Sydney business owners rally against council plan to transform public carparks into affordable housing

A plan to convert multiple public car parks into affordable housing development has sparked swift backlash from small shop owners with fears the move could deter customers and send traders broke.

Inner city shop owners are crying foul over a council plan to convert public car parks into affordable housing – labelling the move an “attack on cars” that could send local traders broke.

Inner West Council is pushing ahead with contentious plans to transform public carparks across four town centres into affordable housing units in a move to address the region’s housing crisis and demand for rental accommodation.

The council has not released the list of car parks it plans to convert – citing “confidentiality” reasons – however The Daily Telegraph understands the sites including the Marion St public carpark in Leichhardt with another carpark also slated for conversion in Marrickville.

Marrickville shopkeepers have speculated that the plans may involve turning the town centre’s main council owned public carpark on Garners Ave into housing.

Marrickville Chamber of Commerce member Simon Konstantinidis claimed the move amounted to an “anti-car” agenda that could impact dozens of small businesses.

Marion St carpark in Leichhardt.

“We’re not against affordable housing, but taking carparks out of the town centre is not the answer,” he said.

“Shops need customers and for customers to come to local businesses, they need carparks.

“The reality is most people still drive a car when they go to the shops.” 

Arthur Alepidis, co-owner of Marrickville’s popular Souvlaki Boys eatery, said the potential loss of carparking spaces could exacerbate demand for the limited number of on-street carparking spaces in the town centre.

Arthur Alepidis, co-owner of Marrickville’s Souvlaki Boys outlet.

”We’re a family run business and we bring in about 2000 people a week to Marrickville and many people already struggle to find a carpark,” he said.

“Losing any more spaces will just turn people away from coming to the local businesses and cause congestion elsewhere.”

The council – in a statement promoting the housing initiative – said the partnership with affordable housing providers would “address the urgent systemic issues of the housing crisis”.

The council has also encouraged other local councils across Australia to follow its example by “finding creative ways to address this issue”.

Garners Ave carpark in Marrickville. Picture: Google Maps.

It is understood Inner West Council has already approached housing providers to help finance, develop and operate the affordable housing projects that could be built on public carparks.

As part of the talks, community housing providers have been asked “to consider” how public carparking would continue to be provided on each site, in addition to the requirements for private parking for future affordable housing tenants.

An Inner West Council spokesman said councillors are due to consider the matter in further detail at a council meeting in February.

Housing advocacy group Shelter NSW has backed the council’s plans, saying there was an “urgent” need to create more affordable housing near town centres.

“Land in the inner city is at a premium and there’s often a challenge in finding available and affordable sites that can be used for genuinely affordable housing,” a spokeswoman for Shelter NSW said. Peter Calligeros, a GP based at the Garners Medical Dental Clinic in Marrickville, fears the loss of parking spaces could have implications for aged residents and people with mobility issues.

“If the carpark is lost, I believe it will be discrimination against the elderly and disabled,” he said.

“Many of our patients are brought in by carers and family members and they need to park nearby due to their decreased mobility or illness.”.

Councillor Vic Macri has called for the council to rethink its plans., saying the “attack on parking” was at odds with increased housing density in the inner city that has placed additional demand on parking spaces across the region.