Community Staple Press and Brew Closes Down, Makes Way For Planned Community Health Care Centre

After operating in the area for more than four years, Press and Brew has closed for good, marking the end of this popular cafe across the road from Greenslopes Private Hospital. 


Read: Greenslopes Private Hospital Orthopaedic Surgeon Trains Future Shoulder Surgeons From Around the World


The closure of Press and Brew leaves a void on Hunter Street that many will feel, missing the cafe’s friendly service and signature coffee and breakfast burgers.

This comes as a developer submitted plans for 68-72 Hunter St, the site where the cafe and three more residential dwellings are located. The existing buildings on the subject site will be demolished if the development application is given the green light.

Photo credit: Morgan Khuu/Google Maps

Plans

Photo credit: Gray Puksand

The development application was submitted to Brisbane City Council in March 2023 by Ron Build Pty Ltd, who aims to construct a three-storey commercial building with parking for around 123 vehicles. 


Designed by architecture firm Gray Puksand, the building will feature tenancy, including amenities and services on Levels 1-2;  lobby, tenancy, store, amenities, refuse, loading bay for services on the ground floor; and car parking, person with disabilities parking, and bicycle parking on the basement.

“The proposal maintains a health focused precinct along Headfort Street which will serve the local community and is complementary to the Greenslopes Private Hospital. The proposed Community care centre and Health care service uses are consistent with the expectations of the zoning and the surrounding locality,” planners at Town Planning Alliance noted.

Locals’ Reactions

Subject site (Photo credit: Google Street View)

Whilst some locals welcome new healthcare options in the neighbourhood, others have raised concerns about the building’s size and its potential impacts on traffic and access to the nearby Greenslopes Private Hospital emergency department.

In response to these concerns, the applicant provided a traffic study showing the centre would only add 1-2 trips per minute during peak times – a “negligible impact” on surrounding roads. They stated this will not hinder emergency vehicle access to the hospital.


Read: 3-Hour Street Parking Limit, Resident Parking Permits Could be Adopted in Greenslopes


Additionally, the applicant noted the new building was designed to connect to the Greenslopes Medical Centre and blend with the scale of existing structures along Newdegate Street. 

Published 17-July-2023