Roxy Hotel progress stalled as council plots vision for future
DEVELOPER David Kingston assures local residents that Parramatta’s Roxy Hotel will be restored to its glory days ... its just a matter of time.
Parramatta
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IT HAS been more than two years since revellers danced their last dance at the Roxy Hotel in Parramatta but owner David Kingston has assured there are grand plans for the venue as part of a greater city vision.
The George St venue will be a focal point for council’s proposed civic link down Horwood Pl to connect the soon-to-be finalised Parramatta Square and the Parramatta River foreshore.
However, uncertainty in the concept is stalling the design process for the developer.
“It’s hard to lock in precise plans when the important parts of what the Roxy becomes depends what happens on Horwood Pl,” Mr Kingston said.
“I’m enthusiastic for the plan to come together but I need all pieces of the puzzle to come together.”
He reassured locals the iconic venue was here to stay and would be restored to its former glory, with high-rise to sit behind the heritage-listed theatre.
“The facade will be retained,” he said, “I want to get it right rather than rush into something.
“I’ve committed to the venue for the long term, I’m not a normal developer who moves in and wants to develop overnight.”
Veteran investment banker and property developer, Mr Kingston has owned the property since 2003 when he was initially drawn to the ‘magnificence’ of the building.
The space functioned as a nightclub and movie theatre until July 2014 when the doors were closed and the building fell into its current derelict state.
“It's a great building ... the original use I had for it worked well, but that use isn’t as popular any more, you’ve got to move with the times,” he said.
“The forecourt will have cafes, retail and a theatre instead of a nightclub with a vision to open it up to the civic link ... The Roxy Ballroom will be the number one ballroom theatre in Parramatta.”
Public space in and around the theatre would become a focal point in what Mr Kingston describes as the new core of the city, bordered by the Parramatta River, Church St, railway and the proposed civic link.
The prime real estate would accommodate both residential and commercial space set above the heritage building.
A spokeswoman for Parramatta Council could shed little light on the progress of the plan for Horwood Pl.
“Council is in the early stages of developing the concept for a link between Parramatta Square and the Parramatta River foreshore,” she said.
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“As plans for the civic link progress Council will consult with the community and stakeholders.”
Connection between the main public square and the river foreshore will be particularly relevant with the proposal to relocate the Powerhouse Museum to the old David Jones’ carpark site.
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