Zagame Corporation expects construction to start next year on a $50m James Street project

Two developments under consideration by council aim to extend Brisbane’s most successful high street. SEE THE PICTURES

One of Brisbane’s most successful high streets could be extended, with two developers planning multimillion-dollar projects.

If approved by the Brisbane City Council, construction will begin on both projects next year, with Zagame Corporation submitting a revised development application in July for the $50 million development of a 1457sq m site at 72-76 James St, Fortitude Valley.

It is next to the Sage Hotel, and the Victorian-based family company revised plans include a landscaped and terraced five-level, mixed-use building, plus a roof terrace.

Plans include informal gathering areas and a publicly accessible City Room with internal laneways leading to retail and hospitality tenancies on the ground floor. Office accommodation will be above the retail areas.

Zagame Corporation's revised mixed-use development on the corner of James and Harcourt streets, Fortitude Valley.

The site, which is on the corner of Harcourt St, is currently occupied by older retail buildings.

It is directly opposite a separately proposed project by Teneriffe-based Forme which has also submitted plans with the Brisbane City Council for an office and retail plaza development at 75-79 James St.

Both projects would bookend the eastern reach of the James Street precinct, bringing hundreds of workers and thousands of shoppers to the area.

The Zagame family has been designing and delivering projects in James Street since 2017 and they plan to own and manage the property as a long-term investment.

“James Street embodies the true essence of work, rest and play and we believe this project delivers on that vision,” a Zagame family spokesman said.

Zagame Corporation's revised mixed-use development on the corner of James and Harcourt streets, Fortitude Valley.

The project, designed by award-winning Cavill Architects, will showcase a contemporary subtropical theme and will incorporate the commercial character building on the corner of James and Harcourt streets.

Zagame initially submitted plans in December last year and revised plans in July addressed Council’s concerns by decreasing building height, bulk and scale, and increased on-site carparking provision.

The new design also includes 91 car parks and 43 bicycle spaces along with end of trip facilities.

However, in a letter to Zagme in August, Council said it still has concerns with the potential overdevelopment of the site and undue impacts on adjoining properties and negotiations are ongoing.

Zagame has also proposed a significant investment in the streetscape with upgrades to road frontages along James and Harcourt streets to include verge build-out to increase pedestrian activation.