A proposal to build a 16-storey residential tower on Glenferrie Road in Hawthorn has drawn fierce opposition from federal and state politicians, local traders, and community advocates — despite broad agreement that the long-vacant site urgently needs development. The $65 million project, which would nearly double a previously approved building height, is now before Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny after the developer bypassed council by using a state government approval pathway.

A site everyone agrees should be developed — but not like this

The land at 846–858 Glenferrie Road currently sits vacant, occupied only by empty shopfronts and patches of grass in the middle of one of Hawthorn's busiest retail strips. Last year, Boroondara Council approved an eight-storey building on the site comprising 41 apartments and retail space. The developer has now returned with an amended proposal seeking 78 apartments across 16 storeys — four storeys above the height limits imposed by the state government for activity centres in the area.

Rather than going back to council, the developer has applied directly to the Planning Minister through a facilitation pathway designed to fast-track significant projects. No decision has been made on the revised application.

The plans include an affordable housing component of 17.5 per cent of apartments, or alternatively a cash contribution equivalent to 5.25 per cent of total costs — both figures exceeding minimum requirements under current policy.

Politicians and community leaders line up in opposition

The proposal has united an unusual coalition of voices against it. Hawthorn MP and former opposition leader John Pesutto called the development "totally inappropriate" for the area, and took direct aim at the state government's approval pathway that cuts councils out of decision-making.

"This is becoming a bit of a parody — it's pretending to be a process where it's really just an opportunity for a government to slam onto communities projects like this," Pesutto said at a recent council meeting.

Federal MP for Kooyong Monique Ryan told the same meeting she supports increased housing in Hawthorn but stressed it must be done "in a sensitive and inclusive way," indicating her preference for medium-density mixed-use development rather than the 16-storey proposal.

Boroondara Council, which has no formal decision-making power over the application, has nonetheless urged the minister to cap the building at 12 storeys. Mayor Wes Gault raised concerns about overshadowing, affordable housing levels, landscaping and public amenity.

"If the minister allows this proposal to be built as designed, ignoring the rules she put in place just months ago, it will be clear community views are irrelevant to this government," Gault said.

Local traders and residents fear impact on shopping strip's character

Glenferrie Road Traders Association president Rajna Jollie said a tower of this scale risked fundamentally altering the streetscape and undermining the precinct's boutique retail atmosphere.

"We want to protect small businesses in these small local areas that have boutique-type style shopping experiences for our customers and our community," she said.

Boroondara Community Group president Jane Oldham said she supports an eight-storey development on the site but fears a 16-storey tower would cast shadows over Glenferrie Road and discourage the kinds of bars, restaurants and cafes that could revitalise that end of the strip.

"The concern with 16 storeys is about overdevelopment of a site that will impact on the amenity of future residents and of the public on Glenferrie Road," Oldham said.

What happens next

The decision rests entirely with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, whose office has not yet ruled on the application. Community and political pressure is mounting for the minister to enforce her own activity centre height limits — a test that observers say will signal how seriously the government weighs local input against development ambitions. Boroondara Council has made clear it is not opposed to development on the site, but is firmly pushing for a maximum of 12 storeys as a compromise between the approved eight-storey design and the developer's 16-storey vision.