Developer: Boarding house plan for Forestville shows ‘the way of the future’ as real estate prices soar

A BOARDING house earmarked for Forestville has infuriated residents, who say the $2.87 million development could attract anti-social residents and clutter already congested streets.

An artists impression of the proposed boarding house on Warringah Rd.

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A BOARDING house earmarked for Forestville has infuriated residents, who say the $2.87 million development could attract anti-social residents and clutter already congested streets.

But the developer says it is the “way of the future” for Sydney.

Rohani Investments wants to build a 25-room boarding house 2km from the Northern Beaches Hospital. Company director Ron Rohani said there was an unfounded stigma around boarding houses.

The site of a proposed boarding house on Warringah Rd.

“(People), they think of those places around Darlinghurst and that area, where old houses have been converted, with a lot of junkies,” he said.

“They don’t have the highest socio-economic clientele.

“Not a single person in our developments is of that nature.

“They are young professionals who want to be close to where they work.”

Submissions by Forestville residents have raised concerns over traffic congestion, overdevelopment and shortage of parking.

Others said they feared dipping housing prices and argued a boarding house would not match the amenity of the street.

An artists impression of the Northern Beaches Hospital.

“A boarding house is not the right fit in our area, which is predominantly of seniors and families who have chosen the suburbs for community and safety, the peaceful environment, the lifestyle and amenity,” said Cynthia Nguyen in her online submission.

Another nearby resident, Jorge Jimenez, said online that it would disrupt the area’s peaceful amenity.

“Boarding houses attract problematic residents who are often dislocated and anti-social and can easily destabilise our community,” he wrote.

“Boarding houses are not a healthy way to live. Please don’t allow (one) in our peaceful and beautiful Warringah area.”

The development is the second of its kind proposed by Mr Rohani, whose plan for a larger boarding house consisting of about 30 bedrooms was approved by Warringah Council in 2013 despite 132 submissions against the plans.

An artist’s impression of the Northern Beaches Hospital.

Mr Rohani said the development would be the best way to ensure there was housing for key workers such as nurses near the hospital.

Northern Beaches Council’s deputy general manager David Kerr said it would assess it under the state environmental planning policy for affordable housing.

“Submissions received will be considered during this process,” he said. “A report will be sent to the Northern Beaches independent Assessment Panel for determination.”