Comments on The Mayor of Newtown: Newtown Hotel Renovation Proposal

The Rubyos building has verandahs, which were also...

2010-06-14T23:29:14.263+10:00

The Rubyos building has verandahs, which were also restored, so DA approval must be possible.

The Imperial is a different case; there was a past Victorian imperial which has verandahs, but it was completely rebuilt in the 30s with a Deco facade, on which verandahs would not be appropriate.

I get the desire by some in the GLBT community to ...

2010-05-28T09:42:14.356+10:00

I get the desire by some in the GLBT community to have a gay venue, but I love the idea of place like the Bank. Certainly among my str8 friends it's seen as a gay venue and that's why they like. It's cool, easy, plenty of eye candy. A couple of weeks ago my flatmate and I were chatting with a lovely girl an her veyr cute 21 year old, bass playing, str8 brother joined us.
As a 39 year (only just) young gay man I loved being able to chat with this kid and do so comfortably and not have our sexuality be an issue. That's what I love about the Bank.
A couple of weeks ago I was outside the Bank having a smoke (sorry Mr. Mayor) and was joined by a strapping guy around my age. We chatted and got along well. Two girls sat down and started chatting with us. After a while they made a statement assuming we were partners we laughed. At that point I discovered he was str8 and he that I was gay. Not an issue. Again, that's what I like about venues that are "gay friendly". It's just normal people meeting and developing a sense of community.
I'm all for a gay venue, but I long for the day where we don't have to label venues, it may make picking up more of a challenge, but hey that can be fun too.

Having a gay & lesbian pub/bar is important to...

2010-05-16T22:23:13.290+10:00

Having a gay & lesbian pub/bar is important to the queer community, much like having a Greek club is important to the Greek community.

There isn't a pub/bar that really caters solely to this demographic in Newtown anymore which is something a large portion of the gay/lesbian community feel sad about.

You'll be suprised by the amount of gays/lesbians who speak nostalgically about the good old days when there were gay venues in Newtown.

Good point - fingers crossed that they use that as...

2010-01-27T15:47:09.993+11:00

Good point - fingers crossed that they use that as a (recent) precedent for the verandahs.

It's an interesting omission re the Gay and Lesbian angle. Looks like no reconciliation with the old managers then. In the mean time the Bank (Velvet Room at least) seems to have filled the gap.

I have noticed that the building rubyos is in at t...

2010-01-18T11:38:27.795+11:00

I have noticed that the building rubyos is in at the start of king street is blessed by a verandah, so hopefully they haven't been banned

Aren't all venues in Newtown gay and lesbian f...

2010-01-15T15:43:17.764+11:00

Aren't all venues in Newtown gay and lesbian friendly? I don't think separate venues are needed on King Street.

That's why I love coming to Newtown!

please please bring back the verandah!

2010-01-15T15:16:10.924+11:00

please please bring back the verandah!

The midnight closing would also be where they star...

2010-01-15T14:15:34.325+11:00

The midnight closing would also be where they start. Almost as soon as they open I bet an application to extend hours goes in. Fine by me. Didn't the old Newtown Hotel have later opening?

Great to see the Newtown making a comeback! Once t...

2010-01-14T17:33:23.655+11:00

Great to see the Newtown making a comeback! Once the Hub and the Imperial return, Newtown will be buzzing with excitement!
Reviewing the DA plans, I believe the reason for the 12am closing time is that there is no niteclub or dancing area shown. Having the open verandah will cause excess noise levels and may upset the Watkins St residents.
Appears that the owners may be considering a more wine bar/fine dining experience.

I love the idea of the verandah (on the Newtown as...

2010-01-14T15:59:05.725+11:00

I love the idea of the verandah (on the Newtown as well
as other buildings on King St).
I have though been on the verandah of the Marly upstairs and saw a very well dressed, and thouroughly sloshed guy hurl glasses on a pedestrian. This though could have happened out an open window as well, so I hope they don't use something like that as an excuse to knock back the verandahs.

Interesting that verandas have been tried before. ...

2010-01-14T15:43:09.856+11:00

Interesting that verandas have been tried before. It looks like we need to show some support for the idea. I wonder if it's the car aspects or the falling objects that's the main problem - I suspect probably the former.

It should be possible to engineer enough redundancy into the design that the verandas can survive even with a couple of poles taken out though.

I applaud the verandah restortation. Will it stil...

2010-01-14T15:41:35.126+11:00

I applaud the verandah restortation.
Will it still be a gay pub? If not, will another gay pub be opened in King St?

All the verandahs were removed back in, I think, t...

2010-01-14T13:04:02.317+11:00

All the verandahs were removed back in, I think, the 1920s. Car accidents would cause the verandahs to fall onto pedestrians, injurin them. The building code was changed so that awnings had to be suspended from above rather than supported by posts.

You can on so many buildings how the suspension rods have ben added very cheaply.

I wonder whether than building code is still on the books?

Now that is more like it! The people responsible f...

2010-01-14T12:55:06.491+11:00

Now that is more like it!
The people responsible for this should be signed up for the Newtown Station refurb immediately!
But will it still be a pub?

I do like the proposal and, you're right, thos...

2010-01-14T09:38:25.298+11:00

I do like the proposal and, you're right, those verandahs would be a great addition.

Was there any informaion that the venue would continue to service the gay and lesbian community?

I'd love for the verandahs to get approved but...

2010-01-13T19:23:33.427+11:00

I'd love for the verandahs to get approved but I'm not holding my breath. The Rose of Australia in Erko has applied 3 times with photographic proof of past verandahs and been rejected everytime. The Bank Hotel pushed very hard for a verandah over king street, the plans looked great, again with photograph precedence and got knocked back. I'm pretty sure the Marly tried as well. I'm not sure why that get turned down but I presume it's a safety concern. Drunk people throwing things over pedestrians and cars is my guess.

Go the verandahs!

2010-01-13T18:50:40.190+11:00

Go the verandahs!

Much better than the option the Kurrajong has trie...

2010-01-13T17:14:58.789+11:00

Much better than the option the Kurrajong has tried for, which is basically an indoor pokies-garden, with a part of the roof removed.

I liked the look of the DA as well, and like you I...

2010-01-13T17:07:51.207+11:00

I liked the look of the DA as well, and like you I think bringing back the verandas are a great idea. I live on the other side of King St and my building originally had verandas too. How I'd love it if it still had them. Lets hope there's more redevelopments that are similarly sympathetic to the heritage of the area, and using them to advantage like this one has.