Footscray’s Dancing Dog Cafe tenants have welcomed the sale of the heritage building on Saturday to an investor with no immediate intentions to redevelop the site.
About 200 people turned out for the auction of the iconic Albert Street building, with three bidders entering the fray after an opening bid of $1.3 million.
Bidding reached $1.575 million before the property was passed in short of its reserve, later selling to the highest bidder for an undisclosed sum.
Interest in the property from residential developers had raised fears the property could be taken out of community use, spurring a last-ditch fundraising drive to put it into public ownership. But Biggin & Scott real estate agent Tristan Tomasino said the new owner bought the property as an investment and had no intention of redeveloping the site.
“The new owner loved the façade and the proportions of the building. They’re going to keep the Dancing Dog Café on and upstairs will be staying on as well, so it’s really good for the community.”
Mr Tomasino said the building was sold for “just above” the $1.575 million final bid.
Seddon resident Katerina Gaita, who spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign that in just two weeks attracted almost $60,000 in pledges to buy the building, said she hopes the new owner respects its history, charm, and place in the hearts of the people of Footscray.
“I also hope that out of this whole thing, the campaign has sewn a seed in the minds of people that, when you’re not happy about something, you can try and do something about it,” she said. “I’m sure there will be a new group that is looking to influence the way Footscray develops in the future.”
Ben Coyle, owner of the Dancing Dog Cafe business, said the sale helped cement its future.
“It was great to see the amount of people who cared about it,” he said.
Benjamin Millar
