Developer of Adelaidean tower on Frome Street loses court challenge against approval of rival Global Student Accommodation building
CONSTRUCTION of a 118m-tall student tower on North Terrace has cleared a potentially costly hurdle after the developer of a neighbouring building lost a court challenge to the project.
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CONSTRUCTION of a 118m-tall student tower on North Terrace has cleared a potentially costly hurdle after the developer of a neighbouring building lost a court challenge to the project.
Kyren Group, developer of what will be Adelaide’s tallest building, had launched court action claiming the public should have a say on the design of the Global Student Accommodation Australia’s $60 million student tower which the state’s planning authority approved in April.
But in a verdict handed down last month, Environment Resources and Development Court Judge Susanne Cole rejected Kyren Group’s challenge saying GSA Australia’s project had been properly classified as a Category 1 development and did not require public notification.
Kyren Group wanted the project reclassified as Category 3 triggering the highest level of community consultation, giving opponents the right to appeal any approval and potentially trigerring lengthy court challenges.
The GSA project, which will be Adelaide’s tallest student building, would partially obscure northern views from Kyren Group’s $100 million 135m-tall Adelaidean hotel and apartment tower, which is under construction on Frome St.
Kyren Group director Theo Samaras — whose Adelaidean tower was classified a Category 1 when approved in December 2016 — was joined in the legal action by oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Davor Hribar whose practice occupies 240 North Tce, to immediate west of the GSA site.
Mr Samaras is overseas and unavailable for comment.
The paper has sought comment from GSA Australia’s head of real estate, Jon Whittle.
Dr Hribar said Mr Samaras had asked him to “add his voice” to the court action.
He said the GSA proposal will be an “eyesore” for North Tce and was concerned about the impact that construction will have on surrounding streets and patient access to his practice.
He said he would have preferred a luxury apartment building for site instead of student housing.
“It's not going to be a building of great value; it’s only going to be students in there...before too long that building is going to look pretty shabby,” he said.
The GSA Australia building will require the demolition of the existing First Church of Christ Scientist building, which was the subject of a failed heritage-listing bid in June 2016.
Mr Samaras has refused to say if he had sought the heritage listing.
His company last week secured approval for a 21-storey office building on Franklin Street.