Owners scrap controversial window plan after backlash
The owners of the Queen Victoria Building have abandoned a controversial plan to replace the building’s multicoloured glass windows with clear glass after public outcry.
In December, Vicinity Centers, the country’s second-largest retail landlord and co-owner of QVB, submitted a development application to the City of Sydney to replace the multi-coloured glass in Market Street’s ground floor storefronts with clear glass.
The move sparked outrage in the community over concerns that the application would damage the heritage character of the iconic building if approved by the council’s planning panel.
But on Wednesday night the retail giant quietly withdrew the development application ahead of the exhibition period and accepted public applications, which were set to close on February 6.
“We have listened carefully to the community and recognize the strong attachment many people have to this treasured landmark and the importance it places on its historic character,” a Vicinity spokesman said. reporter.
“As responsible custodians, we take this feedback seriously and are committed to preserving QVB’s legacy.
“We have withdrawn the application to ensure that QVB continues to be celebrated, protected and enjoyed for generations to come.”
The stained glass windows that Vicinity aims to replace in its application were renovated in the 1980s as a reconstruction of the original neo-Romanesque sandstone building built in 1898.
Artists, who hand-cut thousands of pieces of glass for the renovation decades ago, said the effort to replace the building made them very “sad.”
Before backing down, Environmental Centers said in its proposal that tinted glass creates a “significant economic burden” for homeowners and reduces the attractiveness and value of the space for potential retailers, implying millions of dollars in lost revenue.
It was also claimed that tinted glass blocked the view of the street and that using clear glass would allow a clearer view of the stores and highlight double-height areas.
The City of Sydney’s planning portal has since been updated and progress timelines on the website show the development application has been “withdrawn”.
Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller said: “This is a real win for the planning system and the community because it means that when a prosecutor is sent in they follow a process.”
“It’s important that we take good care of these magnificent heritage buildings and this is a really exciting result.”
Vicinity Centers acquired QVB in 2018 and co-owns the building with Link REIT. There are also numerous other shopping malls across the country, from Chatswood Chase and The Strand Arcade in Sydney to Chadstone and Emporium in Melbourne.
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Cindy Yin is an urban affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
