First look exclusive: Abedian family completely redesign Greenmount Beach Hotel redevelopment in Coolangatta

Arium, the new apartment development arm of Sunland's Abedian family, has rethought its plans for its prime Greenmount Beach Hotel site, one of the best undeveloped sites on the Southern Gold Coast.

It was 2021 when the Abedian family paid $42.3 million for the amalgamated 7,071 sqm block, bordering Marine Parade, Eden Avenue and Hill Street, before going into planning mode for the prime site which sits between Rainbow Beach and Greenmount Beach and offers never-to-be-built-out views over the sand.

In May 2023 Arium submitted plans for a 16-level tower with 54 apartments designed by Contreras Earl Architecture.

The former plans by Contreras Earl Architecture.

But now Arium has filed new plans with the Gold Coast City Council, with 111 Design Studio proposing a complete redesign which has changed the scale and density of the project.

There will now be two towers, both 14 levels, two levels lower than what Arium had pitched nearly 12 months ago.

The new plans by 111 Design Studio.

Zone Planning Group wrote in their Planning Assessment that the decision to remove two levels was made to respond to the context of the area and the height of the Norfolk Island Pines trees on Greenmount Headland, as well as to be consistent with the neighbouring Rockpool development by Joe Adsett which is also 14 levels.

There will now be 63 apartments, 28 in tower one and 35 in tower two. The towers will be divided by a striking central entry area which will have water features and a lap pool in landscaping by Urbis.

Each tower will have two, three and four-bedroom apartments. In total, there will be 15 two-bedroom apartments, 38 three-bed apartments, and 10 four-bedroom apartments.

Four of the 10 four-bedroom apartments will be the penthouses, each occupying half a floor and spanning two levels. They will have half of a rooftop which will feature a plunge pool in each corner of the building as it curves to overlook Marine Parade and the beaches. There's also a roof terrace, dining area and landscaped gardens.

The ground floor of Tower One will have a wellness centre, with four hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, a steam room, a salt cave, and a central room labelled snow, an uncommon wellness feature which is a room "chilled to a perfect 14-degrees Fahrenheit and features actual snow flurries all year round."

The foot of tower two will home a pilates and yoga studio, a gym, a kid's play area, a function room and a meeting space.

There will be 145 resident car parking spaces and 10 visitor car parking spaces within two basement levels.

The prime site at 55 Eden Avenue.

Zone Planning Group said the development adopts a high-quality architectural appearance comprising a unique façade where extensive curved glass panels wrap around the balconies.

"The tower form also comprises of distinctive shape in which the tower floorplate increases in size up to Level 9 and then tapers in up to Level 14. The tower appearance consists of a fluid/rhythmic appearance to complement the natural/coastal setting of the site."

The Abedian family shut up shop of Sunland Group in 2022, shedding its assets including its Benowa retail. They recently completed the build of 272 Hedges Avenue which was their last residential development.

Sunland were behind some of the Gold Coast's most well-known buildings, including Palazzo Versace and Q1.

When telling shareholders Sunland was exiting the development game, the Abedian family always said they would run a private development company.

Arium is only using two of the three sites as part of this development. They advise a 2,934 sqm portion on the corner of Eden Avenue and Hill Street will be used for stage two of the project.