Suburb on the rise with Maasra apartments set for construction

The skyline of this inner-Brisbane suburb is set to change with the approval of a $95m, two-tower apartment development.

Brothers Anthony and Jason Karam at their display office in Coorparoo for Maasra Apartments which is approved and about to start pre-construction works. Picture: Renae Droop/AAP

THE skyline at Coorparoo is about to change with the upmarket Maasra Apartments to become a reality from next month.

Demolition on the 4000sqm site at 214-220 Old Cleveland Rd is to start next month.

The Tilermade building and adjoining warehouse also housing a gymnasium and Trade Electrical store on Holdsworth St will be demolished along with Geekworks next to Tilermade. The former Andersens building, now used as the Maasra sales centre, will remain until closer to construction.

Revised plans for the eight storey, 102 unit development were approved in February and construction is expected to start in September for completion by early 2021.

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■ COORPAROO RSL TO DEVELOP SITE

Developer Anthony Karam said a number of units changed to larger, four-bedroom apartments, reducing the number from the planned 131 units.

“We had to change our designs to suit market needs,” Mr Karam said.

“Most of the purchasers are owner-occupiers.

“We’ve reached our pre-sale targets. The past year has been exceptionally good for us in market traction.”

Brothers Anthony and Jason Karam run the Tilermade business, established by their father.

The development came about after the Good Friday fire in 2008 which ripped through the adjoining laundromat and Tilermade.

“We lost a lot of infrastructure with that fire and we had to rebuild some of it to keep Tilermade going.

“But that is what triggered the thought process for the development,” Mr Karam said.

He attributed the success of the project to he and his brother’s vision as a local family.

“This is not a project where we come in and develop and move on,” he said. “My brother and I are residing here so a lot of the design has to do with our culture, our vision and legacy of our family and we understand the quality needed.”

Artist impression for Maasra apartments at Coorparoo on Old Cleveland Rd.

Maasra will feature three underground levels with 380 car spaces and a 25m swimming pool and recreation area, including meeting room, gymnasium, barbecue and seating areas on the front second level rooftop.

The front of the building features ground level retail and level one office space and there will be a restaurant facing Holdsworth St overlooking new parkland linking Old Cleveland Rd to Coorparoo Creek Park.

“Coorparoo was a thriving part of Brisbane with the trams, shops and Myer. With our development we are contributing to bring it back to what it was.”