K&D Site a Generational Opportunity for Central Hobart

Last week the former K&D site between Murray and Harrington Streets in the Hobart CBD was put on the market through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

In response, YIMBY Hobart wrote to the University Vice-Chancellor, Rufus Black, the Lord Mayor, and the leaders of the Liberal, Labour and Green parties urging them to work together to make sure the site is developed to its full potential.

For decades housing supply in Hobart has failed to keep up with demand. This has driven up real estate prices and forced many people to the urban fringe in search of affordable housing. This sprawl creates additional problems such as increased infrastructure expenditure, fuel costs, congestion and negative health impacts. Meanwhile, central Hobart has acres of sprawling car yards and bitumen parking lots where there should be housing.

The right development on the K&D site can tackle this issue head on while transforming the surrounding area. The site is close to great schools, shops, supermarkets, health services and cafes. Core infrastructure like water, internet and power are already in place. Given its location and size, the site could incorporate housing, public spaces, pedestrian walkways and retail.

In addition to a sizeable medium-density development, there is an opportunity for the K&D site to become a social and cultural hub for everyone living, working, and visiting the Hobart CBD. Along with the Forestry Building redevelopment, the right development on the K&D site has the potential to catalyse a wider transformation in the mid-town area.

A core belief of YIMBY Hobart is that being an active participant in our city should not rely on owning a car. By calming the surrounding streets as part of any development we can encourage more people from nearby areas to walk and ride into the city. A calmer and more liveable CBD will be more attractive for residents and visitors alike.

Given all this potential, we can’t let this opportunity pass us by. Left to the market, the K&D site could wind up as car-parking or big-box retail, squandering a generational opportunity to transform the central city. The University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Government and Hobart City Council have a collective responsibility to avoid this outcome.

We would like to either see:

• The university undertake to sell the K&D site to a private developer committed to building medium-density housing, or;
• Hobart City Council and/or the Tasmanian Government purchase the site to ensure it is developed to its full potential, potentially through a public-private partnership involving Homes Tasmania.

We want to keep the pressure on in coming weeks and months. The EOI process will run until August 28, but any eventual sale could take much longer.

If you want a more liveable and accessible city, you can write to your local MPs and councillors urging them to work together to make the most of this opportunity. We’ve written a letter template for you, available on the YIMBY Hobart website.

View template

If you want to stay in touch, you can also sign up for email updates from YIMBY Hobart.

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