Tony Feitelson outlines The Promenade redevelopment at Coffs Creek

It’s a completely different market now than when the project was first conceived. The architects and owner Tony Feitelson outline what’s next, now the bold vision has been approved.

Tony Feitelson relaxing at home with his 'best mate'.

The owner and the architects behind the major redevelopment of The Promenade on Coffs Creek admit the market has changed considerably since the bold plans were first conceived.

Walknorth Architects’ husband-and-wife team Sacha Zehnder and Jaya Param have been working on the project since 2018.

“A good concept like this takes a long time,” Jaya said.

It was approved by Coffs Harbour City councillors at their meeting on October 13 despite being three storeys above height controls in some sections.

The Promenade redevelopment on the Coffs Creek was approved by Coffs Harbour City Council on October 13.

The owner, Tony Feitelson, has commended councillors for their “foresight and strength” in approving the concept, despite one councillor describing it as too aggressive and mayor Paul Amos voting against it.

Tony Feitelson

It took 18 months for the development application to be approved but Mr Feitelson said he was happy to wait.

“I would rather work with the community and council,” he said.

Mr Feitelson said he wanted to “stick to his guns” in relation to the height and that due to the site’s low, sloping topography, the new building will be a similar height to the existing tree line.

“So it won’t impact more than the trees do from a visual standpoint,” he said.

The Promenade redevelopment on the Coffs Creek was approved by Coffs Harbour City Council on October 13.

Mr Feitelson admits the $25.4m figure which has been attached to the build is an outdated estimate in the current economic climate but hopes the vision will not be impacted.

“I would like it to be built pretty much as it has been approved,” he said.

“I love doing projects like this but it has to be viable.”

The Promenade redevelopment on the Coffs Creek was approved by Coffs Harbour City Council on October 13.

The businessman and property developer has a background in architecture and has lived in the region for 15 years.

He emigrated to Australia from South Africa in the late ’80s.

His initial plan was for a luxury hotel on the Coffs Creek site but the more he researched this the less feasible it appeared to be with what he describes as a relatively short holiday season in Australia, and Coffs being some distance from the major cities of Sydney and Brisbane.

Now the mix of retail and office space with 39 residential apartments on the upper levels has been approved, Mr Feitelson says things are “moving fast”.

The design incorporates three separate towers with architects describing the apartments as tree houses.

“The next step is to speak with builders to review prices and then we will start to prepare a marketing package for pre-sale,” Mr Feitelson said.

He hopes the marketing process will begin in March or April next year with construction to start by the end of the year.