Andy Lee and his partner Rebecca Harding have got the green light to begin a $5million redevelopment of their 1876 Italianate mansion – and their new neighbours couldn’t be happier.
The radio host, 42, and model, 32, splashed $8.5million on the derelict Hawthorn property in 2021 and have grand plans to build a second house on the land.
Lee and Harding intend to connect the heritage home to a modern build via a tunnel, and despite previous reports of neighbourhood unrest, local residents told Daily Mail Australia they can’t wait to see the results.
Neighbours living in the street are sick of looking at the current state of the home, which they have described as a ‘dump’ and ‘disgusting’.
‘I think it’s fantastic they’re not knocking down the heritage house. As a private residence, I think it’s fantastic compared to what they could do,’ one neighbour said.
Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding have got the green light to begin a $5million redevelopment of their 1876 Italianate mansion – and their new neighbours couldn’t be happier
‘Definitely an eyesore, but worse than that, just an absolute tragedy to treat a historic house like that and leave it to demolition by neglect.’
The neighbour went on to slam the previous owners, who left the property in a horrid state for over a decade after their own renovations ceased for unknown reasons.
‘I’m hoping the council has taken the respect for this very old building seriously,’ she added.
Another couple agreed, saying: ‘It looks so disgusting at the moment, I’d be happy to see it [renovated]. Anything would be better.’
The popular radio host, 42, and model, 32, splashed $8.5million on the derelict Hawthorn property in 2021 and have grand plans to build a second house on the land
Lee and Harding intend to connect the heritage home to a modern build via a tunnel, and local residents told Daily Mail Australia they can’t wait to see the results
Neighbours living in the street are sick of looking at the current state of the home, which they have described as an ‘dump’ and ‘disgusting’
‘I think it’s fantastic they’re knocking down the heritage house. As a private residence, I think it’s fantastic compared to what they could do,’ one said, adding that it was a ‘tragedy’ the heritage home had been treated the way it was
Others said they have been forced to see the ‘wreck’ for almost two decades and can’t wait for Andy and Rebecca to fix it up.
‘I’ve been here 23 years, and been a falling down wreck of a dump. So as soon as someone fixes it up, the better… I’d be opposing anyone who actually is opposing it,’ one man said.
‘If they’re restoring what’s there, then construction towards the back is fine. It’s been an eyesore.’
![Another couple agreed, saying: 'It looks so disgusting at the moment, I'd be happy to see it [renovated]. Anything would be better'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/14/01/73200613-12297627-image-a-4_1689293069665.jpg "What Andy Lee's neighbours think about his $5m heritage property redevelopment 10")
Another couple agreed, saying: ‘It looks so disgusting at the moment, I’d be happy to see it [renovated]. Anything would be better’
Others said they have been forced to see the ‘wreck’ for almost two decades and can’t wait for Andy and Rebecca to fix it up
‘I’ve been here 23 years, and that place has been a falling down wreck of a dump. So as soon as someone fixes it up, the better… I’d be opposing anyone who actually is opposing it,’ one man said
He added: ‘The problem is they pulled down the old Victorian chimneys, the previous owner, and left it like that.
‘It actually had a beautiful veranda around it as well previously, and then they pulled that off and renovations stopped whatever the previous owners were doing and it sat like that for 10 years.’
The local council gave Andy and Rebecca the green light to begin their luxury renovation of the derelict Melbourne mansion at the end of June.
They reportedly plan to spend $5million on the redevelopment.
Some of the planned features outlined in the development plan include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a ‘mega bedroom’.
He added: ‘The problem is they pulled down the old Victorian chimneys, the previous owner, and left it like that’
The neighbour continued: ‘It actually had a beautiful veranda around it as well previously, and then they pulled that off and renovations stopped whatever the previous owners were doing and it sat like that for 10 years’
The local council gave Andy and Rebecca the green light to begin their luxury renovation of the derelict Melbourne mansion at the end of June
They reportedly plan to spend $5million on the redevelopment
Some of the planned features outlined in the development plan include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a ‘mega bedroom’
Despite some initial push-back from locals, Lee Rebecca Harding (pictured in front of the home) have now been granted council approval for the build
