LIV ART OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

 

 

I had a whinge yesterday about the Piazza gates being closed at the LIV apartments in Fremantle’s Queen Victoria and Quarry streets, but it appears that is only happening on weekends, as the gates were open today.

It finally gave me the opportunity of photographing the fantastic Rick Vermey artwork from different angles.

Roel Loopers

FINALLY! FREO WOOLSTORES APPROVAL

 

 

The Planning Committee of Fremantle Council made a pragmatic decision last night to recommend for conditional approval to JDAP the $ 15 million development by Silverleaf Investments for a six storey mixed-use development of the Woolstores Shopping Centre site. I have no doubt that the Joint Development Assessment Panel, which is the deciding authority, will also approve the development which is well within the local planning scheme and does not require discretionary height concessions.

The development will consist of 141  hotel rooms on levels 2 to 5, retail tenancies and offices, and a basement carpark.

While the proposed new building is not spectacular and not the desired iconic landmark Fremantle Council was hoping for, it is an adequate and acceptable building for the location, Councillors, planning staff and the Design Advisory Committee believe, and so do I.

The proposed building is not excessive in height or excessive in bulk and will modernise the run down inner eastern CBD and help activate the area. It will replace the current eyesore and will hopefully encourage Marilyn New to also soon develop the even worse derelict historic woolstores to the east of it opposite Princess May Park.

The development, together with the already approved Hilton Double Tree hotel at Point Street and the Little Lane residential development in Adelaide Street will revitalise the area 24/7 and make it a safer place for all.

Just down the road the Match Group also intends to develop a four-storey  residential building behind the former Energy Museum building, where 30 per cent of apartments have already pre-sold.

All these developments will be a game changer for the east of the CBD, with Heirloom which opened last year at Queen Victoria Street, and the LIV apartments opening this month, also revitalising that part of Fremantle.

It has been a very very long road for Fremantle based Silverleaf Investments, and councillors last night thanked them for persevering after many refusals and set backs. It is in my opinion a realistic and pragmatic decision by council, as we could have waited for perfection forever and halt progress in that run down part of the city. It is a compromise but a much better outcome than keeping the status quo.

Roel Loopers

BUSY FREMANTLE PLANNING COMMITTEE

 

Fremantle Council’s Planning Committee last night conditionally approved the application by the Western Australian Planning Commission for a new White Gum Valley 3 lot freehold subdivision at Montreal Street, with the boundaries at Blinco, Knutsford and Wood streets.

There will also be a 36 lot survey strata title subdivision, and an application for the 36, two storey grouped dwellings has been lodged on August 10 and will be assessed by the WA South-West Joint Development Assessment Panel soon.

The former industrial area in White Gum Valley is well suited for residential development and the area could also handle medium to high density in my opinion, and offer affordable, student and social housing within a larger planning scheme.

Also approved last night were two alcohol related applications, one for a tavern and gin distillery, the Fremantle Republic, in Pakenham Street and another one for a small liquor store and deli at Freeman Loop in North Fremantle.

Roel Loopers

LIV OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY

 

 

If you like a sneak preview of the Defence Housing LIV Apartments at Fremantle’s Queen Victoria and Quarry Streets you can do that this Saturday from 1.30-4pm.

The stunning artwork by Rick Vermey alone is worth the trip, and it will be interesting also to see what the rest of the piazza that connects the two streets looks like.

And if you are looking to move into an apartment that is walking distance from the Fremantle train station with bus stop right in front of the building, go and have a look.

Roel Loopers

FREO’S MOONDYNE JOE PUB FOR SALE

 

Fremantle’s Moondyne Joe pub on the corner of Wray Avenue and Hampton Road is up for sale, so if you’ve got a few spare dollars under the bed attend the auction on August 30.

The site will be sold as an ongoing concern and has the potential for future mix-use development.

 

Also for sale is the World of Renovation building in historic High Street, so check out the SCOOP real estate website for details.

Roel Loopers

FREO LIV APARTMENTS NEARING COMPLETION

 

 

All the scaffolding around the LIV apartment building in Fremantle’s Queen Victoria and Quarry streets have now come down, so I had another good look at the massive development.

I still do not like the monotonous long facade along Queen Victoria Street and also don’t like the design along Quarry Street very much.

Strangely, for this self-proclaimed architecture expert, the very modern south side of Queen Victoria Street, which overlooks Fremantle Park, works the best. The big and  high windows create a lightness that I would have liked to see duplicated at Quarry Street.

The Rick Vermey public artwork in the piazza is a stunning feature that will attract many art lovers.

The Defence Housing LIV is due to open this month, so check the media, or better even Freo’s View, for when it will be open to the public to have a look at.

Roel Loopers

 

FOR SALE AFTER RECENT PLANNING APPROVAL

 

Interesting to see that the property on the corner of Wray Avenue and Hampton Road, that received planning approval only a few weeks ago, is now on the market. I believe it is a flaw in the planning laws that this is allowed to happen.

Roel Loopers

P.S. Bad news for regular Freo’s View readers. My mobility will be severely hampered over the next two weeks as I have to wear a leg/knee brace, so I won’t be able to be as prolific with publishing blog posts as you are used to.

SOUTH FREO DEVELOPMENT WELL ON TRACK

 

 

The M/28 three-storey apartment development opposite The Local hotel in South Fremantle is well under way and on track to open early next year.

The Match group is developing twenty 2-3 bedroom apartments with large balconies. Some will have views of Fremantle Port.

I took this photo yesterday when I walked by on my way to the CBD.

Roel Loopers

STUNNING FREO LIV APARTMENTS ART

 

 

The Defence Housing LIV residential apartment complex at Fremantle’s Queen Victoria and Quarry streets is due to open in August and is well under way.

The one feature of the development I am really looking forward to is the public art in the entrance to the piazza by artist Rick Vermey. As you see in the photo I took this morning it is not finished yet, but getting there.

The percentage for the arts commission is made of natural wood fibres and will have lights triggered by wind for after dark effect. I can’t wait to see it!

 

Roel Loopers

 

 

FREMANTLE LIV DESIGN WITHOUT LOV

 

 

If the LIV apartment buildings at Queen Victoria and Quarry Street, due to open in August, are the heritage of the future for Fremantle than God save the Queen.

To paraphrase Wilson Churchill; we will fight bad architecture at Council house, on the streets and on the beaches, and we will fight inappropriate development in the local and state government offices and on election days.

The mediocre boredom and bland sameness of LIV is an insult to Fremantle’s unique heritage character. It’s LIV without LOV.

Fremantle deserves much much better!

Roel Loopers