The Mercury reported late last year that residents at Fairways in Bank Street were considering creating a by-law to ban smoking across the entire precinct comprising internal units, the balconies, the common areas and the car park.

Residents voted to ban smoking in only the common areas such as hallways, pool area, the carpark and lobby. The issue arose after complaints by some residents about smoke drift from balconies.

Resident Barry McClelland says the anti-smoking group accepted the majority's decision and is happy with any advance in making the building a non-smoking zone.

"It was always a cautionary approach with plenty of informed discussion and now it's a matter of moving forward," he says. "We accept it was a big step to turn a building where you could smoke anywhere into a completely smoke-free zone.

All still friends? "Oh yes, ... it wasn't a battle with lines drawn ... simply a question on how we wanted to take the matter forward," says Mr McClelland.

Vista of trees

Luxury listing specialist Grand Pacific Real Estate has added a swanky Woonona property to its stable.

Called Popes Estate and owned by a former managing director of Barclays Global Investors (Europe), Michael Brown and his wife, Janice Etheredge-Brown, it sits on 5000 square metres of land at the base of the escarpment.

"It's a rarity in terms of size, flexible floor plan and the quality," says Grand Pacific's principal, Philip Comans. "It has five bedrooms including the master suite which is spacious enough to double as a parents' retreat."

Mr Comans says while it is surrounded by rainforest there is still a lot of level lush lawn that could be turned into a tennis court or cricket pitch.

Expressions of interest close on April 11 with expectations north of $1 million.

Vantage point

Stage one in the $60-million high-rise project on the old Dairy Farmers site in Gladstone Avenue is on schedule to finish by May with half of the total 207 units already sold.

Developer Nicholas Doud says the project known as The Vantage has been well received.

"The initial perceptions may have been a little negative due to its size but the response from potential buyers who have been to the project office to view plans and the quality materials used in the project has been excellent," he says.

The development, which comprises four towers and a commercial component, is targeting middle-income earners with the average unit selling for $430,000. Mr Doud says the project when finished by mid-2014 should have an impact on northern Crown Street.

"When you have a large area like this redeveloped it tends to encourage other businesses in the area to update their image in a bid to compete and to win over new customers."

Commuter cottage

The Coledale allure was at work this week when a 1960s cottage in Young Street sold days before its schedule auction for $615,000, more than $30,000 above its reserve price. McGrath Real Estate's Trevor Molenaar says the renovated cottage went to a Maroubra buyer who plans to commute to Sydney for work.

"There was high interest in the property mainly because of its closeness to the beach (about 500 metres) and the sought-after village atmosphere," he says.