Wheels in motion for Taylor Square cycling hub

City of Sydney Council has announced the next stage in its plans for the Taylor Square Hotel.

Council will be issuing short-term leases to successful interested parties while plans are underway to begin refurbishing the building within the next 12 months.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Council wanted to make Taylor Square a people-friendly precinct.

“This is an opportunity to activate part of the iconic Taylor Square building as a temporary creative, community or work space that celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the Oxford Street Cultural Quarter,” she said.

Companies, institutions and not for profit organisations are welcome to apply for the short-term leases.

Once refurbished, the building could become a “cycling hub”, comprising a bicycle repair centre, bike shop, cafes and a space for tour companies to operate and cycle groups to meet.

Councillor Shayne Mallard said the refurbishment was an exciting project.

“The council has a vision which I support which has other uses for Taylor Square [than] nightclubs and pubs,” he said.

“I think it’s a good move that the council has acquired it and the vision to have it as a cycling and community related arts hub is quite good.”

He said there would be community consultation and engagement on the project.

But one person who was surprised to hear Council was offering the leases was Tap Gallery Manager Lesley Dimmick.

The gallery had negotiated a first-floor lease with the building’s previous owners and had lodged a DA with Council before being told they couldn’t have the space.

“We had a DA in for three months before we were told we couldn’t have the building,” Ms Dimmick said.

“They didn’t mention that we could use it short term or that it was possibly going to be available to us after, they just told us basically you can’t have the building – can’t have it, they’ve got other ideas.”

However a City of Sydney spokesperson said Council was still exploring options for the site.

Cr Mallard added that the long term plan for the site meant Council could not have granted Tap Gallery’s lease at the time.

“The other thing is as a council we can’t just give a lease to anybody, we have to advertise it and have a transparent process,” he said.

“Once it’s been refurbished the Tap Gallery would be welcome to make an application.”

Convenor of the Nichols Street Community Group, Brian Noad said it “was a shame” that the Tap Gallery application had fallen through.

“That would have been wonderful to have an art gallery there … that would have brought a real new ambience to the area,” he said.

He hoped Council would seek more community involvement on the project.

“The residents hope that it’s going to be something that will definitely benefit the neighbourhood,” he said.

“But everyone really is glad that Council has purchased it.”