Brisbane’s only Cuban cigar bar to make way for ritzy retail project

A property giant whose plans to build the “world’s greenest’’ highrise were kiboshed by a little community group is pushing ahead with a nearby retail makeover. But it has come at the cost of Brisbane’s only Cuban cigar bar.

Fresh from losing a bid to build a $300 million, 20-level unit tower billed as the “world’s greenest’’ residential highrise, Aria Property Group is pushing ahead with plans for a ritzy makeover of a nearby art deco landmark.

It comes as West End Community Association (WECA) warned the fight to stop “Urban Forest’’ was not yet over.

Aria’s latest proposal has seen the closure of Paladar Fumior Salon, Brisbane’s only Cuban cigar bar, cafe and bookshop, which occupied a former WWII air raid shelter.

The quirky and colourful little building has been a landmark on a busy Merivale St, South Brisbane corner for nearly two decades.

Paladar Fumior Salon cafe, bookshop and cuban cigar bar has closed.

Paladar Fumior Salon cafe, bookshop and cuban cigar bar has closed.

Council is due to make a decision next week on whether to allow Aria to renovate the 1938 heritage-listed building for a mix of retail and commercial users.

The proposal drew about 40 objections, including from resident Jasmine Ofaolain who said few heritage buildings now remained in the area.

“Renovating this building to look more modern continues the trend of building over our history,’’ she wrote in a submission.

“Historical buildings are not only visually pleasing, but provide us with an important connection to our past.

“Such buildings also contribute to the character of South Brisbane/West End, which has long been valued.’’

Aria is planning to renovate the art deco 1930s building.

There were also objections to the loss of several budget flats out the back of the site.

The project is part of Aria plans to transform adjacent Fish Lane into a vibrant retail hub.

Its Merivale Flats makeover, designed by Twohill & James, would see two upper-storey units converted into offices but with the same internal layout.

The retail tenancy facing Melbourne St would become a shop with a new display window.

The air raid shelter would be “consolidated’’ with two ground-level units into a new, seven day a week, late night restaurant with roof terrace dining.

How the transformed heritage site would look.

While it was keeping options open, development manager Michael Hurley confirmed a fortnight ago that building costs would skyrocket if it waited for an outcome in the planning court.

He said Aria had lodged alternative plans for a 12-level, $250 million medical and commercial tower.

WECA warned that the 88 Merivale St unit tower, which originally was to be 32 storeys high, could still go ahead if Aria chose to fight the Planning & Environment Court appeal.

“A site can hold multiple development approvals up until a chosen DA (development application) is activated,’’ WECA said.

“So, Aria can engage in these development processes simultaneously.

“Our lawyers, experts and vollies have put hundreds of hours in to date in the past six months (to fight Urban Forest).’’

Render of how the Aria medical and commercial tower would look (heritage-listed iSEE church in foreground). Image: Woods Bagot

WECA said it hoped to raise $15,000 by next week to help with its court costs.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner recently said Urban Forest would have been the world’s greenest residential building, with thousands of trees and numerous features that would have reduced its carbon footprint.

“Given the popularity of these design features, I was confident that Urban Forest would have also been a catalyst for many more sustainable buildings in Brisbane in the future,” he said.

“It’s very disappointing Urban Forest won’t go ahead but I’m still hopeful that many six green star buildings will be part of Brisbane’s skyline in the future.’’