Woolworths releases first pictures of Mosman development
Concept plans show the Mosman Woolworths will look completely different to what residents thought. Check out the pics here.
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Concept plans show the Mosman Woolworths will look completely different to what residents thought.
The supermarket has released the first artist’s impressions for an underground supermarket with a street level outdoor plaza lined with small shops and cafes on Military Road overlooked by apartments.
It has purchased several properties surrounding Mosman Club with a view to realising the project.
But the plans for a new Woolworths are up in the air after a spokesman conceded there has been strong community resistance.
“We are now at a point where we have received feedback from a number of areas of the community and realised that there’s probably not a lot of support for this sort of development at this point in time,” Woolworths head of property development Andrew Loveday said.
“We’ll need to take that away and consider our next steps.”
When asked if Mosman would pull out of the development Mr Loveday said Woolworths will consider what its options are going forward. The company intends to look at the feedback it has been given and consider what the options are to proceed.
Woolworths wants the community to know what the site could potentially look like.
The company was disappointed when a community action group distributed images which did not accurately represent the project.
“We also think the community has a right to understand the true detail and facts of what any proposal could look like,” Mr Loveday said.
“We are very disappointed there has been images which misrepresent our vision for the site which have knowingly been distributed to the community.”
Mr Loveday said the mixed used development would be community based and seek to enhance the existing character and village feel of Mosman. He believes it would make a positive contribution to the area. The open space would have al fresco dining and shops that would complement the existing retail stores in Mosman.
The conceptual plans would see Mosman Club moved to a new premises above ground with a rooftop area, while the facades of most of the existing buildings would remain. The plans do not include the two buildings book-ending the site between Gouldsbury St and Belmont Road.
“We are always looking for ways to better service our customers and we believe a supermarket in Mosman would achieve that,” he said.
“We believe our customers would like a new store in Mosman.
“We believe one of the most important things for us with any development is to understand what drives the community and to seek feedback from the community.”
To achieve the plans Woolworths would need support from two key stakeholders: Mosman Council and Mosman Club. The council owns a lane behind the site and the club is at the centre of the development. There is resistance in the community to the plans and as a result there is attention on Mosman Club.
Mosman Club comes under different rules than privately owned sites and it cannot dispose of property without a majority of votes cast by members. People against a Woolworths development have started joining the club on this premise.
“Our proposed development was based on working with other stakeholders such as the RS Club and Council,” he said.
“What we are hearing back at the moment is that there is minimal appetite to look at a development such as this.
“Without those key stakeholders then we’ll need to consider what our next steps will be.”
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