Proposal for Ashfield boarding house slammed by residents
RESIDENTS are furious over the proposal for a four storey boarding house in Ashfield that could see as many as 66 residents crammed into the space.
Inner West
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RESIDENTS are furious over the proposal for a four storey boarding house in Ashfield that could see as many as 66 residents crammed into the space.
The proposal for the site at 9 Victoria St, Ashfield involves the demolition of existing structures and the construction of a four storey, 32 room boarding house with basement.
Resident Helena Zebrowski has lived in her home for 42-years and said it was the worst thing to happen to the street.
She said the boarding house would significantly impact the quiet enjoyment, sunlight, privacy and security that is currently enjoyed by the residents.
She also stressed her concerns over traffic congestion, and the impact it could have on the street parking, which is shared between the nearby nursing home, police station and families who frequent the area.
“People take their parents for a walk in the wheelchair, mums are walking their kids, it’s going to be very dangerous,” she said.
Mrs Zebrowski is also concerned the new residents will change the element of the quiet leafy street.
“The residents committed to opposing the application, which, in its current form, they believe is grossly unsuitable to the present and expected aesthetic and usage of the streetscape,” she said.
“The crowd, which comprised young families, singles, professionals, well-established retirees and residents of the area, vowed to lobby the Council to oppose the application, or at least mandate that the development of the site be limited to two storeys.”
An Inner West Council spokeswoman said the application for a boarding house has attracted around 40 individual objections and a petition with 261 signatures.
“The application is for a boarding house within the R3 Medium Density Zone, which is permissible with consent,” she said.
“Boarding houses within this zone are able to access bonus FSR based on the proposed use.
“The application is currently under assessment, however, Council has already raised concerns with the applicant including bulk and scale, carparking and the potential impact on nearby residential amenity.”