THE preservation of the iconic Mentone Hotel is a step closer after the state government recommended the pub should be listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Property development firm Momentum Developments bought the building and its site late last year but founder Paul Huggins has vowed to preserve the pub.
In fact, the property developer welcomed the potential heritage listing.
“We’re delighted with the heritage overlay of the property. We reckon it has increased the value of the building,” he said.
Mr Huggins said Momentum plans to appoint a pub manager to run The Edgy by 1 May although “it’s going to be a few months at least until someone is in there pouring beers”.
He told The News there had been 25 applicants to manage The Edgy with four or five consideration and “two look viable”.
“We’re very close. We’re just working through the finer points of the lease.”
The bottle shop will be removed and apartments will be built on the site of the existing car park.
“At the worst case there may be apartments upstairs if we don’t get a tenant to take the lot.”
The Mentone Hotel’s facade, the downstairs pub and heritage-listed staircase will be preserved.
Mr Huggins said the apartment project will not be integrated with the hotel and will be kept separate.
“It’s just too difficult.”
A fake real estate ad online selling apartments at The Edgy sparked concern among those supporting the retention of the pub, including the Save The Edgy group, but Mr Huggins said it is “a fraud and is completely fictitious”.
Lawyers had traced the advert to a Philippines telephone number which is unanswered.
“We’re trying to get it [the advert] removed,” Mr Huggins said.
The Heritage Council of Victoria will decide whether to accept the Mentone Hotel on the Victorian Heritage Register.
