$5m home for the homeless

BY ROJE ADAIMY

It was established almost 44 years ago as a refuge for the abused, lonely and homeless. Now, the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross is seeking approval to redevelop its current site into a multi-million dollar complex.
A development application (DA) was lodged with the City of Sydney Council last month and has just come off public exhibition.
The project, which is expected to cost approximately $5.6 million, includes the demolition of the existing chapel, theatre and op-shop buildings. It will be replaced with a four-storey building that will house a new op-shop, chapel, theatre, meeting rooms and office space with new outdoor terraces to Hughes Street.
The redevelopment will also include alterations and additions to the coffee shop building on the corner of Hughes Street and Orwell Lane.
But the plans have not been welcomed by all.
A number of nearby residents contacted The City News to express their concern that the proposed development will not address the ongoing problem of homeless people loitering around the front of the Chapel and neighbouring residential properties.
One resident, who wished not to be named, said that while she fully supports the work that is carried out by the Wayside Chapel, improving the building will not improve the situation for those who live nearby.
“The squalid street and the throng of homeless people milling around the open courtyard in front of the coffee shop of the Wayside Chapel is a scourge as there is not such a sight elsewhere in Kings Cross,” she said.
“It has been very disturbing to see people collapsing at our front door-step or in our back street; people shooting up or copulating in the back lane or defecating; people urinating into our flower-pots. We have contacted the police and the Council [but to no avail. It’s been worrying, intimidating and I often avoid walking in Hughes Street if I can help it.”
Another resident who lives further down the road said that a bigger premises will merely create bigger problems, particularly in the open courtyard at the front.
“The expansion of the Chapel will attract more homeless people and drug addicts, which will in turn mean more violence, drug shoot-ups, crime and noise in the street,” the Hughes Street resident said.
However, Pastor Graham Long from the Wayside Chapel said the extra space will give people less opportunity for people to just mill around.
“At the moment, the only waiting room we have is the street. But the new building gives us another whole two floors of spaces in which to do the activities and programs that we host,” Mr Long said. “While I can’t promise there won’t be people hanging around, the new building obviously means it’s going to be a lot better than it was.”
He said that the Chapel has been working very closely with local police and other authorities to try and manage the problem, and is keen to discuss the plans in detail with any concerned residents. “We’re doing everything we can do be good neighbours,” Mr Long said.
A City of Sydney spokesman said that the Council had received four submissions expressing concerns of possible increased activity along the street.
He said that several measures had been taken to address the problem, including the installation of a closed-circuit television system to be monitored by the caretaker, allowing them to quickly respond to resolve any problems that may arise from the use of the forecourt space.
“The existing fig and maple trees are to be retained within new landscaped beds, which include seating on a timber rail to reduce the area being used for sleeping,” the spokesman said. “An adjustable louver structure . . . over the extrance to the Chapel [will also] provide limited protection from the elements to reduce the area being used for sleeping.”
When the Wayside Chapel originally submitted a development application to South Sydney Council in the early 2000s, Clover Moore (then Member for Bligh), voiced her objection to the proposal.
In a letter to the Council’s general manager, Ms Moore said that residents were concerned about the potential increased activity outside the complex and resident’s safety.
“I requested that Council only approve a development for this site that meets these concerns and enhances the safety and amenity of nearby residents, including an effective management plan for the facility,” the letter said.
The new development application is currently being assessed by the City of Sydney.