Manly Marlins: Property developer chips in to help rugby club

A proposed $30m apartment block is planned for one of Manly’s busiest intersections, as its developer chips in to help a much-loved nearby local institution.

An artist's impression of the proposed $30 million shop-top apartment complex, looking from the corer of Whistler and Raglan streets in Manly. Picture: SJB Architects

A property developer, with plans to build a $30 million “shop top” apartment complex in the heart of Manly, has reached into its pockets to assist a much-loved local institution.

Time & Place, a development company with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, has paid for and arranged the refurbishment of the Manly “Marlins” Rugby Club clubhouse.

The firm describes itself as a “community-centric” developer with a policy of supporting grassroots organisations and community groups located in the neighbourhoods it develops in.

Its NSW director, Evan Papadopoulos, who moved to Manly from Melbourne seven years ago, said the assistance given to the Marlins — currently in sixth place in Sydney Rugby Union’s Shute Shield — was an example of the company’s commitment to engage with local communities.

An artist's impression of a proposed $30 million shop-top apartment complex in Belgrave St, Manly.

Improvements to the clubhouse, in the pavilion above Manly Oval, included new timber flooring and fresh coats of paint. The work was done by contractors arranged for, and paid by, Time & Place.

“I’m a born and bred Victorian but when we moved to Manly I thought this is an mazing place to live. It’s a great community, you get to meet people, speak to people,” Mr Papadopoulos said.

An artist's impression of a proposed $30 million shop-top apartment complex in Belgrave St, Manly.

The corner of Belgrave and Raglan streets, Manly, on Tuesday, the site of a proposed 5-storey shop-top apartment development.

“I bumped into the Marlins’ president, Matthew Curll on the Manly ferry on the way to work one morning, and we got chatting.

“Manly Rugby Club (formed in 1883) is one of the oldest and most respected clubs not only on the northern beaches, but in greater Sydney.

“At Time & Place we don’t just create buildings, we create and invest in communities.

“Through this new fit-out … we hope to preserve Manly’s unique local spirit and provide on-the-ground support to the deep-rooted community groups that make up Manly’s distinctive charm and character”.

An artist's impression of a proposed $30 million shop-top apartment complex in Belgrave St, Manly.

The location, on Belgrave St, Manly, on Tuesday, of the proposed new apartment complex. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Mr Curll said the developer’s efforts to “preserve and enrich our local heritage is incredibly kind and deeply appreciated by all members who consider this club home and an extension of their family”.

Mr Papadopoulos said the proposed apartment building, to be built on the corner of Belgrave, Whistler and Raglan streets, was at one of the “gateways into Manly”.

Development company Time & Place, which has applied to build a $30 million shop-top apartment complex in Belgrave St, Manly, has paid for the refurbishment of the Manly Rugby Club clubhouse. Picture: Supplied

He said Time & Place had been in negotiations with Northern Beaches Council on some design and height issues contained in the original DA for the 5-storey building with 24 apartments, basement parking and five or six shops at ground level.

Development company Time & Place, organised new wood flooring for the Manly Rugby Club clubhouse.

“We’re still in discussion phase … but we are hoping for a DA this side of the financial year and be down there by the end of this year.”

Mr Papadopoulos said he was already in discussions with retailers about leasing space in the development.

We don’t want another burger place, ice cream shop or a tobacconist, nothing against them, but there are a lot of them in Manly.

“And Whistler St is turning out to be a very cool street with its cafes and wine bars.”