Bid to revive old city block

THE Hobart City Council is seeking bright ideas to revamp “civic square”.

PLANS: Lord Mayor Sue Hickey and Alderman Damon Thomas want ideas for the central site.

THE Hobart City Council is seeking bright ideas to revamp “civic square”.

The council-owned block of land between Morrison and Davey streets contains a car park, some tenancies in heritage buildings and the Mawson’s Huts Replica Museum.

An expressions of interest process has opened, with the council hoping to attract proposals that would revitalise the space and benefit the community.

Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said proposals could take many forms, but would need to retain the heritage aspects of the site.

“It’s really valuable land that we consider is under-utilised and wasted in its current form,” Alderman Hickey said.

“We are looking for someone to come in and give us some ideas that will just make this a fantastic place for people to come and visit and enjoy.

“Maybe some funky cafes and some trendy stores and a public thoroughfare where people can still be connected from the waterfront through to Franklin Square.”

Ald Hickey said ideally a private developer would fund the makeover, but there was a possibility the council would need to enter a partnership.

Finance committee chairman Damon Thomas said the site was ideal because of its proximity to Sullivans Cove and the city centre, despite the fact that it had been used as a car park for many years.

Alderman Thomas said the process was also open to international developers who might be interested in the site.

A draft masterplan has been developed for the site, but has not yet been endorsed by the council. The expression of interest process will run until January 24.

Originally published as Bid to revive old city block