Developers have put forward plans to tear down the Belvedere Building on Pitts Bay Road and erect a new retail and commercial building in its place.

According to a recent planning application, the proposed Luscar Place would stand seven stories high with two retail units on the ground floor and office space above.

The application stated: “It is no longer viable to maintain the existing Belvedere Building and even with significant upgrades, it will not provide appropriate contemporary office space.

“The parking garage is in need of maintenance and will be upgraded with landscaping and visual improvements as part of the proposed redevelopment of the property.

“There is demand for Class A office space with large floor plates and 69 and 71 Pitts Bay Road is an ideal site for developing a commercial building.

“The design offers significant improvement to the ground plane and area amenities. Landscaping and paving the public domain will complement the existing Bacardi gardens and public areas of Waterloo House.

“The west of Hamilton precinct will be an attractive approach to the city.”

A document submitted as part of the planning application said that the developers were considering demolishing the Belvedere Building this year so that construction on the new building can begin in early 2025.

The plans proposed that the existing parking garage at the site would remain in place with minor modifications and strengthening, and additional underground parking would be added to the southeast portion of the property.

“The intent is to accommodate a large and contemporary commercial building on a prominent corner site and in a manner appropriate to the surroundings,” the application stated.

“To reduce the visual mass the facades are modulated with balconies and the upper floors stepped back. Emphasis is on the ground plan and place making.

“The corner of the lane and Pitts Bay Road is opened up to form a public plaza.

“The lane is to be upgraded and a sidewalk provided for safe pedestrian access from Pitts Bay Road up the lane to the existing sidewalk at 71A Pitts Bay Road.

“The sidewalk along Pitts Bay Road will be upgraded in a similar fashion to what the developer has achieved across the road at Waterloo House.

“Sidewalk paving is designed to give visual priority to pedestrians at the vehicular access points.”

The application said that potential tenants have already expressed interest in the retail units, with a pharmacy and café among the proposed uses.

The documents added that the owners are “well known for their interest in art” and it was expected that a large sculpture would be installed within the entrance plaza.

“Artwork for the main lobby is being selected and the lobby space and surfaces are being designed to complement this artwork,” the application said.

“There are opportunities for murals and outdoor art that will be explored as design evolves.”

West Hamilton Holdings Limited, the BSX-listed property holding company, agreed the sale of the Belvedere Building and the Belvedere Place parking lot to Princess West Ltd last year.

The deal for the properties at 69 and 71 Pitts Bay Road completed in November.

According to a legal advertisement placed in The Royal Gazette in January 2019, Princess West Ltd was formed by Mitchell Green Private Trust Company as trustee of the Mitchell Green Family Trust.

The Mitchell Green Private Trust Company agent is Berco Limited, which is the operating company of the Green family, who own the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.