Grand old news HQ could soon be six-storey apartments: Adelaide City Council to vote tonight on Tynte St plan
A VOTE tonight is expected to pave the way for a controversial six-storey development at this iconic site in North Adelaide where for years Kevin Crease read the nightly news and KG gave us the sport.
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PEOPLE may be soon be living where Kevin Crease read the nightly news and KG gave us the sport.
This transformation of the former Channel 9 site in North Adelaide into luxury apartments is now a step closer after an Adelaide City Council committee gave the tick of approval to rezone the site.
The council’s planning and development committee approved a move to increase the height of buildings allowed on the property from two to six storeys.
The City North understands the iconic Tynte St facade of the former news headquarters will be retained as part of a “sensitive re-development” of the site.
The decision is expected to be voted on by the council Tuesday night.
The move would allow Tynte Street Developers — who bought the 6800 sq m site in 2015 for an undisclosed amount — to build a six-storey apartment complex.
But the decision has been opposed by some councillors.
Cr Phillip Martin said the development was too big for the North Adelaide area.
“There seems to very limited support for six storeys and in fact, apart from the developer, there are just two submissions in support,” Cr Martin told the meeting.
“The view of ratepayers is the structure is just too big and, at a pinch, four or five storeys would be OK.”
The council undertook a six-month community consultation which showed the majority of respondents opposed the development owing to its size and the impact on local heritage.
According to a planning and development policy report, only three out of the 32 submissions were in favour of the development.
Cr Susan Clearihan told the meeting the development was out of character with the neighbouring area.
“The thing I can’t come to terms with is the six levels,” Cr Clearihan said.
“I just feel that this will create too much bulk and visual impact on the surrounding area.”
Under the developer’s plans, the six-storey apartment complex would be situated in the centre of the site with smaller buildings on the boundaries.
Lord Mayor Martin Haese, however, was in favour of the development.
“I do have quiet reservations about the six levels — it may be a bridge too far — but maybe it is what is required to enable a good quality development which this site certainly does deserve,” he said.
A final decision on the rezoning of the site will be made by Planning Minister John Rau following the council’s decision.
Channel 9 built the television studio and offices at the rear of the former Primitive Methodist Church in 1959, shifting to a new base in Pirie St in 2015.
It has been vacant since then.
A public consultation document put out by Adelaide City Council describes:
RETURNING “much of the vacated site to residential use”;
REPLACING “the buildings constructed by Channel 9” and
RESTORING “heritage assets on the site”