Chatswood towers: Victoria Avenue, Victor Street skyscraper plans
News plans have been revealed for two mega skyscrapers in Chatswood with more than 500 units on prominent sites in the CBD.
North Shore
Don't miss out on the headlines from North Shore. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Chatswood skyline is set to reach new heights under plans for the suburb’s two tallest skyscrapers.
Separate planning proposals have been lodged for more than 500 units on prominent sites in the CBD that would stand just shy of the suburb’s current tallest building – the Metro Grand next to Chatswood Station.
The proposals includes a 48 storey building on the former Australia Post site at 45 Victor Street and 410-416 Victoria Avenue, and a 50 storey building at 338-340 Victoria Ave.
The $200 million Victor St proposal by developer giant Mirvac would stand 167.5m tall and have 310 units along with office/commercial space on the lower floors.
The Victoria Ave development by Alton Property Group would meanwhile have a seven-storey podium featuring shops, offices and a hotel below 43 storeys of units containing 260 apartments.
With both projects in their early stages the developers have offered limited images - particularly vision which shows the height of buildings in comparison to the rest of the suburb.
Both projects have hit opposition from Willoughby Council due to concerns the developments were inconsistent with zoning laws that aim to create jobs – rather than more units – in the town centre.
A council report said plans for both projects “departed” from the current planning controls which prohibits any type of residential use on the site apart from shop top housing.
They were also inconsistent with the Chatswood CBD Planning and Urban Design Strategy 2036 which identified both sites for commercial land use.
“Council officers have encouraged, and continue to encourage, planning proposals that are consistent with the CBD Strategy,” the report stated.
Mirvac, in plans to the council, said the Victor St tower would include office space on lower floors and the amount included was “generous” given the downturn in commercial land valuation.
In its plans, the company said Sydney was heading into a period that will support significantly less office-based development due to factors including softer population growth, offshoring and lower growth in white collar employment.
Similar comments were lodged by Alton Property Group which also argued the development of units would also help meet the council’s targets for 6700 new homes in the local government area by 2036.
Willoughby Council has recommended not supporting both projects as part of the Department of Planning gateway determination process. Mirvac has lodged a rezoning review which is under assessment by the Department of Planning
Mirvac Development Director Adrian Checchin said the project would create 600 jobs during construction and more than 1500 new jobs once completed.
“Unfortunately, stand-alone office accommodation of scale in Chatswood is unviable, and mixed uses are required to subsidise office uses,” he said in a statement.
“We have pushed to provide the maximum amount of commercial office space that we believe
is viable based on the DPIE-endorsed mixed use approach.”
Dramatic arrest when car crashes after alleged police chase
A man has been hit with a string of charges after allegedly taking police on a chase in a stolen Mercedes before it was involved in a crash on the northern beaches.
Inquest call 50 years after mystery disappearance of Sydney woman
A tormented family is calling for an inquest into the mystery disappearance of a young Sydney woman 50 years ago — they believe she may have been murdered.