Lifeline for $50m Marrickville creative hub
MARRICKVILLE is one step closer to getting a $50 million creative hub that will provide a home for 460 artists, musicians and innovators next to the Factory Theatre. The frustrated developers previously threatened to build it in Parramatta instead.
Inner West
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MARRICKVILLE is one step closer to getting a $50 million creative hub that will provide a home for 460 artists, musicians and innovators next to the Factory Theatre.
Danias Group had threatened to build the “Rich St” hub in Parramatta instead of the inner west after accusing council staff of killing the project off with red tape.
But now the proposal can be assessed after Inner West Council adopted a development control plan (DCP) for the area last Tuesday.
The Greens and independent councillors John Stamolis and Pauline Lockie opposed the move after staff warned a contributions plan for the area needed to be worked out before its adoption to ensure council doesn’t foot the bill for up to $50 million of infrastructure upgrades.
“I have actually been contacted by a lot of people who are concerned about the risks raised,” Cr Lockie said.
“I completely understand that the (Rich St proposal) does not give rise to those risks. (But) what we’re looking at is the 1100 additional residences that are potentially added to this area under the rezoning plus the commercial properties that will come in here that will absolutely require upgrades to drainage, open space and roads.”
Mayor Darcy Byrne said the rezoning had already been gazetted by the State Government last year.
“I think the real risk was this creative precinct, which includes close to 500 local arts-based jobs, was going to be lost to the inner west,” he said.
“I’m really conscious of the need to attract private investment into arts and cultural activity if we want to become the national capital of independent arts and culture.”
Danias CEO Angelo Angelopoulos said the hub would transform old warehouses in Marrickville’s industrial heart into 13,000sq m of space dedicated to the creative arts, start-up industries and local offices with more than 37 per cent of the site set aside for new open space.
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“Most importantly, the place will be affordable, allowing artists and creatives a way to get their foot in the door by having their own workplace that suits their needs,” he said.
The would contribute $1.6 million to local infrastructure including upgrades to local lanes, a new park and 50 new trees.