Woodridge drug den demolition reignites high-rise hotel talk

A derelict tattoo parlour, used by junkies, which was within walking distance of a primary school, has been ripped down, sparking talk of high-rise hotel plans. WATCH THE VIDEO

A derelict tattoo shop, where junkies were shooting up meth metres from a primary school, has been ripped down, reigniting talk of plans for a high-rise hotel by owners of Springwood Towers.

Demolition crews moved in last week and knocked down the former shop and a stinking toilet block at the back of land at Railway Parade, Logan Central.

The buildings, owned by Shim Property Investments, which has South Korean links, were less than 300m from Woodridge State School.

The derelict buildings, used by junkies, have been pulled down.

Homeless people had used the former tattoo parlour as a squat for more than two years and it was a known drug den, often patrolled by members of the civilian task force Guardian Angels.

Days before the demolition, Guardian Angel leader Ed Hornery retrieved 18 used syringes and drug sachets from the back of the buildings.

Guardian Angel Ed Hornery inside the disgusting toilet which has now been ripped down.

The toilet block, which contained a filthy mattress pressed up against a reeking blackened toilet bowl, was also ripped down.

Mr Hornery filed complaints with Logan City Council over the past two years and said he was relieved to see the buildings had been demolished.

“We have reported problems with drugs at the property to police and Logan City Council asking them to put pressure on the property owner to fence the place off because it is across from the local school,” he said.

“We did see more police patrols, but the area never seemed to change until it featured in a news story this month, which could be the main reason for the sudden demolition.”

Shim Property owns other adjacent blocks in neighbouring Charles Ave, where another developer with Korean links KP Corp, also had plans for a high-rise hotel.

Shim Properties was unavailable for comment but neighbouring landlord KP Corp — which owns the Springwood Towers and Hotel Gloria — said it still had plans to one day develop the adjacent land.

KP Corp director Phillip Kim said his family-owned land on the corner of Railway Parade and Charles Ave had preliminary approval for a high-rise hotel or tower but those plans were on hold.

Hotel Gloria at Springwood, which is owned by the Kim family, which also owns land at Logan Central where there were plans for another high-rise hotel.

“Any development on our land there would be a family decision and whether it will happen sooner or later is unknown,” Mr Kim said.

“Dad had wanted to build a hotel but it’s not the right time at the moment.

“We also had a problem with squatters and drug takers in the past and we had to knock down an old house on one of our blocks, next to the old tattoo shop.

“But we will develop the site when business gets back to normal after the pandemic – but whether it is a hotel or something else, we don’t know.”

The Kim family received approval to build a 12-storey hotel on their land opposite the Woodridge train station in 2007.

But Logan Central resident Carmel Maciejewski remained sceptical and said owners of the former tattoo parlour land had engaged a private certifier who had issued a building works permit allowing a hotel.

“I was surprised to see the old tattoo parlour being demolished as it has been ignored by the council for many years even though there were drugs,” Ms Maciejewski said.

“There have been plans for a hotel on the site and on Charles Ave for many years and residents are still waiting to find out what will go there.”

Logan City Council’s property development website showed an active building works permit for a commercial amenity block lodged in 2001 for 40 Railway Parade and a development application for shops lodged in 1990.

A building works permit for a commercial tenancy and shops, lodged with Logan City Council in 2006 had lapsed.