Henry Parry Drive development site stalled again
IT’S big, deep and ugly and it’s been there as long as anyone can remember. The people who bought off the plan in the last development proposed for this site still don’t know what’s going on.
Central Coast
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IT’S the Gosford eyesore passed by thousands of people on Henry Parry Drive every day.
The giant hole in the ground has stood empty for at least 15 years and possibly for as many as 20.
The 7067sq m site, at 86 John Whiteway Drive, is overgrown with weeds and developer advertising signs hang limp on the fences.
It’s one of the city’s biggest and longest standing failed development opportunities, and the site remains vacant with the latest proposal to build there stalled with no end in sight.
The most recent proposal is by owners Gosford Property Developments which has plans to transform the eyesore into The Waterview development — 91 high-end residential apartments, private swimming pool, fully-equipped gymnasium and full security.
This $50 million proposal was approved by Central Coast Council in May 2016, with an estimated completion date of mid 2017.
Central Coast Select Properties agent Peter Elliott said he was unable to comment on the development at this time, however said he was waiting on information from the developers this week. The developers could not be contacted for comment.
In early 2015, Central Coast Select Properties were spearheading off the plan sales for the highly anticipated development with its elevated views of Brisbane Water.
The apartments ranged in size from 50sq m right up to the 154sq m penthouse.
John Dimond bought a penthouse apartment off the plan in September 2016, and is frustrated with the “consistent delays and lack of communication”. Mr Dimond has since bought a unit nearby.
“When we bought, the development was going to be finished mid 2017 and everyone was confident,” he said.
“I bought a penthouse and my nephew bought one of the lower penthouses. We were buying to live there, whereas a lot of other people were buying it as an investment.”
Last year, the sale signs were removed and the agents announced on their website that they would stop selling until the development was built.
“I’ve been told its finance related,” Mr Dimond said. “However this is strange as they sold 70 per cent of the apartments so they should be in a good spot to borrow.”
“Some of the buyers received an email giving them the opportunity to let them out of the contract due to ongoing delays.”
Mr Dimond started the Facebook page The Waterview Apartments, Gosford as a communication tool for owners.
“It has become a site for people to voice their concerns and frustrations,” he said.
“The developers have invested a lot of money into this, so it would be in their interests to get it done. Two or three times I’ve received positive communication saying we have got finance.
“I believe they genuinely want to build it but keep hitting brick walls.”
Little is known about the history of the site. Longest serving Central Coast Councillor Chris Holstein said he couldn’t recall the history aside from houses on the site when he was a child.
“I remember houses along there, but I’d say it would have been empty for the past 20 years,” he said.
Cr Holstein said he believed the DA had “substantial commencement” and retaining and pre-construction works had been carried out.
“It’s in the hands of the owner of the property,” he said.
Mr Dimond said the initial contract he signed included a sunset clause for December 2018 which enables buyers to get out of a contract and receive their deposit back.
“If it comes to December, I’ll be asking what’s going on,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’ll be happy to hang on. When it finally does get underway, it’s going to be a great home and investment.”
According to CoreLogic RP Data, Gosford Property Developments bought the site for $3.85 million in 2014. The site has had six owners in the past 26 years, with previous owners Brentwood Village Pty Ltd, Evelyn Mavis Martin-Jones, J.W Singleton and S.M Stenner, J.A Ryan and M. G Birtwistle.
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