Brookvale Vinnies closing to make way for major new development

THE largest charity shop on the northern beaches, opposite Warringah Mall, is selling up and its land is expected to be developed into shops and apartments.

VINNIES at Brookvale is for sale and is expected to be ­demolished to make way for three storeys of shop-top ­development.

The Catholic charity shop on Pittwater Rd, opposite Warringah Mall, has been the church’s regional hub for second-hand clothes and household goods for decades.

Vinnies at Brookvale is the largest charity shop on the northern beaches and open every day.

The 2662sq m site beside the Brookvale bus depot is being offered with vacant possession with expressions of interest closing on Wednesday, November 18.

Agent Henry Burke, of Colliers, said the land’s zoning allows for shops on the ground floor and two storeys of apartments on top.

“The zoning suggests strong mixed-use development potential,” he said.

St Vincent de Paul’s charity shop in Brookvale covers a large site with two-street access.

Five years ago the church applied to build 57 affordable units on the large level site that also has access to ­Orchard Rd. The owners had wanted to have a charity shop, regional office and warehouse on the ground floor and three storeys of ­affordable units above, which could be rented to people in need.

However, Warringah Council at the time knocked back the application, as did the Joint ­Regional Planning Panel saying the site was ­unsuitable for residential apartments.

Warringah Council’s principal planner Phil Jemison said there have been so many ad hoc new developments in Brookvale, Council was keen to create a structure plan for the suburb.

“We need a strategic framework considering traffic generation and still ­retaining Brookvale’s ­employ­ment role,” he said.

Commercial real estate agent Michael Burgio, of Novak, said if the Vinnies site was allowed to be developed into housing it would set a precedent for that side of the road.
“The western side of the road has seen some development,” he said. “But this would be the first on the eastern side ... and it would set up a chain reaction.”

Seventy new shops are going into Warringah Mall and Brookvale is undergoing major change.

Brookvale in undergoing huge change at the moment. There is a multi-million dollar expansion being carried out at Warringah Mall, units are being built on the former carpark of Brookvale Hotel and numerous new apartment blocks are going up in nearby Roger St.