Local business owner Lesley Dimmick says she is disappointed with the mixed messages she has been receiving from City of Sydney Council on her planned move into the Taylor Square Hotel building.
Last month officials from the council’s Planning Department assured her that a planned council takeover of the building would not adversely affect her TAP Gallery Development Application for the site.
But in the last week, Ms Dimmick has been told that she will no longer be able to move into the building. “During our meeting with Council on Monday, the people from the Building Department and Cultural Department said that we couldn’t have that building because they’ve got other intentions for that building,” Ms Dimmick said.
“We’re disappointed that we’re not getting that lovely building in the middle of Taylor Square, because the position and everything was fantastic.”
Ms Dimmick said she couldn’t understand why she had been given conflicting advice from council in such a short period of time. “It could be because it’s a very big council and all departments weren’t communicating somehow, or there was something political going on, because they couldn’t announce that they’d actually bought it even though everyone knew they had.”
According to a council spokesperson, TAP Gallery’s DA is in breach of the area’s liquor freeze regulations. “The TAP Gallery lodged a DA with the consent of the previous building owners before the Council purchased the building. Although the T2 building is within the State-legislated liquor freeze zone where new liquor licences are not permitted, the TAP Gallery DA sought approval for service of alcohol at functions,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the TAP Gallery was a valued cultural organisation and that Council was working with the owner to find alternate accommodation opportunities.
“The TAP Gallery has requested in a meeting that Council consider a part or full refund of DA fees. While this is not standard practice, the City is currently considering that request as the TAP Gallery is a community organisation.”
Ms Dimmick said she was hopeful Council would stick to its word and help find a suitable alternative. “We’ve given up wanting to take that building now and we’re hoping at some future date that Council will help us relocate.”
She also said she was worried the building would remain empty and unused for years, like the ill-fated Burton Street Tabernacle building in Darlinghurst.
Six years ago, when the council bought the Tabernacle, it said it would refurbish the building and use it as a community facility.
by Ehssan Veiszadeh
