Ask RiotACT: What's happened to the Kaleen Bar and Bistro?

There’s a sign on the door now. Looks like an application for it to be the “North Canberra Bear Bar”.

Hey great response nealg thanks for that. Indeed interesting to see how long it remains vacant given that the current leasees are still paying rates regardless. It would appear that current configuration of the building is not conducive to a successful commercial operation so some sort of redevelopment would be on the cards i think. That the Local Centre zoning will allow residential and some sort of supermarket is also interesting

From my query to Mick Gentleman’s office about this matter I received a reply today from Bill Ponton, Director-General of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
The replay however does not address my concerns about possible vandalising of the building and resultant hazards to the adjoining preschool and primary school children.

“Thank you for your e-mail of 24 September 2018 to Mr Mick Gentleman MLA,
Minister for Planning and Land Management, through the Contact my Minister
website. As Director-General of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable
Development Directorate (EPSDD), Minister Gentleman has asked me to respond on
his behalf.
Kaleen Bar and Bistro, located on Block 2 Section 44 in Kaleen (corner of
Maribyrnong Avenue and Ashburton Circuit), is zoned CZ4 Local Centre under the
current Territory Plan. A small supermarket and residential use are both permissible
uses within the CZ4-zone and does not require any changes to the zone to redevelop
the site for these uses. However, the Crown lease may need to be varied, depending
on the proposed use. To date, the planning and land authority has not received any
proposal to redevelop the Kaleen Bar and Bistro site.
I am advised that Access Canberra also reviewed the site and are satisfied that there
is no breach of the Crown lease relating to the property.
With respect to the property being currently abandoned, the ACT Government has
no power to direct the owner to conduct a business from the location. However,
commercial land rates provide a strong economic incentive to help ensure that the
building does not remain vacant for too long.
Thank you for raising your concerns with Minister Gentleman. I trust this information
is of assistance to you.

Ben Ponton
Director General
16 October 2018″

Would love to see someone open a cafe there! Lots of parking, convenient meeting spot for parents and very kid friendly with a playground next door. Count me in for a coffee at school drop off!
A Tavern next to a Primary school has always struck me as a bit strange, though I’ve never seen anything worse than the odd bit of broken glass on nearby footpaths.

I put in a request for information via Access Canberra and this is the reply I received. I am also waiting for a reply back to an enquiry I made to Mick Gentlemens office.
“I have had a look in our system and can confirm that the property is privately leased land. There is no active or proposed Development Application for the property in our records.
I am not aware of any discussion for re zoning the land. The process of re zoning is very long and requires a Territory Plan amendment. – Alyce”
So what is going to happen to the building?
Now that it is abandoned it is prime target for vandalism.

I didn’t see your message initially and only found it by doing a search for ‘Kaleen’. I actually put in the same ‘ask’ in a couple of days ago but it has not appeared on RiotACT.
I’m curious to find out what is happening to the Tavern too.
I think the owners used to have the Tavern at Erindale and it was also left idle.
I always thought the Kaleen Tavern was situated too close to the pre-school and Kaleen Primary.
It would be nice if the area reverted back to the group shopping centre we used to have with a bakery, hairdresser etc. Add in a good coffee shop too!