Development plans for Hobart pub Welcome Stranger advertised online with apartments to target empty nesters

The group behind a $30 million, 13-storey apartment block says it will be targeting people looking to downsize from large family homes. SEE THE DESIGNS

THE developer behind the $30 million Welcome Stranger project will target empty nesters in what they say is an unbeatable spot for residential living.

The project is another step closer after developer Hexa Group lodged a development application with Hobart City Council. Submissions on the advertised plans will be accepted until June 18.

The proposal includes 52 apartments across a 13-storey, 45m-tall building with two retail tenancies on the ground floor.

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An artist’s impression of the proposed Welcome Stranger development, as seen from St David's Park.

“The development itself is ultimately going to be targeted at those empty nesters that are currently occupying five-bedroom family homes in say Sandy Bay, in the outskirts, that are under-utilising those sites,” project spokesman Quinten Villanueva said.

“So those looking to downsize and move into a more efficient style of living in an apartment and therefore freeing up some housing for other people looking to upgrade.

“Hobart clearly has a housing shortage at the moment. We need do everything we can to boost supply.”

An artist’s impression of the proposed Welcome Stranger development, as seen from further up Davey St.

Mr Villanueva said the developer had not yet decided on a starting price for the apartments.

“Our objective right now is to get the [development application] and then we’ll be able to iron out all those details moving forward,” he said.

Welcome Stranger development spokesman Quinten Villanueva. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Villanueva said instead of a public bar and poker machines, it was proposed for one of the new tenants of the retail space to be a poker-machine free wine bar.

“The ground floor will see a range of retail spaces, including a cafe and a boutique providore and grocer with an emphasis on local produce,” he said.

“The development will open the street level area up to the public, with access via Harrington and Davey streets to an arcade featuring local Tasmanian art.”

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The current Welcome Stranger site on the corner of Davey and Harrington streets. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Villanueva said he was confident the council would approve the designs.

“The elected members and council will find it hard to look past how much effort has gone into this overall design and how good a fit it is for both the community needs and within the context of its surroundings,” he said.

Alderman Simon Behrakis said he looked forward to seeing the plans and hoped it was an appropriate development.

“Development of that scale is what the city needs,” he said. “If you look at the statistics there’s more people moving into the city than there is new dwellings being built.”

Mr Villanueva said the project would create about 100 jobs during construction and it was estimated the residents would drive more than $3 million in economic activity in the area each year.

Construction is expected to start next year.

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