Wagga CBD: Hotel plan to revitalise vacant land on Baylis and Edward streets
Residents can now have their say about a multimillion-dollar plan for a boutique hotel set to transform a long-vacant site that has been dubbed “an eyesore” for years. SEE THE PLANS
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A grand plan to transform a prominent and long-vacant site into a $15.5 million boutique hotel can only help surrounding businesses if given the green light.
The proposal includes a six-storey building with 104 hotel rooms and 10 commercial spaces at 7-9 Baylis Street.
The building would have one commercial ground floor, one carparking floor and four hotel-room floors. There will be carparking for 70 vehicles.
The proposal by Design Workshop Australia, initially lodged in mid-2019, was revised in January and went on public exhibition last week.
A service station previously occupied the 1458sq m site, which has been vacant for years and has been labelled an eyesore.
Design Workshop Australia’s director Robert Gizzi said the project would strengthen the main intersection into Wagga as the building would be visible from all directions.
He said the project would also provide employment during the construction and operation phases, as well as “surveillance to a previously under-utilised part of the town”.
“It’d provide a diverse level of accommodation for the area and activate the corner of a principal intersection in Wagga,” he said. “The building would add a high architectural standard for the area.”
The application document also states the development would provide for “the desired future character of the streetscape of the commercial core of Wagga Wagga”.
Independent property valuer Chris Egan said it would make that precinct a “self-perpetuating beast” to help the city because it was a “gateway”.
“It’d bring people from out of town to inject capital because businesses are suffering,” he said.
“That’s what that part of the city needs — The Mill site has been disgraceful for years and a boutique hotel is a positive.
“Other hoteliers may get upset but there are so many classes of accommodation providers that it’d compliment existing providers.”
The project’s progress comes as the council approved the $21.2 million Riverside proposal to build a 17-storey tower at Sturt St, making it the tallest in Wagga when built.
The council is also processing an application by Viva Leisure to transform 2 Baylis St, which previously housed Greek on Baylis, into a 24/7 gym that is directly opposite the hotel proposal.
Committee 4 Wagga chief executive Alan Johnston said he looked forward to the corner being rehabilitated.
“It’s obviously needed to a face lift for a long, long time,” he said.
Public submissions in relation to the proposal may be made to the council by February 21.