Stefce Kutlesovski’s build in Birdwood Ave raises local eyebrows
A developer who illegally tore down the 159-year-old Corkman Hotel has snapped up land on a posh Brighton strip. Anxious neighbours say he’s been trucking soil to the site to boost bay views. Here’s what the site looks like.
Inner South
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Rogue developer Stefce Kutlesovski is under scrutiny from Bayside Council and angry neighbours over a development in one of Brighton’s most prestigious avenues on its Golden Mile.
Stefce Kutlesovski, who along with associate Raman Shaqiri razed the Corkman Hotel in Carlton in 2016, is developing land with breathtaking bay views in Birdwood Ave.
But the development has sparked outrage from Bayside residents, with questions raised about what Mr Kutlesovski is planning to build there.
It is understood Mr Kutlesovski had numerous truckloads of dirt dumped on the site and some people believe that’s to raise it so bay views could be obtained.
One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said they had contacted the council and believed, from returned messages, that the council “had concerns about the structure itself”.
The resident said there were concerns about “the higher level of the land at the back” and said there was talk the developer had plans to create “a playground for his family” on the site.
“My understanding is there has to be an existing house before you can build something like that,” they said.
Bayside Council’s acting director city planning and amenity Matthew Cripps told the Leader they would be keeping close checks on the build.
“Council is aware of the development at 17 Birdwood Ave, Brighton,” he said.
“A plan for a single storey house has been submitted and council will continue to make inquires and liaise with the private building surveyor on the matter to ensure the development proceeds in line with council requirements.”
Mr Kutlesovski was ordered to build a private park by February on the land where the Corkman Hotel was razed, but failed to do so.
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The Brighton resident said they had contacted Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s office, to seek information on the progress of the Corkman Hotel site, but hadn’t received any correspondence.
They said they believed Mr Kutlesovski was going to turn the Birdwood Ave site into a private playground for his family, something he found “unbelievable”.
Mr Kutlesovski could not be contacted by Leader.