{"id":590240,"date":"2026-04-07T01:13:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T01:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/590240\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T01:13:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T01:13:25","slug":"cosmopolitan-hotel-redevelopment-sparks-backlash-over-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/590240\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmopolitan Hotel redevelopment sparks backlash over size"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"RachaelSave<\/p>\n

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A push to redevelop a \u201crundown\u201d hotel near St Kilda\u2019s Luna Park and Acland Street precinct has sparked backlash from residents concerned the proposed seven-storey building is too big for the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

The owners of the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Carlisle Street have sought permission from state Planning Minister<\/a> Sonya Kilkenny to tear down the property\u2019s existing buildings and construct a 204-room hotel that would include food and drink premises, a rooftop bar, basement carpark and function rooms.<\/p>\n

\"StSt Kilda Jane Briese is among locals concerned about the proposed redevelopment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n

Two houses next door, which are owned by the Cosmopolitan and which Port Phillip Council has deemed to have heritage significance, would be partially demolished to make way for suites.<\/p>\n

Under current planning rules, the proposed redevelopment cannot be completed and would require the minister to approve changes to the planning scheme, with public consultation\u00a0open until Wednesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Some<\/a><\/p>\n

The proposal has a number of locals worried including Jane Briese, who said that in its current state, the hotel was \u201crundown\u201d and in need of a revamp. But she fears a seven-storey building would loom over the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to see it demolished and rebuilt. Most of the neighbourhood agrees that it\u2019s time for something to be done there, but what they\u2019re proposing is just too big,\u201d Briese said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we\u2019re right next to Acland Street and the residents aren\u2019t opposed to that sort of vibrant lifestyle, but this is just too big; it encroaches on the amenity.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 300 people have signed an online petition against the proposal, calling on the minister to reject it or restrict the development, including limiting it to five storeys on Carlisle Street and up to three storeys on surrounding residential streets.<\/p>\n

The current building is five storeys tall along Albert Street and three storeys for much of its footprint on Carlisle Street.<\/p>\n

\"JaneJane Briese and other St Kilda residents outside the Cosmopolitan Hotel in St Kilda.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n

Galleon Cafe owner Andrew Skoullos said he wasn\u2019t opposed to development in the area, but many people were concerned about the scale of this proposal. He said construction disruption, road closures and parking were already challenges in St Kilda, so anything that added to those issues would have an impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarlisle Street and the surrounding area have a real village feel with heritage buildings, light, and character that people are drawn to. That\u2019s a big part of why local businesses like mine work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think most people just want to see development that respects what makes St Kilda special and doesn\u2019t lose that identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Briese is also concerned that if the land is rezoned for the Cosmopolitan, even taller developments could be built in the future \u2013 a fear highlighted in community submissions to the minister.<\/p>\n

She worries a rooftop bar, eatery and function rooms could lead to issues with noise, public nuisance, traffic and parking.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not want to lose our residential neighbourhood character,\u201d Briese said.<\/p>\n

\"AnAn artist\u2019s render of Meydan Group\u2019s proposed Cosmopolitan Hotel development at 2-8 Carlisle Street in St Kilda.<\/p>\n

Port Philip Council is not responsible for decision-making over the site and the current proposal has not come before councillors, however local ward councillor Serge Thomann said he and other residents would push back against the development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to fight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Cosmopolitan Hotel is owned by Meydan Group, described on its website as a \u201cdiversified high net worth family investment group that invests in businesses across various business segments and asset classes\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Cosmopolitan Hotel in St KildaLuis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n

Meydan Group managing director Moshe Meydan told The Age the redevelopment was designed to comply with government rules and \u201cdoesn\u2019t work\u201d unless the building is seven storeys tall.<\/p>\n

Meydan also said St Kilda needs new developments to revitalise Acland Street, noting the current hotel is old and that the redesign would have a minimal effect on neighbours.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very easy to just complain against it and to complain against any development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Felipe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBut this one will bring some more tourism to the area, it will improve the commercial activity in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will improve the value of the area, of the properties, and it will bring more people and bring St Kilda to what it was a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minister is due to decide on whether the planning scheme will be changed in June. A state government spokesperson told The Age that any proposal would be considered on its merits.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs this project is currently open for consultation it would be inappropriate to comment\u202ffurther,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"RachaelRachael Ward<\/a> is a journalist in the City team at The Age. Contact her at rachael.ward@theage.com.auConnect via email<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":590241,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-590240","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-business"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=590240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/590240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/590241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=590240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=590240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=590240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}