Lost 1880s Hutt St cottages to be replaced with paved car park under plans lodged with Adelaide City Council

Two historic cottages sacrificed for a now-abandoned apartment tower plan would be replaced with a parking lot under plans lodged with Adelaide City Council.

• Outrage as cottages demolished — and then tower project abandoned
• State heritage-listed properties affected by funding cuts

Two historic cottages sacrificed for a now-abandoned apartment tower plan would be replaced with a parking lot under plans lodged with Adelaide City Council.

But the council’s deputy mayor Houssam Abiad said there was “no chance in hell” the development, lodged on Tuesday by car park operator Park Fast, would be allowed.

The application comes three weeks after The Advertiser revealed developers of the 13-storey Opus apartments project had shelved the $18 million, 41-apartment project on the corner of Hutt St and Ifould St.

At the time, former Adelaide City Councillor Sandy Wilkinson described the demolition of the existing 1880s bluestone cottages as “needless”, arguing the buildings were in good condition.

One of the two bluestone cottages being demolished in August 2016. Picture: Sandy Wilkinson

The properties had been recommended for local heritage protection but had been left at the mercy of the bulldozer after the former State Government rejected their listing.

A copy of the car park application lodged with the council says the proposal will be for a sealed “ancillary car park”.

Franco Boscaini, who was project-managing the Opus apartment proposal, refused to comment on the car park plans.

The pair of 1880s bluestone cottages on Hutt St that were demolished for an apartment complex, but could now be replaced with a car park. Picture: Sandy Wilkinson

But Mr Wilkinson said he was concerned any approval would send a message to developers that they could demolish buildings for car parks.

“We don’t want to see buildings demolished and vacant sites become car parks,” he said.

“If this (proposal) is permitted it provides an incentive for property owners to clear a site so the can have an open lot car park.

“If they had kept the (existing) offices, they could’ve had a car park behind the villas, there was a hell of a lot of room behind the villas.”

He said other historic buildings sacrificed for car parks in the city’s east include a character home at the eastern end of Flinders Street and two historic villas on the western and eastern sides of Hutt Street near the House of Chow restaurant.

Mr Abiad said development approval processes must be changed so that demolition can not happen until a developer has secured enough sales and finance to begin construction of their approved building.

“It’s such a shame they went and demolished really good heritage buildings, they could’ve activated in the meantime and until such time as they got their pre-sales,” he said.

“Every building that is demolished on a main street, these developers are taking a lifeline out of the mainstreet; we’ve seen the same impact of a vacant site at 88 O’Connell Street.”

Central Ward councillor Jessy Khera said the Hutt St issue highlighted a “deeper problem with the economy” of a lack of demand for heritage buildings.

This building on the western side of Hutt Street, next to Bocelli Caffe Ristorante, was demolished and replaced with an open-air car park. Picture: Sandy Wilkinson