Sensational-Adelaide.com

Developer of Adelaidean tower on Frome Street loses court challenge against approval of rival Global Student Accommodation building
Renato Castello, Urban Development Editor, The Advertiser

CONSTRUCTION of a 118m-tall student tower on North Terrace has cleared a potentially costly hurdle after the developer of a neighbouring building lost a court challenge to the project.

Kyren Group, developer of what will be Adelaide’s tallest building, had launched court action claiming the public should have a say on the design of the Global Student Accommodation Australia’s $60 million student tower which the state’s planning authority approved in April.

But in a verdict handed down last month, Environment Resources and Development Court Judge Susanne Cole last week rejected Kyren Group’s challenge saying GSA Australia’s project had been properly classified as a Category 1 development and did not require public notification.

Kyren Group wanted the project reclassified as Category 3 triggering the highest level of community consultation, giving opponents the right to appeal any approval and potentially trigerring lengthy court challenges.

The GSA project, which will be Adelaide’s tallest student building, would partially obscure northern views from Kyren Group’s $100 million 135m-tall Adelaidean hotel and apartment tower, which is under construction on Frome St.

Kyren Group director Theo Samaras — whose Adelaidean tower was classified a Category 1 when approved in December 2016 — was joined in the legal action by oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr Davor Hribar whose practice occupies 240 North Tce, to immediate west of the GSA site.

Mr Samaras is overseas and unavailable for comment.

The paper has sought comment from Dr Hribar and GSA Australia’s head of real estate, Jon Whittle.

The GSA Australia building will require the demolition of the existing First Church of Christ Scientist building, which was the subject of a failed heritage-listing bid in June 2016.

Mr Samaras has refused to say if he had sought the heritage listing.

His company last week secured approval for a 21-storey office building on Franklin Street.

Pikey wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:06 pm

Without sounding childish, but sucked in. If they had done their due diligence and purchased the property, rather than pathetically apply for heritage protection then try this stunt, their northern views would be preserved.

What will they do when the carpark/Budget site opposite their site on Frome is developed? There's talk of another 30+ tower appearing there. Will they try and block that too?

how good is he wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 13, 2018 2:56 pm

Not exactly correct. My understanding is Kyren/Samaras well and truly did try to buy the church [269 North Tce] well before it was for sale [prob 2 years prior] after he had bought his neighbouring site. The answer was no - it was not for sale with no indication they would ever sell/move. Further the church had been there since the 1950s. Therefore what would you do? Wait [possibly forever] on the hope that the neighbouring site would come up for sale one-day? Therefore at the time he naturally proceeded with plans, approvals and then off-the-plan sales. By the time the church did decide to sell/come onto the market, he was too far advanced with his plans and sales to do anything about buying/incorporating both sites.

how good is he wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 14, 2018 10:53 pm

Isn’t it reason enough/obvious that this new student accomm. building will wipe out all the un-interrupted North facing views & likely reduce the value in those hotel rooms, apartments & penthouses. The net effect could be many millions lost in value, sale prices & room rates/income.
Another recent example is Crown Sydney is suing the state govt/lend lease over the loss of views and potential lost income saying they weren’t properly consulted about a neighbouring tower to be built.
Even though there may be little chance of success, what more to it can there be but money (& loss of a lot of it)?