Growing anger towards self serving boomer apartment “Taj Mahals”
LOS ANGELES: There is a growing community backlash to the rapid growth in self serving boomer Taj Mahals.
Plans for a 19-storey apartment building with rooftop “dog run” and U-shaped tower have riled residents in South Melbourne.
Developers want to construct the 355-apartment building, with ground-level shops, at 15-37 Bank St, a short walk from the Shrine of Remembrance.
The 60m tower would have a rooftop terrace, central courtyard “open to the sky”, lounge areas, deck and a feature pool.
But 47 public objections and one petition with about 148 signatures against the proposal to roll three prime plots of land on to one have been made to Port Phillip Council.
Concerns raised include insufficient parking and traffic impacts, building height, maximum tower width, rooftop service provision and impacts on views.
Plans submitted to the council by architects Rothelowman on behalf of development applicants Urbis, propose “built to rent” apartments and a through block link connecting Bank and Little Bank Sts.
It would have a first and second-storey podium, fifth-level pool and rooftop solar panels to help power the building, representing “an opportunity to add to a rapidly evolving and rich urban precinct”.
The council last week issued a notice of decision to grant a permit for the development, subject to conditions.
Town planners said: “It would represent a high-quality design response for the St Kilda Rd North precinct and would include a substantial provision of community space.”
But the application did not provide “a suitable diversity of dwellings”, a report to councillors said. The council proposed several conditions “to moderate” the proposed built form.