Mosman residents divided over unit redevelopment of historic 117-year-old Raglan St home

Plans to demolish a century old Mosman home to make way for a new unit block have been labelled ‘cheap’ by opponents. But some prominent real estate agents are backing the plan. Have your say.

This home would be demolished to make way for the $4.2 million development.

Plans to demolish a century old Mosman home to make way for a new apartment building has sparked mixed opinions from residents on the lower north shore.

Mosman Council has been inundated with submissions after a $4.2 million development proposal was lodged to knock down a federation era home at 92 Raglan St to make way for a new three-storey unit block.

Plans show the current 118-year-old building would be replaced with a three-bedroom complex standing 0.9m above the 8.5m height limit.

The development would include a swimming pool, outdoor terraces, and six basement carparking spaces.

The release of plans has prompted a flurry of submissions to Mosman Council with opponents raising concerns over impacts on heritage and the character of the neighbourhood.

A concept image of the development planned at the site.

But the proposal has also attracted supporters, with one prominent real estate agent saying it could address demand for new housing in the community.

Resident Kate Murdoch said measures should be put in place to protect the current home due to its age and proximity to the Shadforth Street Conservation area.

A photo of the current home.

Similar concerns have been raised by resident Lucinda Mortimer, who in a submission wrote: “There are so many eye sore 1960/1970s apartment blocks that could be levelled and redeveloped into contemporary architecturally designed apartments”.

“Why are we proposing to remove the very soul of what makes Mosman the desirable suburb it is,” she added.

Resident Dominic Adamo also called for the development to be rejected, saying he was “very sad to see such a well preserved heritage building make way for cheap apartments.”

But Brendan Warner, a real estate agent at Raine & Horne Mosman, said the development could meet a dire shortage of new housing in the area.

A photo inside the current home.

“I have been in real estate in Mosman for 36 years and the biggest issue empty nesters have at present is the distinct lack of quality low maintenance property for people wishing to downsize,” he said.

“Many empty nesters that we speak to that are living in big homes with pools and high maintenance gardens cannot find quality single level luxury properties that are suitable for downsizing.

“These types of low maintenance properties (provide) amenities that many Mosman residents need.”

Plans by developer 92 Raglan Development Pty Ltd state the new unit block would “be consistent with the evolving modern setting of the area”.

A photo of the current home.

“The proposed development will result in a three-storey residential flat building which is considered to be appropriate in the circumstances of the context and constraints of this particular site,” the plans state.

“The proposed development is not offensive or jarring in the streetscape. Rather, the proposed development sits comfortably in the streetscape.”

Records show the current two-storey home dates back to 1906 and is known locally as ‘Gargrave’.

In a statement, a Mosman Council spokeswoman said the home had not met the threshold for protection under local planning laws.

“Council has an evidence based approach to developing heritage controls and defining heritage items and heritage conservation areas,” she said.

“Comprehensive Mosman-wide heritage studies were undertaken in 1988 and 1996 with further heritage studies undertaken as required, resulting in more than 500 heritage items being listed and 13 heritage conservation areas which contain over 1300 properties.

“This property (at 92 Raglan St) was not identified as meeting the threshold for individual heritage listing in the previous comprehensive studies of the Mosman local government area.”

The proposal remains under assessment by the council.