The Bayside Council is currently considering an application for a$78-million mixed-use development that includes a three-storey podium and afour-storey hotel, both of which would sit on top of a rebuilt Colessupermarket, other retail spaces, and food and beverage outlets withSydney-based Bronxx is behind the hotel venture. Bronxx, an award-winningdeveloper-builder specialising in premium apartments in Sydney's eastern areas,has become a household name in the last decade. Director Ciaran Goodman, who isbehind Bronxx, is thrilled to be part of a team seeking to develop aworld-class facility for the Sydney south region, where he lives and works.Goodman has said that Bronxx would be the site's owner and that the transactionwould close at the end of the year.
Sydney's central businessdistrict is 15km south of the hotel, which will be built on eight adjacent lotscovering 4479 square meters on the corner of The Grand Parade and RamsgateRoad. The existing Coles supermarket, built in 1977, will be demolished andreplaced with a new store with 900 square metres more floor space on the firstlevel. According to Town planners Planning Ingenuity, the existing supermarketis of poor architectural design, has reached the end of its economic life, andcontributes little to the character of the area, all of which negatively impactthe environment. A restaurant, a gym, a spa, office space, additional retail,and a swimming pool will be located on the second podium level. Parking for 204vehicles will be available on two subterranean levels. A second pool will bepart of the recreation area and rooftop garden.
The developers are seekingto have the city's restriction on construction up to a height of around 10 mabove the established level lifted in Bayview. Council noted at a meeting inlate July that the local environmental plan permitted a height of 20.5m in theregion before the application was submitted. The lift overrun will stand at31.15 metres tall, while the main structure rises to a height of 29.05 metres.The council's regulations allow a gross floor area of 8958 square metres (GFA).The development seeks an additional 10,450 square metres of GFA.
Planning Ingenuity, in areport to Council, said the variance was partially caused by the need forsufficient floor-to-ceiling clearance for a full-line supermarket, which hadspecific predetermined requirements. The proposed development is compatiblewith the variable height of buildings in the area and sits comfortably with thelocality.
Bayside's historicaladvisor has also requested the developer to consider the former Ramsgate Baths,an underground swimming facility that first opened on Botany Bay in 1924. For45 years before they were demolished, the baths were a popular spot forswimming, diving, and socialising. The Ramsgate Baths were once a populardestination for bathers and visitors to the town, and the project aims to remindpeople of this through an interpretative display.
Whilst verified, NeitherColes nor Bronxx would disclose further information about the ground-floorsupermarket business arrangement. There is no consensus on hotel branding yet,with Goodman saying, “While the project is in its early stages, we have not yetentered into any discussions.”
The investment value ofmore than $30 million makes the plan a regionally significant development, andthe Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel will ultimately decide on it.