Proposal to change student block into ‘short-term accommodation’ puts residents on edge

Residents of a rapidly developing suburb on Brisbane’s westside fear changes to a student block with more than 500 units and just 58 car parks could overwhelm surrounding streets.

A group of Toowong residents fear the proposed transformation of a 15-storey student unit block into short-term accommodation could lead to a vertical ‘ghetto,’ with people being crammed into unsuitable dormitories and local parking overwhelmed.

The 555-bedroom Unilodge student accommodation tower at 25-29 Archer Street, Toowong, first approved by Brisbane City Council in May 2017 and currently under construction, has just 58 car parks.

However a proposal submitted in recent weeks has asked for council to consider turning it into ‘short-term accommodation’ instead.

“Due to the current volatility in the property market and limitations on international travel for international students … the applicant seeks to expand the accommodation use of the building to include a market segment outside of student accommodation,” the application from Archer St Investments said.

“The proposed change does not involve any new building changes or new building work,” it said.

Hotel

Unilodge didn’t respond to a request for comment.

However, locals fed up with continuous issues surrounding nearby student accommodation transformed into housing for the homeless during the recent pandemic have now slammed the newest proposal as part of a “ghettoisation” of the suburb.

A spokesman for the Toowong Residents Group said they feared parking around the building would be heavily affected, and also were opposed to the cramped student dormitories being used for other uses.

“Our concern is that, if you’ve only got 58 car parks for 598 people, people are going to end up parking on the street,” the spokesman said.

The Unilodge building was still under construction. Picture: News Corp/Attila Csaszar

“The parking stuff is not going to float. They’re not going to be able to park their cars.”

The spokesman said unit blocks designed for students weren’t suitable for other uses.

“We’re worried that these high-rise buildings … which really don’t give (residents) much space … are going to lead to the ‘ghettos of Toowong,’” he said.

“Some of these rooms are tiny.”

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said the application was still under assessment.

“The site is also close to public transport, reducing the need for carparking on site,” the spokesman said.

“We understand the applicant’s original proposal for student accommodation is currently extremely challenging due to the impacts the global coronavirus pandemic has had on interstate and international students coming to Brisbane to study,” he said.