Calvary hospital to get more parking and beds in redevelopment
New plans for Calvary Hospital’s $14.4 million expansion — involving the demolition of an 1855 villa in North Adelaide — have been released.
- Parking changes risk the safety of North Adelaide nurses
- Calvary has made a new application to bulldoze a $4 million home
- Calvary’s application for expansion sparks community outrage
New plans for the demolition of an 1855 North Adelaide villa and $14 million expansion of Calvary Hospital have been unveiled.
The plans, appearing on the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) website, show the house now standing at 306 Ward St would be bulldozed to make way for a new building with 27 extra beds and a 112-space underground carpark.
The hospital lodged its first submission in November 2017 — which Adelaide City Council opposed — and another in October 2018, refined to include improved building elevations, frontage and landscaping.
There would also be two levels of parking, some of which staff would be able to use.
“Calvary North Adelaide Hospital has identified the need to upgrade current wards within the
hospital to provide for best practice single-bed ensuite rooms,” the SCAP report says.
“Maximising the provision of carparking on the site is a sensible response to the current lack of carparking provision for staff and visitors to the hospital.
“Maximising the provision of carparking is a beneficial outcome for the wider community as well as Calvary.”
In May last year, the council said it “vehemently” opposed the expansion of Calvary beyond its original boundaries.
That came after former SA Planning Minister John Rau had introduced rules allowing North Adelaide schools and hospitals to buy land anywhere in the suburb for development purposes.
The council is to discuss the new application at a special meeting tomorrow.
Councillors will consider making another representation to the assessment panel.
A council staff report, for discussion at the meeting, argues: “Expansion of Calvary Hospital beyond its current boundaries will diminish the residential character of North Adelaide and run the risk of the predominantly residential character of North Adelaide being eroded.”
The report says this point should be pivotal in any case put to the panel.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said today the second set of plans contained only “minor changes” from the original version.
“This was opposed by council as it saw Calvary expand beyond its original site boundaries with the demolition of an existing character home,” Ms Verschoor said.
However, the council report does support the idea of increased parking.
The threatened mid-Victorian building is not heritage-listed.
It stands on a 2460sq m block, bought by Calvary for $4 million in 2017.
At present, the site contains the five-bedroom house, with a tennis court, swimming pool and converted two-storey stables.
Calvary’s plans previously sparked outrage from residents when the demolition threat emerged.
The hospital has been contacted for comment.
Adelaide City Council has only until July 4 to lodge a case with the assessment panel.