Potts Point former restaurant site development has locals up in arms

By JOHN MOYLE

Just as the demolition for the old Bourbon site gets underway, another stoush over a development and the loss of history in Potts Point is about to start.

This time it concerns a site of significant heritage value centred around the old arts and crafts style La Strada restaurant site at 95 Macleay Street, Potts Point.

On December 7, the City of Sydney received development application D/2022/1251 to demolish 95 Macleay Street, the site to be replaced by a $7.65 million six storey development consisting of 2 studios, 2 x 2 bedroom apartments, 1 x 3 bedroom apartment and a two storey 3 bedroom penthouse apartment with a rooftop pool.

Only the penthouse will have views.

The owner of the site is believed to be fashion public relations owner Peter Metzner, who purchased the property in 2021.

Metzner and his architectural firm David Mitchell Architects have failed to consult the affected local residents, and they are angry with probable cause.

Potts Point heritage building impacted

Byron Hall is a heritage listed 10 storey building, built in1928, immediately opposite the proposed development ,and its residents say they are having their light, views and breezeways stolen.

“Byron Hall has 42 apartments of which 14 will lose their light,” Brian van der Platt, Chairman of the Board, Byron Hall said.

“There are also the loss of views from level 5, and the overlooking of the development into our apartments.”

To this end Byron Hall has engaged a planner who is preparing an objection to the City of Sydney regarding the DA.

It is understood that the heritage listed Kingsclere, on the corner of Greenknowe and Macleay, is also concerned about loss of light to their building.

“There has been no community consultation at all,” Con Anemogiannis, Byron Hall resident said.

“The height of the project, which they don’t think is a problem, is casting shadows over Byron Hall, the Wayside Chapel and Kingsclere.

“It means that we will have no winter light and we have had that for the last 100 years, and this is so they can build a penthouse.”

Local heritage consultant Andrew Woodhouse agrees when he said “ It seeks to steal significant light, breezeways and views from Byron Hall residents to increase the profitability of the DA site.

We don’t want development unless it provides improvement.”

Historic building under threat

Metzner’s development is predicated on the demolition of the 1910 arts and crafts building at 95 Macleay that currently houses three commercial premises and an upper residential space.

While the building does not have heritage protection it could be argued that it is an important addition to the diversity of the architectural fabric of one of the most significant heritage laden streets within the City of Sydney boundaries.

Not only is the development a light thief, it also wants to steal a community car space from Orwell Street to accommodate the entrance and exit for a six vehicle underground garage.

“The only way that can be reached is by the very narrow Hughes Street which are gathering points for the homeless, the Wayside, as well as garbage and delivery trucks, while adding six more cars to the area,” Van der Platt said.

While downplaying the heritage and architectural value of 95 Macleay Street the developers also face robbing the area of economic diversity by removing three businesses currently operating from the site, and replacing them with a single retail outlet.

‘This is not in the interest of the community and is not helping business at all,” Anemogiannis said.

On face value it could be said that this is a fight between people who are well off, except that it raises quality of living issues that affect the entire area, along with issues regarding heritage protection and the future of those protections.

If a developer comes along and says ‘trust me’ you need to look the gift horse in the mouth and count all of its teeth.

“We now only have pockets of history left in this area, and that arts and crafts building is one of those pockets,” Anemogiannis said.

“It can’t all be about floor space and ratios because history is not something that you can calculate, it is something that everyone owns.”