THE former Almo’s Family Shoes Store site and the neighbouring vacant block in John Street, Rosewood, could become the site of a large child care centre if Council approves an application from landowners, LB4 holding.
Last month, Council approved an application to exempt the former Almo’s property from its heritage listing based on its understanding that it was not built prior to 1946.
That exemption paved the way for the current bid to rezone the land to ‘Community Use (Child Care Centre) and Business Use (Cafe).
Plans for the construction of the child care centre and cafe will involve the partial demolition of the former Almo’s building.
As outlined in the application submitted to Council this month, the area covered by the two allotments totals 2,798 square metres.
Onto that site, the applicants hope to win approval to:
• Build a single storey with the facade at the front of the property.
• The building is to house a child care centre catering to 120 children aged from birth to five years old.
• A small cafe is to be integrated into the child care entrance design.
• Construct a carpark with 31 spaces (beside the building at ground level and accessed by a new crossover to John Street.
• The design is to incorporate the majority of the facade of the existing shop and street awning at 5 John Street.
• The pedestrian entrance to the building will be directly off John Street.
• Landscape the external play space and in a consolidated area at the street frontage to soften the carparking area.
• Stormwater discharge will be directed to an existing swale in the adjoining property to the rear, with water treated for quantity and quality before discharge.
The application is currently under consideration by the Ipswich City Council town planners.
