Fremantle, we have a problem? Yes and the fix is underway

Yesterday Nathan Hondros wrote an opinion piece in WA Today called Fremantle, we have a problem. I love you but you have to change

Here is the response I sent to Nathan:

G’day Nathan

In your article about Fremantle published this morning you asked this key question – ‘The entire city feels like it’s crying out for private investment, so why isn’t it happening?’

The answer is – it is happening.

There is currently more than $1.3 billion worth of public and private development either underway or in the pipeline in Fremantle – more than at any time in Freo’s history.

The $270 million (not $220 million) Kings Square Renewal project is a public/private partnership, with the City of Fremantle contributing $50 million to construct our new administration building and library and Sirona Capital contributing $220 million for the FOMO retail development – which has been shortlisted for an international architecture award – state government office space and the redevelopment of the Queensgate carpark.

This project has been the catalyst for an unprecedented level of private investment in the run-down East End of central Fremantle.

There’s the recently completed Heirloom apartments in the old Dalgety Woolstores, the Liv Apartments on Queen Victoria Street, which are nearing completion, the Little Lane development in the old Westgate Mall, Ancora Apartments on Point Street, M/27 near Fremantle Park, and Established and The Social apartments in the West End.

As a result of all these new apartments we expect Fremantle’s city centre population to grow by 65 per cent over the next ten years, which will in turn mean many more customers for local businesses.

But your suggested solution that ‘Fremantle should be for living and Perth should be for working’ is perhaps the most troubling aspect of your article.

Cities work best when they are places that people can live and work and play in – not just one or the other.

Fremantle has always been Perth’s second city and we are not just increasing residents but also jobs and visitors.

In addition to the 1500 new jobs in the Kings Square office components, the City of Fremantle is also enabling investment in new retail, tourism and hospitality venues.

For example, the City has recently approved the redevelopment of the Old Courthouse and Police Station into a hotel, restaurant and shops, the conversion of a row of the Warders’ Cottages into a boutique hotel and an upgrade of the historic Manning Buildings on the High St Mall, while the developers behind the planned Doubletree by Hilton hotel have recently sought approval to bring the project forward.

In total, all of this investment is delivering more than 1600 new dwellings, 727 new hotel rooms, almost 39,000m2 of retail and hospitality space and 44,000m2 of office space.

And all of this has been made possible because of the decisions of “the loopy, socialist Fremantle council.”

While you might think Fremantle is ‘sad’, it appears the majority of people disagree with you.

Research by Tourism WA last year found that Fremantle was Perth’s most popular entertainment precinct across all age groups. The year before Fremantle was rated as one of the top ten cities in the world to visit by Lonely Planet.

And a final comment on parking. There’s plenty of parking in Fremantle – over 4000 bays. People just need to be prepared walk a short distance to get to where they’re going.

And if many of those bays are full – surely that’s a sign that Fremantle is a popular place that people like to visit.

It’s true that Fremantle – like all cities – has its challenges, and we are working hard to address them.

But those challenges don’t stop Freo from being a great place live and a great place to visit.

Some links FYI:

FOMO architecture award nomination – https://www.sironacapital.com/news-article/media-statement-fomo-fremantle-announced-as-finalist-in-world-architecture-festval-2018

Freo Perth’s favourite entertainment precinct – https://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/About%20Us/News_and_media/Article/Fremantle_ranked_WA%E2%80%99s_favourite_place_to_visit_for_entertainment/741#/

Liv Apartments – http://www.livapartments.com.au/

Little Lane – http://www.littlelane.com.au/

Ancora  – https://www.ancorafreo.com.au/

M/27 – https://www.itsamatch.com.au/project/m27-fremantle-apartments/

The Social – http://www.socialonhenry.com.au/

Old Courthouse – https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/832018-courthouse-hotel-plans-recommended-approval

Warders Cottages Hotel –  https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/7122017-warders-hotel-plans-recommended-approval

Manning Buildings – https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/1112018-manning-buildings-recommended-approval