Inside new plans for $80m Bulimba development with rooftop dining
An ambitious developer has revealed the details behind a rooftop entertainment area he believes can revive a famed upmarket Brisbane suburb’s high street.
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An ambitious local developer responsible for an $80 million residential and retail development in Bulimba has revealed the details behind a rooftop entertainment area he believes can turn the area around.
Justin O’Donnell from Cielo Property Group is close to starting construction on the three-storey project at 187 Oxford St, Bulimba.
Popular eateries La Quinta Mexican and Amante Tapas & Vino have been demolished ot make way for the new project.
Mr O’Donnell recently made changes to the approved development, extending the height of the building from 10.5m to 15.15m.
The new development application was submitted purely for the rooftop area, Mr O’Donnell said.
Mr O’Donnell said it was (technically) not a fourth storey because Council no longer counted rooftops as a level.
The project has generated mixed responses from locals, with some believing it would be an exciting addition to the area’s nightlife and others concerned about its scale.
After securing the up-market providore Harris Farm as a tenant for the complex, Mr O’Donnell has now revealed details of the rooftop dining and entertainment area.
“There will be five separate tenancies, a central core lift and an open-air lobby scenario with a central seating area and in each of the five corners you’ll have restaurants,” he said.
“When you walk out of the lift, that will be your Instagrammable moment with city views.
“It will be a hotshot area but one that’s relatively quiet, similar to Fish Lane in South Brisbane.
“The restaurants will cover all types of dining from medium to high-end dining as well as fine dining.
“There will also be a sort of cocktail area in the middle, a nice and quiet lounge area with only cocktails, similar to Mr Percival’s where you can stop for a drink before going on to one of the restaurants.”
Mr O’Donnell, a Bulimba local, said the area was “starving” for something to happen, with the only regular entertainment venue being the iconic Oxford 152.
”Every tenancy comes and goes, there’s no catalyst development in the area,’’ he said.
“I’m a local and I want to go somewhere decent to enjoy some good food and drinks.
“There’s just nothing dragging people to the area, but there’s so many destinations outside of Bulimba that people go to.
“We want to attract people from outside and keep people from within the area so they’re spending their money here.”
Mr O’Donnell said most of the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
One resident, who supported the project, said Oxford St was “well overdue for a refresh”.
“We need locations to drink/eat and this extra level of rooftop dining will provide just what
is missing,” they said in a Council submission.
“Businesses along Oxford St come and go because there is no anchor development to
draw people to the area.
“The benefits this development will bring to the area will far out weight any additional traffic.”
But another resident said in their submission that they supported the original height, not the additional proposed height.
“Bulimba has mostly maintained this height restriction to date and I do wish for this building to set a precedent for future developments in the area,” the resident said.
“It is one of the reasons I, and many others in the area, specifically chose to purchase in Bulimba as opposed to Teneriffe/Newstead/Hamilton.”
Mr O’Donnell said there would be more announcements for the precinct in the coming weeks and said they should be ready for a grand opening in mid-2025.
“If you build it, they will come, that’s my belief,” he said.
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