Published on Wednesday, 24 August 2022 at 9:50:00 AM
Vincent residents will have the chance to have their say on Orange Avenue and Hope Street being nominated as a Character Area.
Since 2015, Council has adopted eight character areas as part of the Local Planning Policy: Character Areas and Heritage Areas, including Wilberforce Street in Mt Hawthorn last month.
The policy aims to identify areas that contain characteristics that are valued by the community and provide guidelines on street setback, building height, carports and garages and building design.
Character areas contain bespoke planning controls for the area but are very different to a heritage listing as they are focused on the streetscape, and still allow for sensitive new development scaled to fit within the existing dwellings.
The public can nominate character areas if they gain the support of at least 40 per cent of landowners in the streets that they nominate.
The City received a nomination in April for Orange Avenue and Hope Street, Perth.
This nomination was supported by 55 per cent or 16 landowners out of the total of 29 lots.
At the 23 August Ordinary Council Meeting, Council agreed to advertise the nomination as proposed inclusions in the policy out for public comment.
Mayor Emma Cole said a preliminary investigation of Orange Avenue and Hope Street determined that they made a positive contribution towards the built character of Vincent.
“Orange Avenue and Hope Street is a beautiful connecting streetscape with many terraced houses being lovingly cared for by their owners,” she said.
“It’s right in the heart of the suburb of Perth, but has a really close, neighbourly feel and the pattern of smaller early 1900 homes is really special.
“We are excited to receive this nomination from a group of passionate neighbours and I am looking forward to hearing residents’ views on what they value and love about Orange Avenue and Hope Street.
“It is possible to get the right balance of preserving the character feel and scale in these unique residential streets and whilst facilitating well-considered, sensitive development and investment in the area.”
Picture: Hope Street.
Local resident Peter Holcz, who submitted the nomination, said he and his neighbours had a unique opportunity to preserve their history through the City’s policy.
“The streets of Orange Avenue and Hope Street form a short dog-leg where both sides of the streets are lined with predominantly double fronted terraces dating back to the early 1900s,” he said.
“As well as other original character stand-alone houses from the same era, this L shaped neighbourhood is a unique inner-city example of original semi-detached worker houses located around the corner from the more notable ‘baker’s dozen’ on Lake Street.
“Additions and alterations to some of the dwellings include the removal of original federation verandas that have been replaced with concrete porches, which reflect the influence of mid-century immigration patterns.
“The residents want to retain the character of our two streets, especially the front facade of our houses.
“We desire more contemporary additions (including second storeys) that generally preserve the historic character and are in keeping with policy recommendations.
“We love our two streets and we really want to ensure we can enjoy what we have now and into the future.”
Meanwhile, the City of Vincent has welcomed the State Government’s move to transform seven properties in the Parry Street heritage precinct into social housing.
The State Government spent $3 million refurbishing seven Federation cottages, some of which have been vacant for the past seven years, in the precinct in Perth.
The cottages were identified for priority conservation works as part of the State’s post-COVID-19 economic stimulus program.
They are not listed on the State Heritage Register but are located within a culturally significant precinct which reflects a time of rapid urban expansion on the city fringes, generated by the 1890s gold rush.
Conservation works included preserving the heritage features of the properties, such as repairs and restoration of original ceilings and floorboards, while also providing essential structural, plumbing and electrical safety upgrades.
Ms Cole said the turn-of-the-century cottages had been given a new lease on life.
“It is important that more public housing is provided by the State Government in Vincent, as it will result in more vulnerable people having a safe place to stay,” she said.
“It is great to see these heritage cottages repurposed to the benefit of our community.”
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