$30m revamp for Maylands theatre site

A $30 million plan to build a seven-storey apartment building and five retail venues on the site of Maylands’ 100-year-old Lyric Lane Theatre has been given the green light.

The development, spearheaded by property development and investment company Australian Development Capital (ADC_), was unanimously approved today by the Metro Inner-North Joint Development Assessment Panel and is tipped to revitalise the heritage precinct.

The company, which has been in talks with the City of Bayswater since it acquired the Eighth Avenue precinct in 2019, plans to retain the 1920s theatre as part of its plan to accommodate 52 residential dwellings, two communal open-space areas, and five commercial tenancies, including a tavern, two shops, a restaurant and a fast food outlet.

The development, designed by boutique architectural firm Klopper & Davis Architects, would include the partial demolition of the category two heritage building’s roof, interior and the theatre’s external walls, and modifications to the exitsing walls to allow for natural light, ventilation and access points for commercial tenancies.

A total of 67 submissions were received during the public consultation period, more than 76 per cent of which supported the proposal.

The development also obtained the support of the City of Bayswater’s design review panel, which described the development as ambitious and one that had the ability to become a landmark and key activator in the heart of Maylands. 

Surrounding business owners, however, raised concerns about the fact that no road widening had been proposed for Lyric Lane, an adjoining road originally designated as a two-way laneway that appears to have been changed to one-way by the city without consultation, and that the proposal did not include adequate parking.

Among those to share their concerns with the assessment panel was Lyric Lane bar owner Michiel de Ruyter, who told members the proposed laneway widening of 0.5 metres was inconsistent with the city’s laneway policy, and its reduced width would significantly limit vehicular and pedestrian movement and restrict truck access.

Other respondents said they did not believe the development adequately reflected the character of the area and expressed disappointment that the Lyric Lane Theatre would not reopen as a theatre.

But the proponent argued that the heritage building had been altered too much over time and that reopening it as a theatre was no longer feasible.

Members of the development assessment panel chose to approve the development subject to a suite of conditions, commending the proponent’s innovative approach, their work to retain the heritage building, and the plan’s potential to create a vibrant new community hub in the heart of Maylands.

ADC_ has indicated that it expects construction to begin in mid 2022, subject to the company achieving its required apartment pre-sales and the relocation of key tenants.