Mr Kelly hopes to see lots 5 and 6, almost 4500sqm which have been for sale since August, picked up by the State Government so that the eyesore carpark next to The Bassendean Hotel is better utilised.
“The carpark next to the hotel is just waiting to be redeveloped,” he told the Eastern Reporter.
“At the other end of Old Perth Road, a lot has been done with the upgrade of the shopping centre and the apartment buildings that are going up, which is great, but the other end, where the train station is, also needs attention.
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Mr Kelly last week wrote to Planning Minister John Day asking him to consider buying the site.
“How the site is redeveloped is not for me to say and there would need to be public consultation,” he wrote.
“But I think the community would expect to see commercial/retail on the ground floor (preferably with awnings to complement the heritage awnings on most buildings in the street) and residential above.
“Additional residents would provide a real lift for the business in the street.
“The State Government has spent considerable time and resources on CBD projects like Elizabeth Quay and the Old Treasury Building redevelopment. Now it’s time for some attention to be given to an area such as Bassendean.”
A For Sale sign at the site sparked rumours last month, with residents taking to Facebook about the future of the pub, which celebrated one year of new management in September.
Real estate agent Gerald Morgan said the hotel was safe from developers. He told the Eastern Reporter in September the potential buyer would also be buying the hotel lease.
Hotel co-owner Stefano Rossi said he was not against the development of the carpark, so long as it was in the character of the street.