‘For Sale’ sign goes up on controversial St Kilda Junction ‘Lego building’ site
Eight weeks after being granted a permit, residents are surprised as ‘Sale’ sign goes up at the Junction ‘Lego’ site
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Residents concerned this is blatant permit trafficking
· Call on Council to fix StKilda Junction planning ‘void’
Junction Area Action Group residents are surprised with the news that a For Sale sign has gone up on the controversial $30 million eighteen storey high rise Lego tower at St Kilda Junction.
Local Wellington Street resident and a JAAG member Debra Yung says, “This is fantastic news! Hopefully the next owners will do their research and build something more appropriate with more parking.”
JAAG St Kilda believes that a raft of VCAT conditions attached to the permit including wind tunnel testing may have added millions to the $30 million estimated building’s costs, making the venture unviable.
VCAT has approved construction of the 57 metre tall exotic multi coloured stack of Lego blocks residential tower at St Kilda Junction. Residents who passionately opposed it, have lost an epic battle to stop a permitbeing granted.
It will create a windy concrete canyon that may regularly produce wind vortex dangers for more than 1400 ride to work cyclists using St Kilda Road's south bound bike lane.
Consultants Pty Ltd's wind expert Bill Melbourtne who is highly regarded world wide and known as "Mr Wind" says,
"My assessment is that wind conditions induced by this proposed building around the north-west corner would be well in excess of the criterion for walking comfort and these conditions would carry on across the street to the opposite pavement in Wellington Street and to a lesser extent across St Kilda Road because it is so wide!"
This propsed building if it ever gets built will add a new risk that cyclists on windy days could be blown out into the path of fast moving traffic!
More than 70 concerned residents and business owners lodged objections, saying the exotic and very controversial design was far too tall and it will destroy the prized amenity of the local low rise heritage mixed residential – business zone.
More information : www.jaagstkilda.com
or Mike Sabey - Mob 0418 354 732
or info@bikepaths.com.au
Your comments
Michael J
I strongly oppose this building being put up!
I ride a bike past past this site on week days and am very concerned about safety at the Junction. According to the latest Vic Roads statistics more than 1,400 cyclists ride in the south bound St Kilda Rd bike lane on weekdays. According to media reports, the developers for 2 St Kilda Rd have provided a wheel barrow of expert opinions on its design, even down to how its artist made his selection of colours and chose the Lego effect, but strangely it has provided no wind-tunnel effects report on how they will deal with the building’s obvious wind impact on people and cyclists like me at at street level.
Michael J St Kilda East
Brian
I can't believe that VCAT could approve such an ugly abomination of a building, of 18 stories no less, on such an iconic site as this, right on the southern gateway to Melbourne! It will further disrupt traffic passing through St Kilda Junction and add to congestion along Wellington St. The "lego block" design is an eyesaw and totally out of character. VCAT's decision is against the Planning Scheme guidelines of the Port Phillip Council, over 70 individual objectors and more that 250 resident members of the Junction Area Action Group. I thought we lived in a democracy, but where is the consideration for the people who will be grossly effected by yet another high rise, high density building being added to to an area that is already bursting at the seams? This is a blatent case of "developer greed" at the expense of local residents and businesses and shows no regard for those of us who will be living here long after the Developer has moved on. We all need to fight against this trend by authorities of ignoring the voice of the people and then telling them what's best for them. So, put your head out the window and yell " I've had enough and I'm not going to take it any more!!!
Markus
How many people that oppose high rise infill development also oppose new developments which ruin natural areas and agricultural land on the fringe? Population growth is occurring, and people must be housed somewhere.
Either growth occurs in central areas where the environmental impact is minor, the infrastructure is in place, and people can choose to walk, ride or catch public transpor OR the growth occurs on the fringe, where we lose our natural environment, no services exist, and people rely on their car to meet all their travel needs. I'm tired of the hypocritical attitude of much of the community on topics such as this.
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Laura
VCAT must stop ignoring residents demands and calls for such buildings which are clearly not consistent with the landscape and style of other buildings in St Kilda to not be built. The only views which VCAT are supporting are those of greedy developers. VCAT has let Melbournians down time after time and we are sick of it.
Laura