Save Darlo | reject D/2020/244

Save Darlo | reject D/2020/244

Started
31 May 2020
Signatures: 2,542Next goal: 5,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Louise Butler

A developer wants to destroy a row of six, Victorian terraces at 24-34 Hardie Street Darlinghurst and bolt a five storey, 69 room cell block, 'boutique' hotel onto their facades. 

We're asking the City of Sydney Council to REJECT this development application (D/2020/244).

Here are five reasons why:

1. Loss of our community
Consolidating six terrace houses into a hotel / inn that will accommodate transient visitors will result a loss of housing for permanent Darlinghurst residents, and erode our community. As with the Airbnb properties which have proliferated in the area, this hotel will be a parasite on our neighbourhood.

2. Irreversible loss of heritage
This proposal does not follow the heritage provisions of City of Sydney’s Local Environmental Plan or Development Control Plan:

  • more than half the original building fabric of six terraces dating from the 1870s and 1890s will be lost;
  • the five-storey development conflicts with the established character and heritage significance of the Oxford Street and Victoria Street Heritage Conservation Area;
  • the development will diminish the setting and presentation of the terraces in the street scape;
  • the looming five-storey rear facade will destroy the heritage character and significance of the rear lane at Hayden Place.
  • This Heritage Conservation Area has high local historic, aesthetic and social significance,
  • Loss of integrity of these increasingly rare historic houses (apparently, their pretty faces will be retained, but most of the buildings will be demolished;
  • The Conservation Area possess a coherent and strong urban form derived predominantly from Victorian and Federation period residential/commercial development with Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street, Darlinghurst being Heritage Streetscapes which traverse the ridge.
  • The area contains a number of aesthetically significant and prominent buildings such as the Jewish Museum, Darlinghurst Fire Station, St. John’s Church and Rectory, Sacred Heart Church, the c.1919 St. Vincent’s Hospital, the First Church of Christ Scientist, and a number of fine inter-war residential flat buildings as well as grand houses such as Iona.
  • Pretty Hardie Street is a narrow one-way contributory street. Other Heritage Items are similar to the proposed "Hardie St Six" set to be partially demolished: a tiny single-storey sandstone Georgian worker’s cottage at 265 Victoria St (Item No. I280 and, a terrace group on Victoria St (hairdresser) not dissimilar to the small terraces on Hardie St.

3. Liveability
The boundary-to-boundary, five-storey plus basement development will erode the amenity of the adjoining houses and apartments through unacceptable overshadowing and, in some cases, complete loss of sunlight. The view corridors and amenity enjoyed by all surrounding buildings on Hardie St will be overwhelmed.

4. Over-intensification of development
Consolidating the six terrace houses into a monolithic development will destroy the fine-grain, residential nature of Hardie Street. 

5. Environment
All trees are to be removed. The new development has no green space. 

This unsympathetic proposal will result in a poor planning and heritage outcome for Hardie Street and the Heritage Conservation Area. 

Many residents living nearby have lost faith in the City of Sydney to protect the fragile heritage of Darlinghurst. 

Please tell Council you don't want this inappropriate development.

Thanks.

More info is available from our local news provider, City Hub 

And the Darlinghurst Resident Action Group (DRAG) 'Action to Save Darlo' page:

https://www.drag.org.au/action-to-save-darlo

 

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Signatures: 2,542Next goal: 5,000
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