Pyrmont earmarked as Sydney’s second CBD by Urban Taskforce

PYRMONT would become Sydney’s sister CBD under a plan to transform the peninsula into a high-rise Manhattan-style paradise. Developer advocate Urban Taskforce has a high density vision.

Urban Taskforce chief Chris Johnson, at his new Walsh Bay apartment. Picture: Hollie Adams

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WELCOME to Pyrmon-hattan.

Pyrmont could become Sydney’s sister CBD under a bold new plan to transform the peninsula into a high-rise paradise and address the floorspace squeeze facing the inner city.

Under a vision outlined by developer advocate Urban Taskforce, the harbourside suburb would become a supporting or secondary CBD. It would be home to buildings of up to 30 storeys, and would become a link to both Darling Harbour and Broadway and open up the western edge of the city.

Chris Johnson, CEO of Urban Taskforce, said by filling the space along the strip “an exciting tower cluster could add a new dimension to Sydney.”

“It’s not rocket science, we should connect all of these tall buildings along the ridge line,” he said.

“It’s not too hard to connect them back to the tower at UTS but also across the road at Broadway to the Central Park development.

“What Sydney could then become is two peninsulas with tall buildings — one being the current CBD and the other being the Pyrmont CBD.”

A digitally altered pictured of Pyrmont with the Manhattan skyline imposed behind it as viewed from the CBD. Original picture: John Appleyard

The harbourside suburb, an enclave of tech and media companies, is currently populated by “dumpy” eight or nine storey buildings, a far cry from the “tall elegant” development Mr Johnson would like to see — and which the construction of the new Star Casino’s Astral Tower represents.

The tower, a $500 million, 60-storey development, sets the precedent for a high-rise urban landscape which would create desperately needed property for a city at capacity.

The City of Sydney’s Central Sydney Planning Strategy, released in July this year, revealed the CBD is running out room for residential and commercial property — fast.

In a move to ensure Sydney retains its global city status, the report determined a restriction on residential use to accommodate employment needs; indicating that Sydneysiders could be soon find it hard to live near their work.

A $500 million Ritz Carlton Hotel at The Star will be built, possibly to this design by FJMT. Supplied: The Star

“The signals coming is that we’re running out of space of commercial floorspace in the CBD — but we still have lot of people wanting to live closer and walk to work,” Mr Johnson said.

The sister CBD would act as a “safety valve for the CBD itself, where if it gets too full it’s the ideal place to spread to.”

The light rail running through Pyrmont would provide adequate transport access — but an extension of the Sydney Metro project to include a stop in the area should be considered, Mr Johnson said.

High rise schools and rooftop gardens should also be considered, changing the dynamic of the urban landscape.

The sweeping vision could also include more high-rise development in the Bays Precinct and where the Sydney Fish Markets currently lie, across to Glebe Island and the White Bay power station.

“It’s heading in that direction, someone just needs to pull the threads together,” Mr Johnson said.

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