Unit tower proposed for heritage Toowong site

A nine-level tower will be built on the site of a heritage inter-war home next to the old ABC Toowong site, dismaying neighbours.

A nine-level unit tower will be built next to the old ABC Toowong site, which sold recently sold for $43 million, angering neighbours who say it will block river views.

A character house at 20 Archer St, a heritage-listed American inter-war home called St Briavels, was slated for redevelopment in 2013.

Neighbours unsuccessfully fought a plan to build a three-level unit project on the site, saying it would have blocked its river views.

Another developer has now bought the rundown property off former owner Sunland, which put the ABC site on the market last year.

Inside rundown St Briavels at 20 Archer St.

The neglected grounds of St Briavels, wit the Brisbane River in the background.

It has applied to build a nine-level residential tower, including two levels of basement and carparking.

Sunland applied late last year to extend the re-development deadline for St Briavels until 2023.

“We have seen photos of the undignified state of the heritage listed St Briavels,’’ Toowong Residents’ Group spokeswoman Freya Robertson said.

“We urge the developer to remedy this situation and restore it to its former glory as soon as possible to prevent further damage. We cannot lose another heritage house in Toowong.”

St Briavels at 20 Archer St could be renovated, shifted and a medium-rise unit block built on the riverfront section of the property.

Meanwhile, Consolidated Property Group, which emerged this week as the buyer of the ABC site, has revealed it will spend millions renovating heritage-listed Middenbury House which dates ot the 1860s.

Middenbury had been leased to engineers McNab, which had stored building materials there.

The building and its sight lines to the Brisbane River are both protected.

CPG chief executive Don O’Rorke told ABC Radio yesterday that he would convert Middenbury into a restuarant or day spa.

While hopes for a major regional park have now been scotched, Mr O’Rorke promised there would be a public open space component, connecting to the riverfront, and cycling access.

“We’re going to do a code-assessed application, so we’re not going to do anything out of the box,’’ he said.

“But we’re going to take all of that public open space that the Zahar Hadid scheme (the architecture of a former three-tower proposal) had and incorporate it all into our thinking.’’

Developer Don O'Rorke from Consolidated Properties Group. Picture: David Clark

He also said he would welcome Council buying a portion of his site for a green bridge landing point. The bridge will connect to West End.

“We want to do the best for that site that’s possible,” he said.

A development application would be lodged with Brisbane City Council in the next few months, with construction scheduled to start in the middle of next year.

Two or more luxury 15-level unit towers with 200 to 250 units were likely to be built.

CPG emerged on Thursday as the $43.5 million purchaser.

Although Mr O’Rorke promised extensive public consultation, a code assessable project would stop residents from taking the project the Planning and Environment Court.

Neighbours said there had been night-time work involving diggers and excavators recently.

Large, uncovered trucks were seen removing material from the site about 3am late last week.

Artist’s impression of the scotched Sunland “champagne flutes’’ triple tower.

Former owner Sunland put the 600 Coronation Drive property on the market last year after reclusive multimillionaire entrepreneur Richard Bell and his wife Kate took Sunland’s “champagne flutes’’ towers to court in 2015.

The Bells, who bought a $1.27 million riverfront property next to the ABC site just before Sunland’s plans emerged, had a very rare win in court with Sunland’s plans knocked back.

After licking its wounds, Sunland put the 1.5ha riverfront site on the international and domestic market.

The Bells, who own a large chunk of Mexican restaurant franchise Guzman Y Gomez and other investments, are believed to be the other partner in the ABC sale.

It is understood prominent unit developer David Devine bid for the property but was unsuccessful.

Council repeatedly said it was interested in buying only part of the sprawling site, for a proposed “green’’ bridge to West End.

It is not believed to be one of the two undisclosed partners.

Cr James Mackay (Walter Taylor). Picture: News Corp/Attila Csaszar

Local Councillor, James Mackay, said no new development application had been lodged with Council.

“We are committed to increasing parks and green space and Brisbane City Council will ensure the land at 600 Coronation Drive will always have an element of public open space,’’ he said.

“The sale of the land was between two companies and had no Council involvement.

“Alignments for the green bridge have not been confirmed.

“Should it be determined that a section of 600 Coronation Drive be a preferred landing point, Council will commence investigations to determine land requirements.’’

Kate and Richard Bell’s property next to the ABC development site.

Local Greens MP Michael Berkman has spearheaded a community campaign to return the ABC site to the community.

It was sold by a former federal Labor Government after a cancer cluster was discovered among female ABC staff.

Many units and houses in the surrounding area have Save the ABC Site signs.

Mr Berkman had called on Council and the State Government to buy the property and turn it into a regional park.

A survey he conducted last year also showed strong support for a pool. The nearby Toowong Council pool was closed some years ago.

Night works carried out recently at the old ABC Toowong site.

A community centre was also supported by some respondents.

“This is a devastating missed opportunity and I share residents’ frustration that Council and the State Government ignored our calls to buy this site for a public riverfront park,’’ he said.

“If Council and State Government had split the cost, we could’ve had a city-making project to offset massive growth and loss of green space on the west side for a fraction of their budget.

“From my forums, surveys, and conversations with hundreds of westside locals, there is overwhelming community support for the proposed green bridge to West End to land at this site.

“The developer should preserve a significant proportion of the site for genuinely accessible public green space — not something like the bizarre concrete jungle southside residents got when developers promised public space at the West Village development.

“I’m also calling on Council to ensure the heritage-listed Middenbury House is a public venue for local performances, events and community groups, not a privately-run enterprise.’’

Consolidated said the supposedly “contaminated’’ ABC buildings had since been demolished or remediated.

Chief operating officer, James MacGinley, said the site was arguably the best residential riverfront address in Brisbane.

Community group ParkIT, formed to advocate for the old ABC site be turned into parkland. Photo: Paul Guy

“We’re thrilled to have acquired the landmark site and look forward to transforming it into luxury, riverfront apartments over the coming years,’’ Mr MacGinley said.

“While it’s still early days, we’re eager to continue to work with the local residents and Brisbane City Council in determining the best outcome for the community, all the while preserving the heritage building onsite,’’ he said.

Concept planning for the site is now under way.