$27 million Byron Bay serviced apartment project lodged by Podia
Developer Podia has proposed a $27 million development including serviced apartments at the Holiday Village Backpackers site in Byron Bay.
The project is proposed for 116 and 118 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, currently the Holiday Village Backpackers.
Byron Shire Council has placed the proposal on public exhibition.
It involves 41 serviced apartments, ground-floor retail and dining spaces, plus a communal garden.
The proposed three-storey building has been designed by Richards & Spence Architects lead by architect Ingrid Richards.
There will be a rooftop pool and basement carparking.
The application notes the process of urban renewal presented the town with an opportunity to address the major environmental challenges including climate change; health and wellbeing and resource depletion.
"These sustainability principles give effect to this broad agenda for a more sustainable, attractive and competitive town," the application advises.
Katie Wilson, the proprietor of Byron Bay Backpackers, wrote a letter of “unwavering support” for the proposed development, according to the Byron Shire News.
“Our family have owned and operated at this site for 38 years and it is quite emotional letting go, however, we are so pleased with the architectural design and overall vision for the site that we are very seriously considering our association with the property by purchasing one of the apartments within the development,” Ms Wilson wrote.
The Sydney developer Podia paid $18.55 million in February to buy the 4287 sqm site after 150 buyer inquiries.
Head of development at Podia, Michael Grassi, said the firm was "passionate" about Byron and want to contribute positively to the Byron Bay town centre.
“We wanted to open up the site, maximising solar access to the internal public park so locals, guests and visitors have more green space in the centre of town to lie under a tree and take a break,” architect Ingrid Richards told the local paper.
“Merging private and public spaces, the courtyard is pivotal.”
Richards & Spence are best known for their Brisbane project, Calile Hotel.
Podia is currently constructing 25 apartments in the Premier Place development at 14-20 Premier Street, Neutral Bay.
It has been designed by architect ess lifestyle, with interiors by Richard Stanisich, and landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith.
Premier Place comprises a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, including garden homes and a spectacular penthouse with city, skyline and Harbour Bridge views.
The last four three-bedroom apartments were priced from $3,700,000-$3,900,000, with two two-bedders priced from $2 million through Atlas by LJ Hooker.
Last July Podia took a put and call option over 18 strata lots at 45 McLaren Street, North Sydney with plans to build a larger mixed-use development.
The structured deal was worth more than $55 million, according to market sources, with the Australian Financial Review reporting it was contingent upon the site being rezoned to allow for higher density development.
The 1792sqm site is located 100m from the future Victoria Cross Metro station.
