Stop the 26 and 24 Pitt Street development

the scale of this building is likely to be huge - and the potential impact to us all considerable. By combining the two houses, the building will be listed as a Class 3 building (hotel etc) and not a 1B (which would be Boarding House classification).

The proposed building will extend out 12 meters (and two levels) into the two houses back garden (the current houses are 4 meters) - resulting in there being no areas for the backpackers to sit.

Imagine us having countless shopping trolleys and old furniture dumped on our footpath week after week - not to mention having to endure very noisy backpacking parties !!

These rooms won't have keys, as one would expect if this was going to be cheap housing for the homeless - but rather there will be swipe cards, as one has with any motel or hotel.

Also, this development will have a material impact on the value of our properties, as many others considering buying into the immediate area will not want to buy an house/apartment close to a backpackers....

Some of the objections that you might consider:

1. Clover Moore outlined her vision of a city of Villages, with the Sydney City Council and the NSW Government spending millions to regenerate and improve neighbourhoods like ours in Redfern. Allowing the erection of another cheap & large Backpackers in our (slowly improving) neighbourhood is diametrically opposed to this vision & the positive changes that have already started to take place.

2. The two terraces that have DA orders are listed as heritage terraces & should be maintained as houses. The developers have not engaged a professional heritage assessor, but rather an architects opinion on the heritage value

3. There is also the potential for significant parking issues, with Backpackers Vans and cars parked out the front - in an area that already has a major parking shortage, given the Australian Post building.

4. There is a increased likelyhood of theft, vandalism & other security issues

5. There is also a real possibility that the building could be used as a Brothel - as every small room has its own tiny bathroom.

6. There will be a significantly increased number of dumped super market trolleys in front of our building.

7. Noise will be a really significant issue - there is no common area for these backpackers - and the parties are likely to flow out onto the street.

8. These 24 rooms could quite easily have four bunks installed in each room - with the potential of us having about 100 backpackers who our out here to have a great holiday & party!

Please voice your concerns by signing this petition and forwarding and email to;

Mark Solomon (City of Sydney Council) -

msolomon@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

to voice your opposition.
This will need to be done before the 27th May.