High-rise living could bring a vibrant cafe and bar culture to the Hills

HIGH-RISE living in the Hills is not to be feared, but embraced, says renowned social researcher, demographer and local Mark McCrindle.

The small bar and cafe culture, like at Castle Hills’ Crooked Tailor, is going to blossom in the Hills, particularly with the new railway stations coming.

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HIGH-RISE living in the Hills is not to be feared, but embraced, says renowned social researcher and demographer Mark McCrindle who lives and works in the Hills.

He says that the new “densification” of the Hills brought on by Metro Norwest stations, particularly those at Norwest, Bella Vista, Showground Rd and Castle Hill will nurture a cafe culture, attract new business and generate a new energy as the Hills blossoms.

Mark McCrindle is excited for the Hills future.

He said the new “precincts” around the stations will offer a new “walkabout” lifestyle with the prestige apartment living, attracting young, well-educated professionals creating demand for a cafe culture, good food outlets, and the need for creative entertainment options.

“We will get boutique providores, delis and iconic brands that appeal to the creative class of young professionals with high incomes and high education,” he said.

High-rise living, like The Esplanade development coming to Baulkham Hills, will attract a new walkabout lifestyle in the Hills.

It is a transformation that is already occurring; with the number of cafes and small bars surging around the Hills, and plans to turn the old Castle Hill Public School into a new outdoor piazza as part of the Castle Towers redevelopment.

Western Sydneysiders may forgo hopping on a train to visit Surry Hills or Newtown and head to the Hills for its night-life.

Mr McCrindle said the iconic boutique eateries and outlets that attract people to inner-city destinations such as Newtown, Leichardt, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills as well as to areas like Crows Nest and North Sydney would be attracted to the new look Hills.

“These sophisticated consumers will be enough to bring these to the Hills,” he said.

Castle Hill would start to see a slice of the boutique food outlets that make Newtown and Leichardt so vibrant and said the apartment living would be more akin to Crows Nest or Pyrmont rather than Chatswood, Mr McCrindle believed.

“At the moment we are seeing linear growth in the Hills but the increase densification in a structured way when Norwest metro is up and running will be transformative and put the Hills on the map,” he said.

“It will be an exciting time.”

Mr McCrindle believes it will be an exciting time to wine, dine and live in the Hills over the coming decades.

According to his research, eatstreets could start to form with a concentration of good restaurants and eateries with Terminus St in Castle Hill and Lexington Drive in Bella Vista as prime examples.

There are more than 10 restaurants including Thai, Indian, Italian, Vietnamese Chinese and Japanese along Terminus St and more than 10 in the Lexington Drive area.

Four venues creating a buzz on Old Northern Rd, Castle Hill include Youeni Food Store, the newly opened Spidar, Crooked Tailor and The Lane Wine and Tapas Bar nestled between 250 and 270 Old Northern Rd.

Mr McCrindle said new residents will attract employers into area, comparing Bella Vista and Norwest to Macquarie Park.

Norwest Business Park could see more business and jobs.

“The buzz there since the station came on line has been phenomenal,” he said.

“The (Hills) shire won’t lose its character. It will still have its semirural areas and the bushland.

“It is perhaps a little confronting but the transformation will be around the stations.

“It will bring jobs. This has always been an employment hub. Norwest is arguably Australia’s best green business hub.”

Mr McCrindle argued the Hills had 32,000 business and was very different from other area with many small business and service providers.

“Part of the character of the Hills is its entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

He said with the stations and improvements to transport it would make The Hills even more attractive, enhance business opportunities and create demand for an education campus, sporting arena plus new cultural precincts.

CROOKED TAILOR RAISING THE BAR FOR OTHER EATERIES

The Crooked Tailor is filling a niche in the Hills area.

The family-run Pocket Group opened The Crooked Tailor at Castle Hill 12 months ago after operating small bars in NSW’s Sydney CBD, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Terrigal as well as Paris, France.

Co-owner Karl Schlothauer said the response from locals was positive.

“We’ve been open almost a year now and we’re still getting the, ‘we’re so glad you’re finally here’ feedback,” he said.

“It’s obvious the demand is there, all you have to do is go to the bus stop on a Friday or Saturday night and see how many people are coming back from the city.

“It’s just a shame they have to travel 45 minutes on a bus to go have a decent night out.

“I don’t think we’re leading the charge, I think we’re part of a small group of business owners who have recognised the potential out here.

Mr Schlothauer said locals didn’t need to make the long trek to the city to enjoy cocktails.

“Places like Youeni and The Baron have started bringing the cafe culture and now we’re bringing the cocktails.”

He said it was staff from the Hills at the company’s venues who suggested Castle Hill’s potential when the group was looking to open a fifth venue.

“There’s a huge population out here ... the city doesn’t have to be the be all or end all,” he said.

“We’re really excited for when the train opens ... not only will it make it easier for our staff to get to and from work, but it will help open the Hills up to become a night-life destination.”