‘We won’t book rowdy people into rooms facing neighbours’ says owner of the proposed three-storey hotel at Kent Town
The designs for a new Kent Town hotel have been unveiled – as the owner promises that patrons ‘perceived as less likely to turn in early’ would be barred from rooms facing neighbours in a bid to appease residents’ noise concerns.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from East, Inner Suburbs & Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ‘Jungle’ could be razed for three-storey accommodation
- Get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
The owner of a proposed new three-storey Kent Town hotel has vowed to stop rowdy patrons “less likely to turn in early” from staying in rooms overlooking residential properties in an attempt to win support for the project from neighbours.
Hotel owner Tom Hannah has written to neighbours about his plans for a three-storey 75-room hotel on the Rundle St site — now before the State Government’s assessment panel — following a meeting with residents concerned about noisy patrons.
In it he said the 18 rooms facing neighbours would“never be allocated to customers who are perceived as less likely to turn in early”.
An additional six rooms — three at both the north and south ends of the proposed building — would also be off limits to rowdy patrons, he said.
“The last thing we want is idiots staying here,” he told The Messenger.
“If we had six blokes on a footy trip, indicative of a late night stint, we’d put them in different rooms.
“Will it happen? I don’t know. But we are not a motel on Glen Osmond Rd.
“We will be a four and a half star hotel. We are looking for business people to stay.”
In the letter, he added that the “advantages and positives of this new overall development of our hotel, to you all, and the general community of Kent Town, would far outweigh the negatives”.
“The hotel of course will always be able to arrest bad behaviour in any room at any time, which is in the best interests of us all.”
If approved, it would mean the demolition of The Jungle restaurant in the western half of the site.
Mr Hannah also addressed resident concerns with a loss of privacy caused by the 18 rooms with west-facing balconies facing into courtyards and homes.
He said he would increase the height of frosted glass balcony screens on the balconies, making it “nearly impossible to see into your properties”.
Mr Hannah said he made the changes in the “spirit of avoiding problems before they start”.
“This change would also reduce the chance of unwanted noise given the extra screen height and the balconies being less attractive to patrons using them for prolonged periods,” Mr Hannah said in his letter.
“The corridor windows, unopenable, will also be fully frosted from top to bottom.”
MORE NEWS
Report on investigation into Tea Tree Gully mayor due in the new year
Three-storey plan proposed for St Ignatius College Junior School
Gawler chief recommends his own pay rise
Mr Hannah said a “significant problem” had been addressed by the changes.
He has already received council approval to refurbish the eastern side of the hotel, including the closure of the roof top bar.
Works are expected to take all of next year.