Mixed-use tower approved in Crows Nest
The booming Lower North Shore suburb of Crows Nest is set to welcome a new tower after approval was granted to transform the historic former North Shore Gas Co. building into a $55 million mixed-use development.
Project manager PDS, who is acting on behalf of a private equity firm, secured the approval without a planning proposal by strategically using heritage conservation incentives, which allowed for substantial deviations from current zoning and height limits.
The approved plans will see the 290 Pacific Highway site transformed into a 14-level building with a two-level commercial podium and residential levels above.
Read more: TWT kicks off new Crows Nest precinct, The Collective, with first apartments released
Of the 61 apartments in the building, 83 per cent will offer three and four-bedroom layouts, aimed to appeal to a broad demographic including families and downsizers.
Designed by Fuse Architects and supported by urban design work from LFA Pacific, the facade will combine traditional and modern elements, including restored masonry, terracotta tiles, and glass, to maintain the heritage aesthetic of the original building.
Contemporary materials such as fluted glass and a textured awning will accentuate the building’s character, creating a visually cohesive link between the heritage structure and the new construction.
The approval allows for a significant increase in height, rising from 16 to 44.8 metres along the Pacific Highway and from 8.5 to 15.5 metres on Sinclair Street.
The design also incorporates a publicly accessible link between Pacific Highway and Sinclair Street, enhancing pedestrian access and connectivity.
Situated on a prominent urban block bordered by Shirley Street, Bruce Street, the Pacific Highway, and Sinclair Street, the site forms part of the Five Ways intersection, a local landmark marking the southern gateway to the St Leonards and Crows Nest precinct.
The future development will be located close to major parks and public open spaces, such as Brennan Park, Newlands Park, and St Leonards Park.
