A vacant block behind the Red Rooster fast food restaurant in Wodonga will be transformed into a $3.5 million, 37-room motel under plans submitted to council for approval.
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The site earmarked for the motel development is sandwiched between Red Rooster and the former aged care home, Osburn Lodge, where a 2010 fire forced the evacuation of 58 residents including four who were admitted to hospital with breathing problems due to smoke inhalation.
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The fire started in the airconditioning unit with the aged care home subsequently demolished and its owners, Bupa Care Services, building another $12 million home in Melrose Drive which opened in 2012.
Plans submitted to council by planning consultants Mountain Planning on behalf of developers, Osburn Street Properties, include a cafe and caretaker's residence in addition to the 37-room motel.
Each proposed motel room contains a double bed, a separate bathroom and basic kitchen facilities.
The caretaker's residence will sit above the office for the motel at first floor level and a liquor licence will be sought for the cafe.
The motel built form has been described as "contemporary in nature" using materials including timber cladding, textured precast concrete, charcoal standing seam metal roof.
"All proposed built form is contemporary in nature and utilises a mix of materials and a largely neutral pallete to create a visually appealing, modern structure that will significantly improve the visual amenity and presentation along one of the city's major approaches," the application states..
"The subject site forms part of the Wodonga CBD heart, and future guests will benefit from the site's proximity to and integration with the town's diverse commercial centre.
"The proposal as a whole seeks to build upon and further enhance that integration and economic activity within the CBD heart."
Wodonga Council has been contacted about whether the proposal will be ticked off by planning staff or come before council for determination.
A minor waiver of car parking requirements of one space has been sought by the developers.
The Shed Company Wodonga was established on the former Osburn Lodge aged home care site in recent years.