Brighton-Le-Sands residents have vowed to fight a proposed boarding house on Bay Street.
However, the man behind the project said concerns are misguided and that the apartments would be targeted to workers and professionals.
The proposed development includes an 11 storey mixed use development comprising of a boarding house with 88 rooms and manager's room, one commercial unit, roof top communal area and a basement car park with 22 spaces.
The existing building, which currently houses Bay Espresso, Eyes in Le Sands and The Hellenic, would be demolished.
Residents launched Bay Street Action Committee in response and an online petition has more than 400 signatures.
That’s in addition to the more than 200 signatures on the hard copy petition.
Committee founder Helen Thomas lives in nearby Crawford Street and owns a property in the residential development across the street.
‘’We as a community do not want a boarding house, we would rather it be residential,’’ she said.
‘’The congestion and noise is already out of control. We have had a lot of issues here over a long period of time which is why now we’ve had enough.’’
She said other concerns are around a lack of parking, increased traffic and the type of people that would use the boarding house.
St George resident Peta Xanthoudakis is also against the proposal and said parking was already a nightmare around Bay Street.
‘’My mum lives nearby and it’s almost impossible to find a park when we go to visit here,’’ she said.
‘’Having just 22 spaces is just ridiculous.
‘’Most of the residents that have responded to the petition are worried about parking and traffic. The location isn’t right. It’s on a main street, you wouldn’t have that on Pitt Street.’’
Hello World is located just a few doors away.
Franchise owner Bruce Robinson said he would rather see other businesses there; as long as it wasn’t another travel agent.
‘’I don’t like the idea of what’s proposed,’’ he said.
‘’It’s not what we’d like to see in Brighton.’’
However Parker Logan Property Director Joel Redelman said there were huge misconceptions by residents about the project.
‘’I think the residents are a bit misguided in what they think the project will be,’’ he said.
‘’People are confusing it with a kind of halfway house but really what we’re putting together is a type of micro apartments.’’
He said the price would target it to young professionals and people that wanted to live or work in the area.
Each room is self-contained with its own kitchen and bathroom.
‘’We want to create an apartment where people can have the luxury of living here but without spending an arm or a leg,’’ he said.
He also dismissed concerns about parking saying the location was chosen specifically for its access to public transport.
‘’It’s a walkable suburb. You can walk easily to the supermarket, post office and the beach,’’ he said.
‘’Having a car isn’t necessary in the area. I think the younger generation aren’t as reliant on having a car.’’
Public comment on the proposal is open until January 20.
