A DERELICT building on Davey Street has gone up in flames.
A fire broke out on 8 Davey Street at around 10.30pm on 7 December. The site was under heritage protection, although Frankston Council had recently approved a plan to demolish the building subject to amended development plans.
The fire warning issued read that there was “no threat to the community”. The blaze was declared all clear about four hours later just before 3am. Nobody was hurt in the blaze.
Police have called the fire “suspicious”. A 29-year-old woman of no fixed address was arrested at the scene and charged with arson.
The alleged arsonist appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 8 December. She was remanded to appear again on 22 December.
Frankston Council has been lobbied to demolish the building to clear the path for construction on two tall towers. The demolition plans have been conditionally approved, but the development plans have been objected to by many community members.
The site owner is pushing for the demolition of 8 to 12 Davey Street so that they can be replaced by the two towers standing 30 and 22 storeys tall. The new buildings are planned to be used as a residential hotel with 200 rooms, four serviced apartments, and 116 apartments. The plans were objected to by 70 residents at a Frankston Council meeting last month (“Residents vow to take on tower plan” The Times 29/11/2021).
