First look: Double Bay's Cross Street transformation to continue
The transformation of Double Bay's Cross Street into one of the most prestigious stretches of luxury retail and apartments, is set to continue.
The latest shoptop housing plans will see the home of several retailers demolished, including the well-known Florida dry cleaners, womens clothing store Alex & Harry, and cafe Bar Lanziano. They will make way for a four-level building with three street-level retail spaces, a cafe and two fashion outlets, with six luxury apartments above.
The $18 million plans for 8-10 Cross Street, an amalgamated 547 sqm site, have been lodged by Caradonna Capital, directed by the Point Piper-based Tyson Fenay. The company is also associated with Chinese property developer Feng Miao Ting.
Different entities but the same directors bought 8 Cross Street, known as Herford House, for $15 million in late 2023. They bought 10 Cross Street, which has approval for a six-level mixed-use building, in 2019 for $10.25 million.
Woods Bagot has designed the development which they said in the Urban Context Report "endeavours to contribute to the existing amenity of each site edge, whilst introducing new public domain, associated retail and new residential apartments."
"Double Bay is Woollahra’s unique local business centre, which enjoys a privileged position near the southern edge of Sydney Harbour in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The area is characterised by tree lined streets, significant residences, retail frontages and arcades. Outdoor dining and street activation is particularly strong in close proximity to the site, as is the presence of the Intercontinental Hotel north-west of the site.
"There is an eclectic mix of architectural periods in the area from Victorian terraces, Federation cottages, Art Deco facades and a nearby example of brutalist architecture. In the immediate Cross Street vicinity, a more modern streetscape is appearing, which this development has been designed to sit comfortably within. The proposed design retains a mix of masonry and stone-like facades to all edges and continues the retail frontages and awnings of the street and pedestrian lane."
The seven apartments start from 139 sqm and all have three bedrooms.
The first two levels above street level will have two half-floor apartments on each. Above will be three penthouse-style apartments, spanning the whole floor and offering over 300 sqm of internal space and four balconies. The penthouse also has access to a private 86 sqm roof terrace.
Woods Bagot said the design centres around the garden village history of Double Bay and pays homage to its botanical antiquity..
"The proposal focuses on the language of gardens in the area and is centered around the original fig tree; the intention is to retain the tree in good health and let it add a homely touch to the residential entry.
"The development has a minimalist material palette that is in keeping with existing palette along Cross Street but with a variation in colour or texture, such as brick masonry patternation to stone like GRC and a metal feature material for retail accentuations and residential trims.
"The proposal is an appropriate response to the character of the neighborhood both existing and proposed and will serve to provide a new standard of residences in Double Bay."
Cross Street is one of Double Bay's most popular streets, lined with cafes, restaurants and retail outlets. It is currently undergoing a full transformation, led by Top Spring Australia's Ode Double Bay.
Ode is home to Double Bay's most expensive apartments. There's been record sales at $24.9 million and $21.49 million. The five penthouses and subpenthouses sold at an average sale price of $20 million.
The six-storey building, designed by celebrated Sydney architect Luigi Rosselli with just 15 apartments, is under construction and is slated for completion in early 2026.
Developer SJD kicked off the Cross Street rejuvenation with Encore 1788, which was followed by 1788 Residences.
34 Cross Street is slated for a new commercial building by fund manager Ben Finger, while 12 Cross Street, next door to the latest application, is owned by luxury residential developer HSN who will no doubt be proposing something equally impressive.
