me, all he wants to do is live in Fremantle.

Roel Loopers