NEWS DESK
Wreckers lined up for Ambassador Keith Platt keith@baysidenews.com.au The sounds of a wrecker’s machinery will provide a backdrop to sighs of relief and the popping of champagne corks when demolition of the former Ambassador Hotel begins next month. Owner Joanna Kordos plans to replace the 40-year-old building at the northern Nepean Highway entrance to Frankston with a four-storey apartment block (‘The Ambassador faces axe’, The Times 30/3/15). She plans a champagne breakfast to celebrate the start of work to replace the building that has been inhabited by squatters, linked to drug deals and the target of vandals with apartments “more luxurious than anything available now in Frankston”. Prices for the 37 upmarket apartments will range from $309,000 to $695,000. Ms Kordos bought the building with architect’s plans and has secured a one-year extension on her building permit from Frankston Council. “Squatters come and go, but they won’t be a problem once it’s demolished,” she said. Talks being held with the body corporate of units sitting closely behind the Ambassador could see Ms Kordos contributing towards an “overhaul and upgrade” of the outdoors section of that property. Such as change would help increase the value of the units “and lift up the neighbourhood”. “Just knocking the Ambassador down will mean there will be different
Old and new: An artist’s impression of the luxury apartment block, above, that will replace the ageing and neglected Ambassador Hotel in Nepean Highway, Frankston, top right (Picture: Gary Sissons). The property is being developed by Joanna Kordos, right, who plans to celebrate having the wreckers on site with a champagne breakfast.
tenants in those units.” The owner of a recently finished “model” boarding house at Noble Park – with plans for up to 10 more – Ms Kordos said her “passion” was now fo-
cussed on developing the luxury apartments on the Ambassador site. “We’ll start demolition in about three weeks with a champagne breakfast,” she said last Thursday.
“Half of Melbourne has had some sort of stay at the Ambassador over the past 40 years. It’s quite a nostalgic place for some – there’s always a story to tell.” Ms Kordos said she knew the original owners and had bought the property along with plans for the redevelopment. Nine of the 37 apartments will be single bedroom, 24 will have two bedrooms and four three bedrooms. There will be 51 car parking spaces, including nine for visitors and one disabled. The two apartments at ground level
will be 108 and 111 square metres with 30 square metre courtyards. The apartments on the other floors will have terraces and balconies. The apartment block will have solar power, two elevators, a marblefinished foyer and a large blue glass mosaic on the front exterior. Ms Kordos, an artist, plans to auction one of her mosaics on opening day with proceeds going to charity. “Aesthetics are important to me. I am creating something for the long term, something that doesn’t age after five years.”
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