Port Phillip Council gives green light for Regal reboot

A notorious St Kilda rooming house shut down a year ago has been given the green light to reopen — with a raft of super-strict conditions enforced on new tenants. But will it work?

Plans to reopen the former Regal rooming house as self-contained studio apartments for vulnerable women have been given the green light. Picture: Penny Stephens.

Vulnerable single women living in social housing on “probably the most notoriously dangerous street in St Kilda” will not be allowed to drink alcohol in communal areas after 10pm or smoke on their own balconies.

But neighbours to the infamous Regal rooming house fear that without on-site supervision, the rules won’t be enforced.

It comes as Port Phillip Council last night (Wednesday) endorsed plans to remodel the Little Grey St boarding house into self-contained studio apartments for disadvantaged women aged over 55.

The Regal was shut down last year after the Leader revealed assaults, drug use and lewd behaviour had spiralled out of control at the site and neighbours were living in fear.

Alexa Gower, who lives next door, told the meeting a night manager at the building was “critical” to protecting tenants and allaying neighbours’ concerns.

“While nightly (neighbours) have had to deal with the noise and disturbances, including a murder, we also saw the residents themselves lived directly with these incidents,” she said.

“The hotline that (HousingFirst) has suggested means that at 2am it’s the neighbours that have to police the activity of the residents and this deteriorates our relationship with our neighbours.”

Jenni Roper echoed calls for on-site management.

“A front office or reception could provide support or social services … and additional security to protect these women from the unwelcome guests and intruders that still frequent this location,” she said.

HousingFirst (formerly Port Phillip Housing Association), which manages the accommodation, has faced tough scrutiny from authorities, including the police and State Government, amid complaints it had failed to act on neighbours’ concerns and keep its own tenants safe.

RELATED:

MAN STABBED AT ST KILDA HOUSE OF HORRORS

24/7 SECURITY GUARDS STATIONED AT REGAL FRONT GATES

RADIO STAR KATE LANGBROEK INJURED IN ATTACK AT ST KILDA HOME

General manager development and assets, Clive Bowden, told the meeting this proposal aimed to “reinvent the property into a positive part of the community”.

But he railed at permit conditions restricting alcohol consumption, saying they breached tenants’ rights.

“It is an unreasonable breach of personal liberties to say, for example, ‘you cannot enjoy a glass of wine with a barbecue in the garden’,” he said.

“These future residents should be treated just like any other citizen of the City of Port Phillip … who are allowed the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of their communal areas.”

Mr Bowden said an on-site manager would be an “unreasonable cost to HousingFirst” and safety issues would instead be addressed by “a more secure entrance and CCTV”.

MORE:

POPULAR BREWERY TO TAP INTO SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET

SAFETY AUDIT FOR ‘DANGEROUS’ BRIDGE AFTER WOMAN HIT BY CAR

ARTIST’S ‘ISOLATION’ CAPTURED IN POWERFUL PORTRAITS

Cr Bernadene Voss said the alcohol restrictions were crucial to healing the rift caused by the Regal’s dodgy past.

“I am comfortable with putting these restrictions in place … because the community have had a deep concern and HousingFirst needs to rebuild the trust and confidence within the community,” she said.

“This is really not about the residents (of the rooming house), this is about the organisation that is responsible and I think they can do that.

“We’ve heard the women will be supported in any issue they find themselves in as quick as possible and we’ll be holding HousingFirst to account there.”

Cr Louise Crawford said the restrictions were about creating a harmonious living environment, similar to regulations enforced by body corporates in private apartment buildings.

“It’s a requirement of living in close proximity to people you don’t know … you have to make adjustments and there have to be rules,” she said.

“They allow for respect for the other people you live with and there are ways to still enjoy yourself and go out and have a drink.”

Councillors unanimously approved the plans.