HDC flags interest in former Empire Hotel site
The Hunter Development Corporation says there has been solid interest in the redevelopment of Newcastle's former Empire Hotel site in Hunter Street after it was placed back on the market earlier this year.
The proposed affordable housing unit complex that had been planned for Newcastle's former Empire hotel site. (Supplied: EJE Architects)
A six-week expressions of interest process closed last week, after plans to give the site away in exchange for affordable housing fell over.
Earlier this year, a consortium that had agreed to develop an apartment block containing affordable housing pulled out of the deal, citing contractual issues.
The corporation said there have been a number of realistic proposals incorporating several different uses for the site.
It is closely assessing the submissions, with a view to commencing negotiations with a preferred proponent.
HDC said it would like to see this site redeveloped as soon as possible, so it can make a positive contribution to the streetscape and the local economy.
The corporation's general manager Bob Hawes said there are a number of realistic proposals.
"There's interest from both within the city and beyond the region," he said.
"So that was also interesting that agents frequently say that they get people from outside the Newcastle area expressing interest in what's happening here and certainly the response that we got is consistent with that."
The Empire Hotel was demolished four years ago.
Source: ABC News, 21st October 2015
Originally published as: HDC flags interest in former Empire Hotel site
