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Plan put forward for two, six-storey apartment and shopping towers on The Parade in Norwood

Eugene Boisvert
Sunday Mail (SA)
August 02, 2015 12:00AM


An artist’s impression of the apartments planned for next to the Bath Hotel in Norwood. Picture: Connekt

A NORWOOD hotel owner has lodged plans for two, six-storey apartment towers just four months after a similar project was approved a block away.

Bath Hotel owner Tony Franzon has applied to the Development Assessment Commission to build 55 apartments and three shops at 236-238 The Parade.

The first stage of the project would be just to the east of his hotel — where four shops are now — and the second would be in the hotel’s carpark.

The site is only 100m west of a five-storey, 36-apartment building proposed by Kevin Chapley, Jo Chapley and Zack Kalamboyas that was approved by the DAC in March.

That project is worth $12 million. Mr Franzon’s is worth $11.5 million.

The area is zoned for buildings up to five storeys.

Mr Franzon, who bought the site in December for $3.9 million, said the apartments would be both up-market and affordable.

“I just think there’s a desperate need for apartment living on The Parade,” Mr Franzon said.

“Obviously I’m not alone about main, arterial roads like Magill and Unley roads.


The area as it is currently.

“We want to do a really nice job, not a slap-bang apartment complex that exists elsewhere.”

He said the apartments would bring more people to The Parade, boosting business in the area.

“It’s all good for The Parade and traders,” he said.

“Who doesn’t benefit from it?”

Sales agent Tony Mathews, from Connekt, said there had already been “tremendous interest” in the development from people who have heard about it by word of mouth.

“We expect demand to be very strong when we offer the project for sale,” Mr Mathews said.

The four shops on the site have been given notice to leave.

Mr Franzon’s proposal is the latest in a series of apartment projects planned for Norwood, Payneham & St Peters.

The DAC is also looking at a $37 million, 15-storey apartment and retail proposal for North Tce, Kent Town, and a $6.4 million, six-storey student-accommodation block on King William St, also in Kent Town.

Work is also set to start later this year on the $70 million, 11-storey East Park apartments on Dequetteville Tce.

More than two-thirds of the 106 apartments have been sold.

Waewick wrote:I've heard there is some anti development sentiment already.

Patrick_27 wrote:Not surprised, nor do I completely disagree with their motives. Whilst this is a nice looking development, it's completely out of character for the area. The Parade appears to be following the steps of Churchill Road, low-rise buildings along the strip which will age poorly and encroach on neighbouring houses. An apartment building next to a warehouse in Kent Town, OK fair enough. But a 5-10 story building next to little stone maisonette, get real!

Though, I do feel that a lot of people in the eastern suburbs just want to have a whinge for the sake of it...

[Shuz] wrote:It looks good at a cursory glance, but the devil would be in the detail. I'd await further renders before I make a full judgement.

I'll never understand the NIMBY crowd in the East. They knew that when the rezoning happened, that this would lead to proposals like this coming through.

[...]

Phantom wrote:As someone who lives in Norwood, God damn will this stand out like dog's balls...

I mean, I'm all for progress, but something that high will look out of place with what else is around in comparison.

GoodSmackUp wrote:It will stand out until another taller building pops up, something needs to be first