The City of Subiaco will move into The Colonnade on Hay Street, following its plan to demolish the fire-damaged Rokeby Road office and build a $20 million facility.
The City of Subiaco will move into The Colonnade on Hay Street, following its plan to demolish the fire-damaged Rokeby Road office and build a $20 million facility.
A rebuild of the city’s council chambers on Rokeby Road is underway after councillors last year approved for the chief executive to start on preliminary design work.
The council chambers and administration office on 241 Rokeby Road was damaged after a fire broke out in the server room in early September.
The city has signed a four-year lease to occupy a 1,197 square metre space in 388 Hay Street, also known as The Colonnade, through a deal with Realside and handled by LJ Hooker Commercial.
“Our office and longstanding valued client, Realside, are strong advocates for Subiaco and have helped contribute to the suburb’s recent renaissance,” LJ Hooker Commercial executive Jack Bradshaw said.
“The result accomplished was a win-win for both parties and now leaves less than 20 per cent vacancy of the 4,633sqm area across Levels 1 and 2.”
Previous tenants at 388 Hay Street include Newmont and Northern Star, with both companies set to relocate to SubiXO soon.
LJ Hooker Commercial director Brian Neo said the transaction demonstrated a strong appetite from the market, from fringe tenants for A-grade Subiaco assets.
“Realside recently committed to a Level 2 refurbishment including new front of house, workstations and kitchen/breakout area; completion of these works has aligned seamlessly with the City of Subiaco’s impending lease commencement requirement," he said.
Mr Bradshaw said the fit-out was expected to be completed by February 1.
However, Business News understands the city was still unsure whether the first council meeting of the year could run from the new location.
The city confirmed council meetings would continue to run out of the 241 Rokeby Road building until the new space was ready, with its customer service office to remain on Bishop Street in Jolimont.
Subiaco mayor David McMullen said the 388 Hay Street facilities would equip the city to continue delivering to the community over the next few years.
“We are particularly pleased to be relocating to the heart of Subiaco, at this exciting and prosperous time for our city,” he said.
"The term of the lease will enable the city's ongoing work, investigating a demolition and rebuild of the old council and administration building at 241 Rokeby Road, to meet the city's needs well into the future."
The council chambers and administration on Rokeby Road had been marred with structural issues for years, councillors claim.
In a meeting late last year, the city’s deputy mayor Stephanie Stroud said the facility did not adequately accommodate functions expected of a council building in the 21st century.
“This has been triggered by fire damage but it’s not just about the fire because we’ve also had flood episodes which has impacted on health and the risks for health from the mould damage,” she said.
“You could say the only water we’re containing is the rain that is leaking through the buildings.”
A council report found the estimated cost range of $15 million to $20 million for the new rebuild was appropriate to construct a 3,000 square metre building and a 28-bay basement carpark.
