Humpty Dumpty development

Humpty Dumpty development

BY JORDAN FERMANIS

IPM Holdings, the group looking to develop the Calidad building in Woolloomooloo for $8.6 million has modified its submission which dismantles the building to put it back together again.

The Calidad building was constructed in 1974 and was heritage listed in 2014 by the City of Sydney. It stands on 153-165 Brougham St in Woolloomooloo which includes two other heritage listed buildings; Telford Lodge and an old Victorian cottage.

IPM Holdings has submitted a modification to the DA from the original plans in 2014 which includes the dismantling and re-assembling of the building to make way for 30 residential apartments across six levels.

“Modification of consent for demolition of the two storey federation building fronting Brougham Street and construction of a new residential apartment building, demolition of extensions to Telford Lodge and adaptive reuse of the ‘Calidad’ building for residential apartments.Proposed changes include dismantling and re-assembling the ‘Calidad’ building,” the modification proposal said.

Caron Brown, who owns an apartment next door to the Calidad building, says that the proposed modifications show that IPM Holdings are not concerned with preserving the heritage of the site.

“The whole purpose of the Sydney Architecture School getting heritage listed in the first place was so that it wouldn’t get dismantled.”

“The whole building will come off piece by piece and put in a factory somewhere. Retreated and re-specialised so they can dig into the mountain there,” Ms Brown said.

A City of Sydney spokesperson told City Hub that the proposed modification would not damage the building.

“The City has received a Section 96 Modification Application which seeks to modify the existing development consent for the site. The proposed modifications include dismantling the Calidad building so it is not damaged during the excavation phase, and reassembling the building on site after the excavation phase is complete,” the spokesperson said.

However Ms Brown has concerns that the two other heritage listed sites will be dismantled and reassembled as well with the risk that they may be damaged beyond repair.

“There are already two other heritage listed buildings within the site. Are they going to take them apart as well?”

“They want to encroach more on the historical courtyard off Telford Place.”

“I was disappointed because it’s developers again that get change after change,” Ms Brown said.

Andrew Woodhouse, President of Potts Point & Kings Cross Heritage & Residents’ Society told City Hub that were the proposed modifications to be approved it would reveal a tremendous backflip by the City of Sydney.

“This DA has now called for the Calidad building to be dismantled and put into storage.”

“This is as big a backflip in local council terms as Mike Baird’s backflip on greyhound racing.”

“How can you conserve something by removing it from its site? Then putting it in a box somewhere,” Mr Woodhouse said.

Mr Woodhouse said that the modification proposal shows how little heritage is valued by developers and if approved, local councils.

“It threatens all other heritage listed buildings and creates a bad precedent for our future.”

“This proposal is heritage heresy and we say they are turning heritage into history.”

“If you can’t see a heritage building it ceases to be one,” Mr Woodhouse said.

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.