A new $30 million residential project could soon line part of Wollongong’s northern entranceway, with a three-building, seven-storey complex proposed for Flinders Street.
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The PRD Architects-led development would have 77 apartments, a swimming pools and commercial space and is slated to take the place of the Flinders Hotel and Jasmine Rice 2 restaurant.
Perched at the edge of the Wollongong CBD, it would be one of the first major buildings visible to those driving into the city.
According to lodged documents, the project would include demolition of the existing buildings and construction of three blocks of one, two and three bedroom apartments. There would be 102 parking spaces in a two-level basement, and more than 1,000 square metres of commercial space fronting Flinders Street.
The developers are seeking to vary the council’s development controls on building height by seeking to exceed the 16 metre limit by just over one metre. They say the proposal mostly complies, but needs to be taller in one section to ‘‘achieve the required architectural symmetry’’.
The project is one of a number of significant commercial and residential buildings planned for car-yard-filled, semi-industrial road which greets residents and visitors as they head into town from the north.
Over the past three years, several different plans to transform the strip with high-rise apartments have been lodged and approved, however construction has not yet started on any new residential Flinders Street buildings.
Additionally, plans to build the much-heralded Bass and Flinders Gateway entrance-way residential towers have stalled, after rezoning plans which would have made way for the project were knocked back last year.
In a submission to Wollongong council, PRD Architects say their new development will be a ‘‘stimulus to a precinct ripe to accept some invigoration’’.
‘‘The development will be an example of design excellence and will provide for a prestigious building in close proximity to public transport and the regional commercial centre,’’ the application says.
It will also provide construction jobs and increase the population density in the city centre, the application says, which will have flow-on effects for other businesses.
As the capital investment value is more than $20 million, it will be considered by the Joint Regional Planning Panel. The plans are on exhibition until August 19 through Wollongong City Council’s website.
Dan Murphy’s liquor barn
- This 7000-square-metre site will have nearly 2500 square metres of ground floor retail/commercial space and 80 on-site car spaces. Dan Murphy’s will be the anchor tenant.
- Status: Construction well underway after languishing since 2010, with trading expected to start by Christmas.
Flinders Square
- A $40.5 million residential and commercial precinct at the corner of Gipps and Flinders streets, being led by Wollongong developer Michael Corban, which is set to house 160 apartments and five ground-floor shops.
- Status: Approved in mid-2014.
Bass and Flinders Gateway, corner of Flinders, Campbell and Keira streets
- The plans for this massive, and much-publicised, residential and commercial complex - which was to be built on Wollongong’s most controversial development site - surfaced in 2013 but never made it past the first hurdle of the planning system. A Malaysian-Australian consortium proposed a series of 48 and 60-metre buildings designed by award-winning international architect Stephen Pimbley which were said to mimic the Illawarra escarpment.
- Status: A rezoning proposal which would have made-way for the project was knocked back by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in 2014 due to a lack of information. Future plans for the project are unknown.
Campbell Street bus depot, corner of Campbell and Keira streets
- Plans: Seven storeys with 34 apartments over one floor of retail space, as well as basement parking for 37 cars and ground-floor car spaces for retail customers.
- Status: Approved.
