State Assessment Commission Panel to discuss 33-level apartment tower on Grote Street

Plans to build a 33-level apartment tower looming over the Central Market will be scrapped if a narrow city lane is not widened.

The ground level of the 33-level apartment tower planned for the La Boheme site on Grote Street. Picture: Cheesman Architects

Developers wanting to build a 33-level apartment tower have been negotiating with Adelaide City Council over the future of a narrow city lane.

Planning approval for the $200m building at the intersection of Grote St and Penaluna Place will be sought from the State Commission Assessment Panel next week.

A report by government planning staff says its future is dependent on Penaluna Place being widened to two lanes to enable access by residents and service vehicles, such as rubbish trucks.

This would involve the council being given a 1.2m-wide strip of private land on the 1200sq m site’s western side.

“At the time of writing, this agreement is not in place,” says the report. “However, the applicant is endeavouring to have both parties sign the agreement in advance of SCAP considering the application.”

The $200 million, 33-level apartment tower planned for the La Boheme site on Grote Street. Picture: Cheesman Architects

Original designs for an eight-level podium at the bottom of the building were changed after concerns were raised by the State Government’s Office for Design and Architecture.

The development will involve the demolition of a two-storey masonry building that once housed the La Boheme bar and Tunney’s tobacco store, which opened in 1910.

The site of the proposed tower on Grote St, Adelaide. Picture: Colin James

The tower will be built next to the State Heritage-listed Metropolitan Hotel and Her Majesty’s Theatre and opposite the Adelaide Central Market.

It will feature shops and cafes on its ground floor, carparking and commercial space on its first six floors and then apartments on the remaining 26 levels.

There will be three, three-bedroom penthouse apartments on the top level.

The $200 million, 33-level apartment tower planned for the La Boheme site on Grote Street. Picture: Cheesman Architects

In her assessment of the application, government chief architect Kirsteen Mackay expressed concerns about the overall commercial-appearance of the building and its potential impact on the surrounding area, especially Penaluna Place.

“I am particularly concerned by the duplicated dual lane cross overs to Penaluna Place and the resultant impact on the pedestrian link,” she said.

“To that end, I am also concerned by the proposed road widening arrangement to the southern end of Penaluna Place to accommodate the anticipated increase in vehicle movements.

Ms Mackay said her support for the project was “contingent on the large scale development being executed to an exemplary quality commensurate with this significant central location”.

“I am of the view that the current architectural expression appears highly commercial and does not reflect the primary residential use,” she said.

The 33-level apartment tower planned for the La Boheme site on Grote Street. Picture: Cheesman Architects

“It is critical that the proposal presents a convincing contribution to the established character of the locality and the wider urban context which, in my opinion, is yet to be successfully demonstrated.”

Ms Mackay questioned the size of the balconies for the apartments, saying they did not meet the minimum requirements of the City of Adelaide development plan.

“In my opinion, this is inconsistent with the high level residential amenity envisaged for the central site location,” she said.

“I recommend further review of the apartment layouts and fenestration arrangements to ensure optimum residential amenity for all apartments.”

The application will be discussed by SCAP on Wednesday.