Developer Jonathan Drew plans to build twin towers with high-end apartments at $20.5m Main Beach site

A developer has spent $20.5 million in the biggest site amalgamation at Main Beach since the heady days of the 1980s.

A DEVELOPER has spent $20.5 million in the biggest site amalgamation at Main Beach since the heady days of the 1980s.

Jonathan Drew, via his Drew Group, is hoping to develop twin towers on the 3925sq m holding on the northern side of Cronin Ave.

The land, put together over nearly two years, is occupied by weary, two-level walk-up unit blocks.

Developer Jonathan Drew spent $20.5 million in the biggest site amalgamation at Main Beach since the heady days of the 1980s. Picture: Supplied.

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Mr Drew in March settled sales in his debut Main Beach project – the sellout Cerulean tower, a 16-level building on a 1012sq m site in Pacific St.

He yesterday said his intention with his new site was to target an under-supplied segment of the Main Beach market by delivering apartments in the $580,000 to $1.7 million bracket.

“We will be fully compliant with planning guidelines – we won’t be trying to push things such as heights – and we will be aiming for a fully masterplanned outcome,” he said.

Jonathan Drew of the Drew Group. Picture: File.

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“There will be major separation between the towers by way of gardens and recreation areas.

“We also intend to address parking congestion problems in Cronin Ave – 85 per cent of our apartments will come with two car spaces.”

Mr Drew said his intention was to deliver buildings in which body corporate fees were $65 a week.

The developer, who has worked in the property industry in London and later developed mid-rise buildings in Brisbane, is six months away from completing a sellout Palm Beach tower, The Village.

The amalgamation of 11-23 Cronin Ave started in late 2019.

Jonathan Drew, via his Drew Group, is hoping to develop twin towers on the 3925sq m holding on the northern side of Cronin Ave. Picture: Scott Powick.

Roland Evans, the head of Canford Estate Agents, yesterday said the initial aim was to acquire three properties.

“We lifted our sights and, despite frustrating moments, ended up with a far bigger site.

“It was a daunting task to get 27 owners to agree but we got there.”

During the 1980s sites of up to 8000sq m and taking in whole city blocks were put together, some of them bought by Japanese groups which retreated and sold them when their country’s economic bubble burst.

The sites were picked up by the likes of Mirvac and Harry Triguboff.

Today they are occupied by buildings such as the twin Liberty towers, Oscar on Main, Ocean Sands, and the Xanadu towers.