New inner-city project plans to expand retail hub’s public spaces

Two 16-storey apartment towers are now in the works near Queensland’s iconic retail district, James St – with the developers promoting it as a new chance for life in the inner-city hub.

Developer Frasers Property Australia lodged a change application with the Brisbane City Council in July with their new designs, now offering 70 apartments with 3 townhouses stretched across two buildings.

The buildings will sit nearby James St in Newstead, on a 3,016 sqm site at the corner of Chester St and Morse St.

Frasers Property Australia is looking to develop two 16-storey towers in Newstead, with public and retail amenities near the James St hub.

Frasers director Jamisen Rivera said plans were in place for the buildings to be more than just a residential space, with a public pavilion and retail centre designed to link the building to James St’s larger culture.

“It’s a space for everybody who lives there to connect with each other,” she said. “It was about blending that elegance and sophistication for James St culture with the sanctuary of a beautiful home.”

The project was originally planned to be a singular building, with the new plan featuring a smaller scale across two buildings to adjust to current construction costs.

The building’s design features three corner apartments per floor, ranging from two to four bedrooms.

Each floor will include three apartments, ranging from two to four bedrooms in size.

In addition, the development will include three ‘terrace homes’: bespoke dwellings designed with a domestic facade to help blend in with the street.

These residences are bordered with shared amenities on the rooftop such as BBQ sites and pools, along with living pavilions throughout the building for cross ventilation and a panoramic view.

“A lot of work has been done to make sure privacy has been maintained,” Ms Rivera said.

The developers expect downsizers and young “metro techs” to gravitate to the development, wanting to be a part of the area’s lifestyle.

With a design by Rothelowman, principal architect Jeff Brown said the building was designed to emulate house-style living, with views of the landscape surrounding Brisbane’s central hub.

“The apartments are unique in that they offer a quality of space usually found in the best detached houses of our city,” he said. “The plan form of the building allows for all dwellings to be corner apartments, gaining multiple frontages and expanded vistas.”

Pricing and a timeline have yet to be determined, but Ms Rivera said she expected to see many downsizing locals who were attached to the area.

“We expect our target market to be New Farm and Newstead locals,” she said. “In this precinct, it’s more than just a location; it’s an identity.”

“We think those two bedroom apartments will resonate strongly with metro techs, millenials, anyone attracted to that James St culture and want to be at the heart of that.”

Hopes for the retail centres on site include the possibility of a cafe or bar.

Retail facilities will be placed on the Chester St side of the building, with hopes to find services that add amenities back into the building such as a cafe or bar.

Frasers has previously worked in the area with build to rent apartments at Brunswick & Co. in Fortitude Valley, and has two other active residential projects across Greater Brisbane.

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