Hobart ‘too hard’ for developers, says apartment block’s backer after council committee knockback

The Welcome Stranger site might never be redeveloped if council rejects the current proposal, the project’s spokesman has warned.

THE proponent of a planned $30 million city apartment block which had been slated for rejection by the council says Hobart is “too hard” for developers.

Project spokesman Quinten Villanueva says the Welcome Stranger site in Davey St might never be redeveloped if council rejects the Hexa Group proposal at next week’s meeting.

It was recommended for rejection by the council’s planning committee on Monday.

“If this project can’t be facilitated in what’s being put forward to council there’s a high likelihood that this property will never be developed because there are pure economics that have to be realised and it’s a very expensive site to develop,” Mr Villanueva said.

“If we can’t achieve what has been proposed, the high likelihood is that this project and the site will never get developed.”

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Project spokesman Quinten Villanueva with the Welcome Stranger hotel behind..

Mr Villanueva said the council needed to work with developers in the middle of a housing crisis.

“You need to show that you’re willing to work with developers and not just slam them,” he said.

“We’re actually under the height, so given that we’re in the central business zone this site does allow for a 45m development. We’re only sticking out on the corners.”

The plan to build 52 apartments in a 13-storey building on the site on the corner of Davey and Harrington streetss will be considered by the full council on Monday.

Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet said the decision of the planning committee was made largely on heritage grounds and followed the recommendations of council planning officers.

“To think there is not a significant impact on the streetscape and townscape is pushing it a bit much — this is 13 storeys next to two and three-storey buildings on Davey St,” she said.

“If you look at it from an economic perspective, this is why a lot of people come to Hobart.

“The argument that is being put is questionable, that high-end housing is the solution for the housing affordability issue.”

An artist’s impression of the proposed Welcome Stranger development.

Alderman Simon Behrakis said the Greens members on council had shown themselves to be “anti-everything”.

“There is always a buck to be passed to the other levels of government but the reality is, the population increase in Hobart outpaces the rate of new house construction by over four times.”

The Property Council’s Tasmanian executive director Brian Wightman said the council enjoyed constructive relationships with councils, but there was always room for improvements to help increase the housing supply.