Developer offers “VIP’’ deals to woo Toowong highrise critics

A leading developer has gone to extraordinary lengths to appease critics of its latest project, including offering “VIP’’ deals and hand delivering a personal letter from its founder.

Leading Brisbane developer Mosaic Property Group has gone to extraordinary lengths to appease opponents of its latest and most controversial unit tower, including offering “VIP’’ deals in the Toowong project.

Mosaic founder Brook Monahan also penned an appeal to Illumina residents explaining why he thought Council should approve the 15-level tower at 28 Lissner St, double the allowable height under City Plan.

David Williams, a resident in the neighbouring Illumina tower, said he was verbally offered a choice of finishes, favourable positioning or attractive pricing if he bought into the Mosaic project.

A Mosaic spokeswoman said “as a sign of good will we have offered those who believe they are impacted by our proposal the opportunity to purchase into our projects as part of our VIP program and not via discounts’’.

Artist's impression of how the tower would look compared with surrounding buildings. Toowong Village shopping centre and office tower is the blue highrise in the background, righthand side of image.

“We do this where relevant on projects to various people in the community and to existing loyal clients of Mosaic,’’ she said.

Mosaic also denied it had any involvement in the positive submissions on Council’s website, most of which were anonymous and similarly worded.

“The real test of a project and its support within a community is the number of people who want to live in it, particularly from those living in nearby areas,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“We currently have around 100 people who have signed expressions of interest to purchase at our Lissner St project.

“The vast majority of them are from the local area.

“The vast majority of these buyers also know and trust the Mosaic brand and only want to live in the inner west.’’

The CBD view from the proposed rooftop pool.

Professor Williams said Mosaic’s claim that Council should override City Plan because the revised project was greatly improved did not stack up.

And its suggestion that it could not viably build an eight-storey project on the site, to the quality of its other 10 highrises in the area, was implausible.

“There are more vertical plantings, they have brought in the width of the upper part of the building — really, it’s just cosmetic changes,’’ he said.

“The height is the same and if they are allowed to go to 15 storeys there’s nothing then to top others developers. Toowong will become a highrise jungle.’’

Prof Williams said there was adequate housing stock already in the area and nearby sites which allowed higher buildings.

He also said it was very disappointing Mosaic, like all other developers, had access to Council’s planners, while residents’ requests to speak to planners or Civic Cabinet Chair Adam Allan had been denied.

How the rooftop terrace will look.

The Mosaic spokeswoman said the company was locally renowned for its quality projects.

“Performance-based planning is designed to promote exemplary design outcomes in exchange for performance based solutions, including extra height,’’ she said.

“We have provided extensive design and landscaping outcomes in order to satisfy Council that the additional height we are seeking is warranted from a planning perspective, including Mosaic complying with 29 of the 31 requirements for Brisbane City Council’s Buildings that Breathe guidelines.’’

“While we deliver very high quality wherever we build a project, the proposal for Lissner St goes well above and beyond what even we have delivered in the 10 other projects we have completed in the inner west.’’

She said the building would also meet the highest “green’’ rating possible.

Render of the revised podium level.

“With a 20 storey zoning immediately opposite our site, 14 storeys is arguably not excessive in the context of what would be considered a more normal transition,’’ she said.

The Mosaic spokeswoman said the changes in its revised proposal were much more than cosmetic.

They included doubling the setback from nearest building and “significantly intensifying’’ the landscaping from ground level to the rooftop, particularly more in-ground trees and a level 12 roof garden.

The building’s architectural form had been “softened’’, street-level “activation’’ improved and feature lighting of the podium added.

What the luxe units will look like inside.

But Toowong Residents Group spokeswoman Freya Robertson said Mosaic had bought land in a site zoned for eight levels, yet were arguing for 15 levels without sufficient justification.

“If Council approves this development application in its current form then it will open the flood gates,’’ she said.

“This DA will be a game changer — it will send the message that the City Plan is a worthless document that is not adhered to.

“Our communities are left to live with the sub-optimal outcomes after developers have long gone.

“We need an immediate overhaul of the planning scheme to address these issues.”