Ambassador apartments in Frankston dubbed Australia’s most dangerous address

A NOTORIOUS Frankston apartment block so dangerous paramedics won’t attend without police is being called the most unsafe complex in the country — and owners say an unusual rule is to blame.

Some Frankston councillors say they would like to see the Ambassador apartment block demolished. Picture: James Ross

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OWNERS of apartments in Frankston’s notorious Ambassador complex say it’s become the most dangerous address in the country.

Stuart Allen owns four units at the Ambassador complex and says a rule banning owners from living there has led to massive issues.

Stuart Allen, who owns four of the 110 units at the 325 Nepean Highway site, told Leader they blamed an unusual condition placed on the ex-motel titles by the Victorian Administrative and Civil Tribunal in 2006, which prohibits owners from living at the complex.

The condition was imposed to ensure the site remained available as low cost housing for vulnerable residents.

But owners say all it has done is create an apartment block so dangerous even paramedics won’t attend without a police escort.

Mr Allen said with the recent closure of St Kilda’s Gatwick hotel, Frankston’s Ambassador apartments have jumped to the top spot as the most dangerous unit complex in the state.

He said owners had tried for years to fix problems, hiring 24-hour security guards, installing security cameras and imposing age restrictions on tenants, but all attempts had failed and they were at their wits’ end.

“This site is clearly a dangerous place to live and largely due to there being no balance of owner occupiers and all 110 units being rented on the basis of short term renters. It’s become a hub for drugs, vandalism and bad behaviour,” Mr Allen said.

The units are all occupied by short-term tenants. Picture: James Ross

He said owners wanted Frankston Council to scrap the ban on owners living in the complex to allow a “better balance”.

“It is anticipated that owners will be more likely to care and take pride their buildings and report incidences of bad behaviour,” he said. “The Ambassador is a dangerous place to live, but it doesn’t have to be.”

David Warne, who owns 14 units at the Ambassador, said the council had a vendetta against it: “They hate the complex. They are working to destroy it.”

The closure of St Kilda’s Gatwick Hotel has pushed the Ambassador up the danger stakes, owners say.

Frankston councillor Kris Bolam said the best outcome would be for the State Government to compulsorily acquire the site and demolish it.

“I would prefer to see the whole thing bulldozed given the ongoing anti-social behaviour,’’ he said. “It’s not unusual to see police vehicles on an almost nightly basis outside that property.’’

Council officers are preparing a report looking at options including lobbying the government to acquire the site. But a previous request for compulsory acquisition in 2014 was rejected.

Frankston Homeless Support Service president Christine Richards said the place had no sense of community due to the regular turnover of tenants and without proper management the units were not suitable for short-term accommodation.

Police said there had been ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour, fighting and loitering.

The Ambassdor has a complex and unusual ownership — the former function centre and chapel areas have separate owners while the 110 old hotel units at the back have 36 owners.