FREMANTLE OVAL THE NEXT BIG PROJECT

 

 

Subiaco Oval development plans

 

After the Kings Square Redevelopment Project the next big project in Fremantle will be the Fremantle Oval one, and if it is done right we’ll have an amazing new precinct in the inner city that will connect Wray Avenue with the Cappuccino Strip.

After all the planned and in progress commercial development the heart of the city will need more medium-density residential development and the Freo Oval project is perfect for that.

Height needs to be addressed though with utmost sensitivity because of the proximity to the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison. We can’t just apply the rule that Fremantle Hospital is high, and also the residential building across it at Arundel Court, so we can go up all the way to the height of the hospital.

The Claremont Oval development should be a huge warning for Fremantle. It is awful!

I reserve my opinion about the planned development of Subiaco Oval, but check it out for yourself on the Landcorp website, see the artist’s impression above.

Roel Loopers

BETTER URBAN INFILL VERY IMPORTANT

 

WA Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has released stage one of DESIGN WA, the guidelines to improve the quality of urban infill.

One of the most heard complaints in Fremantle and all over the suburbs is the mediocre design of most of the new residential apartment and other buildings in our character cities, but planning rules and even design advisory panels have had little impact on improving the architecture and streetscapes, this will hopefully now improve, depending on how strict and strong the new policy can be enforced by local councils, JDAP, SAT and the WAPC.

Rita Saffioti’s statements says:

Design WA includes clearly defined objectives about what future developments should consider, and includes it in the revised Residential Design Codes. Objectives include:

• Appropriate scale to respect the local character and context;
• Minimum apartment sizes based on floor space and number of rooms;
• Safe, healthy environments with good natural light and ventilation;
• Development that creates walkable neighbourhoods with high amenity;
• Green space such as shady trees for outdoor spaces and mature tree retention; and
• Development that enhances local neighbourhoods. 

The policy will come into affect soon, on May 24, 2019, so that is a good thing.

One thing I have been wondering about is why urban infill and medium/high density buildings are demanded in older suburbs by the State Government but not in brand-new suburbs which are developed near public transport corridors. That makes no sense to me.

Roel Loopers

NEW BRUSH FACTORY, BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL?

 

 

The fences finally came down along the Brush Factory development on the corner of Duke and George streets in East Fremantle, so I went to have another look at it this morning.

I know that beauty is difficult to quantify because it has different meanings for all of us, but I do find the modern top-level addition on the old building quite intriguing, while some other parts are just not my cup of tea.

I do not like the darkness the dark bricks create along Duke Street, where apartment buildings have been added, and I find that the northern side of development, which faces the old Royal George hotel, has very strange and awkward angles, almost as if much of it was an after-thought that was added to it.

But the epic development of the former Lauder&Howard antiques building has finally been completed and incorporates the Duke of George jazz and blues bar, so it is in part a good addition for the area.

In the meantime graffiti vandals have started to deface the Royal George again and it is still not known if Saracen Properties will go ahead with the development there after all, when they are only allowed to have a seven-storey building behind the former hotel.

Roel Loopers

BUILDING CRANE IN FREO’S HISTORIC WEST END

 

 

It is rather unusual to see a big building crane going up in Fremantle’s historic West End, but this one was put together all day in Henry Street for the construction of the four-storey residential building on the former Fremantle Workers Club site.

Roel Loopers

NO HIGHER DENSITY FOR QUARRY STREET?

 

The potential scheme amendment and zoning to R100 density for the properties at 7 and 9-15 Quarry Street in Fremantle is unlikely to proceed because of strong community objections to the idea.

The properties are owned by the City of Fremantle, which wants to sell them, but the community consultation showed that local residents are in favour of zoning the street for low-density R25 instead of medium-density R100.

Main concerns were the impact on the residential amenity of the streetscape, so the officers’ recommendation for this Wednesday Planning Committee is:

The report concludes that whilst there is planning merit in establishing a consistent zoning and suitable transitional density in this location, the complexity of developing mechanisms sufficient to address concerns raised to the satisfaction of the community, and the relatively modest increase in centre catchment/development yield likely to be achieved, does not warrant progressing the matter through all the stages of a formal scheme amendment process.

Roel Loopers

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