Double Bay Plaza plans for Cross St by Rose family Tri-Anta group revealed
This glamorous proposal for the heart of the blue ribbon east far exceeds the council height limits. But developers say controls have effectively been abandoned with three other similarly sized projects getting the green light. SEE THE PLANS.
Wentworth Courier
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Owners of the Double Bay Plaza site believe their high end $40 million six storey development should get the green light despite busting the height limit as controls have essentially been “abandoned” in the area.
The site, which backs onto the InterContinental, is owned by the six children of Greek migrants Stephen and Stella Rose who have formed the company known as Tri-Anta Pty Ltd.
They put it on the market in late 2018 with a $90 million price tag. It didn’t sell and so they embarked a no expense spared development proposal which has recently been lodged with Woollahra Council.
It includes four ground floor retail spaces, 18 apartments and a public piazza.
The proposed development has a maximum height of 23.5m which well exceeds the allowed 14.7m.
However, it follows on the heels of three other six storey projects approved on Cross St.
A six storey development at 16-18 Cross St is already completed.
SJD, the developer behind the other two Cross St projects, has started construction at numbers 20-26 and had their second win in the Land and Environment Court last month for the project at 28-34 Cross St after council appealed the original LEC approval and lost.
Woolahra council confirmed there were no immediate intentions to alter the Development Control Plan in Double Bay.
“There is a broad mix of two, three, four, five and six storey developments in Double Bay. Council has made no decision to raise building heights beyond the current planning controls,” a council spokesman said.
Brad Caldwell-Eyles, managing director of 1st City Real Estate Group, is working with Tri-Anta on the planning of the project.
“Council is I think very committed to making sure controls are maintained but plainly Double Bay village has seen six storeys become the norm,” Mr Caldwell-Eyles said.
“The LEC said council had essentially abandoned controls.”
While the site still officially remains on the market, the owners have not ruled out proceeding with the development themselves.
Mr Caldwell-Eyles said after investing “heavily” in the proposal by employing top tier consultants including architect Luigi Rosselli, the family had grown even more attached to the site.
“This is the stand out site and project for Double Bay,” Mr Calwell Eyles said.
“It’s on the corner of arguably Double Bay’s prettiest street and the top levels will have harbour views.
“They were happy to sell it unconditionally if someone wanted to buy it raw, but every step, every dollar invested bringing the DA together was a step closer to their own commitment for the project.”
The proposal opens up views of the heritage listed cottages on Transvaal Ave to the rear of the site and will host a public art installation in the piazza.