City of Perth acts on neglected buildings

THE City of Perth has put owners of neglected and vacant buildings in Northbridge on notice, warning them to put redevelopment plans in place or risk having to tear the buildings down.

The City of Perth contacted property owners in February to request remedial works at a number of sites, including the former DV8 Nightclub in James Street, Chinatown on Roe Street, and vacant buildings at 68 Roe Street and 50 Francis Street.

According to council minutes, responses have been received from the majority of property owners and discussions are under way regarding future development options.

A further review in six months’ time will monitor what work has occurred, update each property’s status and determine appropriate action in cases where no improvements have been made.

At the former DV8 nightclub, the owners advised council that the services of a design and project management agency have been engaged and a preliminary meeting has been held with city officers to discuss options for its use.

The council expects a development application will be lodged soon to incorporate a restaurant, nightclub and bar in the building.

The owner of the vacant former internet gaming site at 68 Roe Street told council that redevelopment will not commence until issues regarding the storage and removal of rubbish from the site and the adjoining property at 60-66 Roe Street are resolved.

The owners of 64-66 Lake Street lodged a $100,000 development application late last month to refurbish the site into a new Indian Restaurant to be named the Taj Mahal.

Approval has also been granted to change the use of the premises to accommodate a second kitchen housing a hospitality training facility.

At 92-100 and 116-120 Roe Street, the council granted conditional approval in November last year to construct an eight-storey retail and office development on the site.

The owner has submitted an application to the Western Australian Planning Commission to amalgamate the two lots to contain the development. The council expects a building application once amalgamation of the two lots is approved.

The owners of a vacant former restaurant at 2-6 Parker Street have given the City of Perth a written commitment to improve the appearance of the building, and are considering converting the building to office use.

The owners’ long-term plan is to develop a residential/hotel complex on the site. A development application was approved by the city of Perth in 2007, but this has lapsed.

The owners have advised they are designing and modifying the concept and will liaise further with the city prior to re-lodging the application.

The only property the City of Perth did not receive a response for was for the vacant office building at 50 Francis Street.