NewsBite

‘Waste of time’: Residents divided over shop top living

Council’s plan to develop opportunities for shop top living have not been agreed on by all Toowoomba residents. Here’s what they had to say.

SOLD: A New South Wales businessman has snapped up a Toowoomba CBD building, with a plan to set up a new business and possibly develop the top floor as accommodation.
SOLD: A New South Wales businessman has snapped up a Toowoomba CBD building, with a plan to set up a new business and possibly develop the top floor as accommodation.

Toowoomba Regional Council are exploring incentives to encourage shop top living in the CBD in a bid to increase the population living in the centre of town.

But some residents aren’t buying it.

General rates waivers could be among the incentives the Toowoomba Regional Council will consider to encourage the take-up of shop top unit conversions in the CBD.

A New South Wales businessman has also purchased CBD property with the intension of developing residential living.

Chronicle readers took to Facebook to air their opinions, with some in agreeance with the move and other staunchly opposed.

SOLD: A New South Wales businessman has snapped up a Toowoomba CBD building, with a plan to set up a new business and possibly develop the top floor as accommodation.
SOLD: A New South Wales businessman has snapped up a Toowoomba CBD building, with a plan to set up a new business and possibly develop the top floor as accommodation.

“I have been hoping this would happen,” Leona Keyes said.

“It would help to revitalise the CBD … and parking would obviously come with the building.

“No one living there is going to be parking on the street.”

Rob Gee said the move would ultimately impact local businesses.

“Waste of time, nothing will stop the great reset,” he said.

“All small to medium businesses will ultimately be made defunct …”

Rhonda Miles said the idea could with some assistance and careful thought for residents and business owners.

“Great idea however one of the main impediments to date have been building requirements for conversion of these old often substandard constructions,” she said.

“If done properly they are fantastic but it takes some pretty deep pockets to bring some of these spaces (not all) up to standard.”

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/toowoomba/waste-of-time-residents-unimpressed-with-shop-top-living/news-story/931245e0bdd9e7a35da1208ad47745f3