Former St Paul’s Boys Home redevelopment put on hold
With a sad and twisted past, this historical 1920s building has been the centre of discussion for decades. A five-star hotel was meant to be built on the derelict site by the end of the year but a developer says the project is now on hold. Find out why.
Bass Coast News
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Plans to redevelop the former St Paul’s Home for Boys into a five-star hotel have been put on hold due to COVID-19.
The Newhaven development was planned to be completed by the end of the year but the developer and builder said the project is now on hold.
New Trend Solutions owner Jeremy Wang told The Bass Coast News the pandemic has been challenging for everyone involved with the project.
“COVID-19 has hit us very hard and things are on hold at the moment,” he said.
“We aren’t certain if we open that tourists will come because of restrictions”.
Mr Wang said he wasn’t “quite sure about the financial direction of the site”.
“When you put your money into something and you don’t know if you will see a return, it’s hard,” he said.
Mr Wang said they still intended to build the five-star hotel but it was a matter of when.
The proposed hotel will include 14 rooms, a pool, restaurant, bar, elevator and tennis courts.
“We are still planning everything at the moment but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to rescue the place”.
The former Boys Home has been targeted by vandals since Mr Wang bought the property in 2016.
Windows have been smashed and parts of the historic site destroyed, leaving it in ruins.
‘Keep out’ signs and a black fence surrounds the Forrest Ave property but this hasn’t deterred vandals who ripped down parts of the fence in May.
“People think its abandoned and do stupid things to it which is really annoying,” Mr Wang said.
He said they now have people onsite to look after the place.
Neighbour of the Boys Home, Nicky Hutchinson said vandals have been a “regular occurrence”.
“It has been disappointing to see how many people have gone in and damaged what the owners are trying to achieve,” she said.
“One particular night there were hoons tearing up and down the road, smashing the newly installed fence and doing who knows what inside the property.”
She said the culprits got away before the police could catch them.
Despite a few challenges, Mr Wang said he was excited to about completing the project.
“We are looking forward to getting it done and employing as many locals as we can”.
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Contact Brooke at brooke.grebert-craig@news.com.au