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The first business affected by the failed Curtin Square redevelopment has closed, as some fear the southside suburban shops could go the same way as those in Giralang. In February, ACTPLA knocked back the Haridemos' family's bid to transform the ageing 44 Curtin Place into a six-storey, mixed-use building because it was too large for the site. Residents had been told if the development bid was quashed the building, which houses an artisanal grocer, chemist and Nepalese restaurant among other businesses, would be hoarded up indefinitely once its leases expired. Some tenants have been told to vacate by September 30 while others will have until the end of the year to find new premises. The family's spokeswoman Tania Parkes said they would wait until a series of community panel discussions on the draft master plan were finalised before attempting to redevelop the site again. But Chris Johnson from the Curtin Residents Association said they were angry the shops would be closed "with no DA in train". Bookshop and cafe Beyond Q closed its doors on Sunday and has begun moving its 186,000 items to its new premises in Cooleman Court in Weston Creek. Hoping to open there by the end of September, owner Simon Maddox said it was bittersweet moving away from the community that had embraced his business for 15 years. "We've had so many people in last few days regretting the fact we have to move out of Curtin, but we've also had lots of people saying it's great we're coming to Weston Creek," Mr Maddox said. "Our new shop is going to bit different to Curtin but we're trying to keep the same atmosphere, the same caring for community. We're going to have the larger part of the bookshop downstairs, we're running the public cafe down the arcade and we'll have what we're calling a speakeasy upstairs too." The Curtin Milkbar will remain open until the end of the year. Owner Aidan Sallace said he was looking at reopening in Woden and did not think he would return to Curtin. Urban Cellars' lease runs out on September 30 although owner Paul Cains said they had not yet had formal notification to move out. Mr Cains, who also owns Prohibition Bottleshop in Kingston, said he wanted the building to be developed sooner rather than later so he can move back to Curtin. He has been offered a spot in the new building and fears a stalemate between the owners and residents could kill the local shops. "When we signed the lease four years and nine months ago we knew we could only stay here for four years and nine months because of the redevelopment," Mr Cains said. "Being a Curtin resident myself, I'm looking forward to the development. No one wants a Giralang or a Woden. Six storeys didn't go through, we all agree it was too big, but something needs to be done. "If this lays vacant for two or three years, it will have a huge impact on the foot traffic. Coles review their lease every year, if people stop coming it could make the future of the whole shops uncertain." However Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur said Curtin would not end up like Giralang, where the shops closed for a redevelopment which has been delayed for more than a decade due to legal challenges. "There is still a lot more to Curtin. It's not possible that it could be as bad as Giralang. The Coles is going to stay there, the vet will stay there, the chemist will stay there, Club Lime will stay there. Curtin shops will survive this," Ms Le Couteur said. Planning minister Mick Gentleman said Giralang and Curtin were like "comparing apples and oranges". "The proposed development at the Curtin shops was originally refused by the planning and land authority on planning grounds," Mr Gentleman said. "This is in contrast to the situation at Giralang, where the proposed development was approved by the planning and land authority but was then held-up due to prolonged legal action." Mr Johnson said the closure would not be the "death knell" of the shops but he was concerned would lower the quality of what was there. Ms Le Couteur said the government should consider doing a land swap with the owners of 44 Curtin Place "that works for the owner and works for the community". She said a land swap, which would be part of the discussion with the community panel, could include a government-owned car park so the development could be pushed back. This would allow the develop to built to their intended height without overshadowing the Curtin Square, a key criticism of the failed development bid. Mr Gentleman said the government was not "actively" considering a land swap because new planning controls in the draft master plan would "mitigate impacts on the centre's microclimate", including the overshadowing of buildings.

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