"Identifying a gap in the market" - Florian, Surfers Paradise sign on builder, hit 30% sold

Late last year national apartment developer Pacifico Investments launched Florian, after seeing a gap in the Surfers Paradise apartment market that didn't hit the mark for a lot for owner-occupiers.

A few months later, the project is 30 per cent sold, and Pacifico nailed their target market.

"Most of the buyers have been local owner-occupiers," Pacifico Director Carl Knaggs says.

"We really hit a gap in the market where owner-occupiers were priced out of the real boutique, luxury apartment blocks on the beach, and didn't want to reside in a high density tower.

"Florian only has 45 apartments, a maximum of three per floor, which owner-occupiers have responded to."

He says the market they wanted to hit was locals selling their houses and wanting to downsize to something that is on the water, with extensive views, premium amenity, and large internal living spaces. Floorplans start from a generous 125 sqm.

Pacifico have also just confirmed Alex Scionti's Rocking Horse Construction will handle the build.

Scionti, who is also a director at Pacifico, established Rocking Horse Construction in 2014. Since then they successfully delivered over 30 apartments projects, the most recent an award-winning project in Brighton Le Sands and one in Baulkham Hills, both in Sydney.

Knaggs said it's important during the current construction climate that they're able to work with Rocking Horse on the project.

"Securing a builder is a big confidence booster for buyers who are seeing projects across the Gold Coast not go ahead," Knaggs says.

Mode Architects designed Florian so each apartment occupied a different corner of the building, maximizing views, natural light, and breezes from oversized balconies.

Coco Republic handled the interiors of the two and three-bedroom apartments, which are slated for completion in mid-2025.