Grim outlook for Brisbane southside shopping strip
WITH more than 18 shopfronts and offices sitting empty in a shopping strip on Brisbane’s southside, local traders say they are at risk of losing their livelihoods.
Southeast
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ALMOST 20 shopfronts and offices sit empty at Mt Gravatt Central and traders fear the situation will get worse unless they can breathe new life into the strip.
If they fail, they say they risk losing their livelihoods.
While four new businesses have moved into the Central strip on Logan Rd in recent weeks, more are needed to transform the strip of shops to its former glory.
HISTORY OF SCURR BROS
Business owners are banding together to come up with their own ideas about what could attract new businesses to the area including creating a “foodie hub” or getting artists to create some awe-inspiring murals to brighten the historic area up.
Veteran Mt Gravatt businessman Michael Sunderland, who is the sales manager and trainer at Karalis Real Estate, said he wanted the building owners to rally alongside the tenants to reinvigorate the area.
“The property owners should meet as a group on a regular basis to form a strategy.”
“I don’t see it as a job for council, they have already done the beautification.
“The property owners should meet as a group on a regular basis to form a strategy.
“(And) consider a painting plan to give the strip some uniformity.”
A long-term established building/business owner, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Southern Star: “under the setting of the green Mt Gravatt mountain, it would be delightful to encourage and see new commercial businesses directed to the enjoyment and needs of the younger and middle demographic age ranges.
“This should draw employment and vitality into the area, and provide an incentives for the many new unit dwellers into Logan Rd and surrounds.”
Golden Palace’s John Gu said his family-owned Chinese restaurant had been operating for 20 years and while there had been a slight decrease in business at Mt Gravatt Central recently, he had high hopes for the area.
“(Business) is steady and the area is growing,” Mr Gu said.
Architect Mark Williams recently moved his architecture business back to the area for the “location and lifestyle” but has used his fresh eyes to look at what is and isn’t working at Mt Gravatt Central.
“Issues I have noticed for Mt Gravatt Central include an increase in litter, congested side streets from the increase in urban density, lack of convenient parking for the strip shops, increasing graffiti, the increasing patchwork to the footpaths as a result of infrastructure repairs and adding in services such as NBN and street cameras,” Mr Williams told the Southern Star.
He also noted an increase in the number of motorists taking risks crossing Logan Rd.
“Positives include upgraded landscaping along Logan Rd, the removal of graffiti to LJ Hooker’s brick wall. businesses still investing in Mt Gravatt Central such as Red Rooster, Modern Thai and the old Photocontinental building upgrades.
“There is definitely room to grow (but) it comes down to the mix of business in the area. In the 1950s it was thriving.”
The Southern Star contacted a number of other building owners for comment to no avail.
Hotondo Homes’ central location
Builder Adam Toth, the director of Hotondo Homes Rochedale, has recently moved his business to Mt Gravatt Central.
Mr Toth said the reasons behind the move included closeness to the CBD, the motorway and Rochedale, where he was doing a lot of work.
“Rochedale is an up-and- coming area that is just 15 minutes away from the Brisbane CBD and the potential for community growth is huge,” Mr Toth.
“Here (in Mt Gravatt) we have booming estates that are attracting home buyers to the region. The people that live here now love the area and are always looking to build or rebuild their home in the place they’ve grown to call home.”
Mr Toth said he thought attracting new businesses to Mt Gravatt Central was a “great” idea.
“The more businesses that come to the strip, the more walk-ins and foot traffic we’ll all see — it’ll be very beneficial to us all.”
Council was “definitely doing an excellent job with the community currently”.
“It’s a great place to live and work and is continually thriving — and there’s always future opportunities to look forward to,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic community and I hope to see more development in the area in the near future. I think a lot of businesses have recognised that the area is booming in development and there are a lot of opportunities for residents and businesses.”
Mt Gravatt future will be solid
Mt Gravatt has been earmarked for future growth, according to Brisbane City Councillor Krista Adams.
“Mt Gravatt Central is a vibrant shopping hub located only 8km from the CBD and is in the middle of an area undergoing significant growth,” she said.
“In 2012, Brisbane City Council identified this area as a key economic and employment hub for Brisbane’s south and the wider region, with Logan Rd a major corridor that is well-serviced by high-frequency public transport.
“The Mt Gravatt Central precinct is already seeing a wave of new residents moving in and the Mt Gravatt Corridor Neighbourhood Plan focuses future development in this area, with a proposal for mixed-use development above the old Photo Continental site that will draw more pedestrians to the shopping hub.
“The local cafe culture is already booming as more people move into the Mt Gravatt Central precinct and I look forward to working with businesses to help them continue to grow their trade.”
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