Lunar Jannali - 17-23 Mitchell Avenue, Jannali

While securing sites over 2020 and 2021, WINIM were also seeing success selling their projects

When COVID reached Australia in early 2020 and the country was plunged into lockdown, the uncertainty of the economy had both buyers and developers wanting to see how the next few months, and even years, played out.

Not the diversified property developer WINIM, who used the time to reassess and refine their business strategy. The decision to turn unknown into opportunity is now paying them back in spades.

Justin Kuiters, who set up WINIM in 2011 alongside Josh Leahy after working together on Top Ryde, Australia's largest mixed-use project, said when the TV's were flashing red, they acted.

"We didn't believe the doomsday reports and acted, probably in the opposite direction" Kuiters, a former director at Multiplex, told Urban.

"We doubled down on sites, in a slightly more targeted area, deliberately staying clear of some of the larger scale, middle and outer ring areas and totally focusing on our key 10-15 suburbs.

"Now we have 12 projects either in market, at development application stage, or nearly ready to submit." Nine of the 12 projects are premium Lower North Shore residences.

<img alt="WINIM" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1bd90146-7be9-4240-9082-9e57563de124" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202022-11-16%20at%2011.46.36%20am.png?VersionId=a4sjErLHKmWFuf_bnJAO3IS36vTD1vfD" /> 
WINIM Joint Managing Directors, Justin Kuiters, left, and Josh Leahy, right

Kuiters says they identified a chronic undersupply of boutique, large apartments and mid-sized residential which target both the rightsizer and the downsizer. The majority of buyers are those who want to stay in the area that they've always called home, but there are many who are looking at the style of apartment WINIM develop as their best bet to move into the affluent North Shore.

"Once people live in the North Shore, rarely do they want to leave," Kuiters suggests.

"It was a case of developing residences that resonated with buyers who couldn't find something that suited both their lifestyle and budgets."

While securing sites over 2020 and 2021, WINIM were also seeing success selling their projects.

They now have just a few remaining townhouses at The Lawson Terraces, in one of the best spots in Naremburn, and also only a handful in the 16-townhouse Willoughby project, Tierra. The Lawson Terraces are expected to be completed in early 2023, and Tierra later in the year. They also sold out The Terraces in Willoughby last year.

WINIM are currently working on projects in Neutral Bay, Mosman, Cremorne, Gordon, Lane Cove and Kirribilli. Arguably the most striking is set to be their Cremorne project at 15 Allister Street.

The original building was constructed in 1913 and was designed by the prominent architect Clifford Finch, who later, alongside renowned architect John Burcham Clamp, designed Sydney's Tattersall Club and the heritage-listed Lawson House on Cumberland Street in the CBD. Renowned architecture firm Rothelowman will be retaining the facade, while adding a contemporary extension.

Kuiters says the company have worked on a number of adaptive re-use projects recently, a development approach which the local council's are favouring.

<img alt="WINIM Cremorne" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3459446-c494-412b-8a76-773ef6eb1ae2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202022-11-18%20at%207.52.29%20am.png?VersionId=tqsfKytxyoe0ElsFmFIBu.MEXBFQG1zi" /> 
The Allister Street, Cremorne plans by Rothelowman

"We've secured a number of sites which aren't heritage-listed, but due to their striking street frontage, and unique character from a bygone era, just like council, we are wanting to come up with a clever and creative way of bringing these grand building's into the 21st century," Kuiters adds.

"The community and council are favouring adaptive reuse and architectural detailing that complements the street.

"They're more challenging, but you come out with a more bespoke, unique product, catering for two types of buyers, those who are keen on the historical features (cornicing, high ceilings, brickwork etc) , and those who want the more contemporary finishes."

Joel Robinson

Why WINIM doubled down on the boutique North Shore market

WINIM joint managing director Josh Leahy said the residences will be highly sought after by families, resizers or those looking for a luxury house-sized property with minimal maintenance.



Sydney property fund manager and developer, WINIM, has secured a 2,052 sqm site in Northbridge, taking its North Shore portfolio to six boutique residential developments.

The local North Shore developer is set to create a development with a mix of apartments and developments at 46-48a Eastern Valley Way, opposite Shore Playing Fields.

WINIM joint managing director Josh Leahy said the site is ideal for residential as it is within easy walking distance to Northbridge Plaza, Sailors Bay and Warners Park.

He said the residences will be highly sought after by families, resizers or those looking for a luxury house-sized property with minimal maintenance and state of the art finishes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31908 project_image_fid=189116]

&ldquo;We engage with our customers from their first meeting with the sales agent. From monthly purchaser updates to quarterly site walks with the team, our customers are, as they should be, a key part of their property&rsquo;s journey.

WINIM&rsquo;s other North Shore projects have seen strong sales from local downsizers or right- sizers over the past six months at an average price of $2.5 million per property.

Set to feature striking, contemporary exterior and interior designs by local architect Rothelowman, WINIM&rsquo;s Northbridge project builds on the group&rsquo;s existing stable of premium, boutique North Shore holdings &ndash; carefully chosen, strategically located, high end properties including OTTO Cremorne and The Terraces Willoughby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5864 project_image_fid=57682]

Rothelowman principal architect Ben Pomroy said terraces or townhomes are highly sought after all over Sydney but particularly on the North Shore where space is at a premium.

&ldquo;Along with all of our previous projects for WINIM, a key feature of several of the residences will include private open spaces maximising privacy, lifestyle and entertainment options,&rdquo; he said.

Following the development application approval, the project will be brought to market in late 2021.

&ldquo;Sydney&rsquo;s Lower North Shore is a key part of our residential strategy to develop premium, bespoke, well-conceived owner-occupier projects featuring exceptional design, located in prime tightly held pockets such as Northbridge,&rdquo; Mr Leahy said.

&ldquo;As our sixth residential project to get underway on the Lower North Shore, Northbridge is a significant landmark project which will greatly contribute to the undersupply of premium owner-occupier dwellings in the suburb.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29965 project_image_fid=189106]

WINIM history

Established by Josh Leahy and Joint Managing Director Justin Kuiters in 2010, WINIM has a history of successfully delivering large-scale master plans, retail complexes, mixed use sites and educational projects. A key focus of the business is delivering high quality Lower North Shore residential properties to existing valued and new customers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29965 project_image_fid=189106]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5864 project_image_fid=57676]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31908 project_image_fid=189111]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29387 project_image_fid=189098]

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