Prospect Road Playgroup building site to be developed in five years

Despite swirling rumours, the buyer of a multimillion-dollar Prospect site says fear not – in five years it’ll be home to a something “first class and unique”.

The buyer of prime real estate along Prospect Road says the spot will one day be developed into “something Prospect has never seen before”, as rumours spread about its future.

And despite concerns about what might happen on the site, which homes a beloved Playgroup SA spot, the buyer claims nothing will happen there any time soon.

That buyer, well-known developer Emmanouel Pishas, who unsuccessfully ran for Prospect mayor at the 2022 local government elections, told The Advertiser he wanted to allay any fears about any future development.

“I’m not a cheap ass developer that’s going to put something nasty there,” he said.

“And if and when we do develop it in the future, which wont be for at least five years, it’ll be something Prospect has never seen before.

Developer and businessman Emmanouel Pishas. Picture: Sarah Reed

“It will be first class, and it will be unique.”

Mr Pishas is no stranger to the site, and said splashing out a princely sum was inspired by a connection to it held by him and his son.

It is understood the property sold for more than $4m.

The building at 91 Prospect Road is adorned by a public sculpture designed by renowned artist Joseph Stanislaus Ostoja-Kotkowski AM, which was donated by Mr Pishas and his family.

It is understood to be worth more than $100,000.

Ostoja-Kotkowski’s work has garnered international fame and his Stirling studio was highly-regarded until his death in 1994.

Polish-born Adelaide artist Joseph Stanislaus "Stan" Ostoja-Kotkowski with a mosaic mural made from his abstract design at ETA Foods Pty. Ltd. factory in Exeter Terrace, Devon Park, 29 Jun 1960. Picture: File

Mr Pishas (centre) with former Prospect mayor David O'Loughlin and Playgroup SA's Craig Bradbrook in December last year. Picture: City of Prospect

The renowned Ostoja sculpture. Picture: City of Prospect

Mr Pishas said the sculpture would be maintained at the site, and he hoped Playgroup SA would continue its residence for at least five years.

He said he was a “proud Prospect resident” and respected concerns about the site.

The site is less than 100 metres from a highly-anticipated redevelopment of a Foodland and gym site slated to be built on the corner of Prospect Road and Labrina Ave.

Well-known in Prospect, Mr Pishas’s foray into other suburbs hit a speed bump late last year when a proposal to build a recycling centre at St Agnes sent protesters and the local council into a spin.

It saw Tea Tree Gully Council fight in the Environment Resources and Development Court to have the proposal blocked after it received approval from the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) decision.

The legal action by the council was a state first as it battled against not just Mr Pishas, but a SCAP decision.

Mr Pishas won the battle and his facility has operated at the North East Road site since.