Sydney restaurant owner wins Google battle

Doltone House owner Paul ­Signorelli took on a tech giant and won.

Signorelli took on Google and its plans for a new $80 million office building at Pyrmont that he said would kill the atmosphere of his new restaurant.

It seems the City of Sydney agreed with him.

The stoush was over Google’s building taking the natural light away from Signorelli’s new Revy Food and Wine Bar.

At first Google dismissed the restaurant owner’s concerns, a move Signorelli said was “bullish” and “arrogant”.

However, amended plans lodged with the City of Sydney last month shows the tech giant has put in a 1.2 metre setback between its new building and Signorelli’s.

“This new building by Google will be a win for the community and a win for heritage in the area,” Signorelli said.

“The Arrow Marine building is more than 100 years old. We need to make sure the building can breathe.”

Revy Food and Wine Bar, which is housed in the Arrow Marine building, will open in September. The building was constructed in 1917 and is the only stand-alone heritage building in the area.

“It will be the first time the public can access the Arrow Marine building in 105 years,” Signorelli said.

Google submitted planning documents to the council which stated its new plans “will increase amenity to the Arrow Marine Building in the form of daylight access and natural ventilation, while also allowing for maintenance of the Arrow Marine Building’s walls and windows”.

“The setback also increases the visual separation to the Arrow Marine Building when viewed from Jones Bay and the harbour foreshore,” the submission said.

“The new 1.2m setback will result in a positive heritage impact.”

In making the amendment, Google will lose 34sq m of floor space, reducing its office to a total of 445 sqm.

Google is renovating the old channel Seven building where it will host 600 employees.

Irit Jackson, 1^st September 2022