THE former Almos Family Shoes store in John Street, Rosewood, is to be demolished.
The go ahead for the removal of the building and sheds on the property was granted to the property owners, LB4 Pty Ltd, by the Ipswich City Council, last month.
However, the applicants asked for flexibility in regard to the demolition.
“Both partial and full demolition are referenced in this request, as there are emerging development plans involving the retention of the front facade (first 1.1m).”
The entire property at 5 John Street is listed under the Planning Scheme as a ‘Character Place’, which includes the shop, the shop awning and the two sheds to the rear of the main street allotment.
But town planning agents on behalf of the owners, argued that 5 John Street was incorrectly listed as a ‘Character Place’.
“Following discussions with the Council by way of a formal pre-lodgement meeting and email correspondence, it has been confirmed that there is a discrepancy with the heritage listing in the Planning Scheme.
“The small shop over the adjoining site at 7-9 John Street is the building that is intended to be protected, not the structure located at 5 John Street.”
The application documents also highlighted that Council approved a rezoning of the property and the adjoining property at 3 John Street in September 2014 to make way for a shopping centre. That approval has been kept current by subsequent extensions, most recently in 2020.
Almos Family Shoes was opened in 1956 by qualified bootmaker and photographer, Albert Mogensen and his wife Mary.
When Mr Mogensen was killed in a car accident in 1980, his son, Will and his wife Elizabeth, bought the business. Will Mogensen retired last year and the shop was closed.
The building itself pre-dates the Mogensen family ownership.
When Albert (Almo) and Mary purchased it in 1956, the premises had been run as a cafe with a home attached to the back of the shop building.
