After sitting empty for more than a year following the demise of Holden, a former car showroom on the corner of Macquarie and Barrack streets is now slated for a $24 million overhaul.
Developers have lodged their plans this week with the City of Hobart for a new two-tower multi-residence development in its place.
Featuring a total of 56 luxury apartments with views towards kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the Derwent River, alongside retail shopfront space on Macquarie Street, the plan aims to revitalise the currently vacant central spot.
The planning application shows the proposal has a maximum height of 23.1m above natural ground level along Macquarie Street and will include 64 car parking spaces, bicycle parking facilities and three ground floor commercial spaces.
“It is anticipated these tenancies will comprise of business and professional services (office), one of which is envisaged to accommodate the Tasmanian Transport Association, along with a café and restaurant (Food Services),” the application reads.
“The upper-level apartments have been designed with careful consideration of amenity, providing substantial balconies and private open space for each apartment, along with two large communal areas on the roof-top of each residential tower.”
Developers believe that the complex within walking distance of the CBD and existing urban areas comes “at a time of upmost need for additional housing stock”.
“The proposed development reinforces the role of the zone as a focus for the region with development that is of a scale consistent with existing development within the city centre, whilst respecting the notable transition in height out of the CBD to the south-west along Macquarie Street,” the application said.
The full 600-page application is currently open for representation with the City of Hobart until March 18 before councillors vote on approving or declining it at a future council meeting.
