La Vie Collective’s Paul Krawczyk plans apartments behind historic North Hobart house

A developer behind luxury apartments in Hobart is planning another development in North Hobart. See what he wants to do.

Render of proposed apartments at 432 Elizabeth St, North Hobart by La Vie Collective. Picture: Scanlan Architects.

A Tasmanian developer has plans to build 11 “high-end” apartments behind an historic house in North Hobart.

Paul Krawczyk, of La Vie Collective, has lodged a development application with the Hobart City Council for the apartments behind the former Colony 47 headquarters at 432 Elizabeth St.

The building was sold for $3.3m in 2021 and was once a backpacker hostel.

Mr Krawczyk, who developed luxury apartments at the historic Ingomar Hotel in Patrick St, Hobart, said the historic building would be renovated.

“We will restore the heritage building back to a house,” he said.

“With the apartments we took a lot of consideration to ensure that it fitted within the local community.

“We will demolish a daggy extension that was put on the back of the building.”

Render of proposed apartments at 432 Elizabeth St, North Hobart by La Vie Collective. Picture: Scanlan Architects.

Mr Krawczyk is unable to put a cost on the apartments which will be over three levels and a basement for 16 cars.

“Building costs have gone up significantly in the last couple of years,” he said.

“This is the third version of design for this site, and it’s been going on for about three years.”

The $15m Ingomar development, in a former hotel dating back to 1897, comprises 26 luxury apartments.

“The Ingomar residence is a classic example, between when we went and got the approval and what the pricing was then to when it was with the final design,” Mr Krawczyk said.

“Once you get development approval, then the process to finalize your design is quite a long period to get all the engineering and all the proper drawings done for construction.

“When I got approval for the Ingomar to when we started to build, the price had gone up over

60 per cent.”

Luxury apartments at the old Ingomar Hotel in Patrick St Hobart developed by La Vie Collective. Picture: Supplied.

He is not worried that the market for apartments is not as strong as it has been.

“There’s definitely a need for good inner city residential development.”

The 11 new apartments are proposed to the rear of the existing heritage building and include seven three-bedroom apartments.

They will run parallel to the side boundaries and will include a flat roof to mitigate impacts of height from surrounding areas.

The basement will have one apartment. The ground level will comprise four apartments including courtyards, with four apartments on the first floor and two apartments on the second floor and rooftop terracing.

The former Colony 47 building is listed under the Tasmanian Heritage Register.

Ratepayers have until Wednesday to comment on the development.