Mount Hawthorn parking bays could be protected in No. 179 redevelopment

Future development of the City of Vincent’s No. 179 Scarborough Beach Road site in Mount Hawthorn would have to retain a minimum number of public parking bays, including two accessible ACROD spaces.

The proposed condition applies to a process seeking Expressions of Interest for the City-owned site alongside adjoining No. 177 Scarborough Beach Road. Any offer to purchase, lease or redevelop No. 179 would return to Council for consideration.

The parking identified in the proposal includes 27 spaces on Lot 3, including two ACROD bays, and another 15 spaces on Lot 109.

City officers said a deed of covenant attached to a sale contract could allow the City to register a caveat on the title. A future development application would assess the prescribed requirements and could protect the City’s interests through approval conditions.

The parking condition would limit how the site could be used and developed. Officers said that could make the property less attractive to buyers and affect the highest price the City could obtain. A caveat could also create challenges for a future owner seeking finance.

The existing parking has an average occupancy of 46 per cent. Nearby, the Oxford Street car park recorded 51 per cent average occupancy and the Flinders Street car park recorded 42 per cent during the cited survey period. Oxford Street has 32 bays and Flinders Street has 28 bays, with three-hour free parking between 8am and 5pm at both sites.

Officers said the surrounding car parks had capacity to absorb parking demand. They did not have detailed information on whether the existing spaces were being used by workers or short-term town-centre customers.

Ray White Commercial was proposed to manage the Expressions of Interest process. The owner of No. 177 would retain the option to sell that property separately.