Gold Coast development: Developer behind controversial Palm Beach down reveals hits back at critics

The developer behind the Gold Coast’s most controversial tower has hit back at critics of its design and revealed the truth about the project.

THE developer behind the Gold Coast’s most controversial tower has hit back at critics such as Mayor Tom Tate who say the building is ugly and a blight on the community.

Synergy Properties director David Calvisi said his Pacific Palm Beach project on 23rd Avenue was designed by a renowned architect and would protect “the privacy of residents” ahead of an “imminent development boom”.

He said the building’s “harsh” western facade which faces the Gold Coast Highway would not jar as much once surrounded by new development.

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“I acknowledge the building’s western facade currently can appear a little harsh from the Gold Coast Highway, but once more sites are developed it will not appear so,” the Brisbane-based developer said of the nine-storey project.

“The design is also future-proofing the building and the privacy of residents for an imminent development boom.

“The current Town Planning Scheme allows nine to-10 storey buildings to be built around Pacific’s site with minimal setback and this means the only view aspect that can never be built out is that of the eastern oceanfront.

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Critics have slammed the tower’s design.

“It is why the building is ‘closed up’ to the rear and ‘opened up’ to the front – closing the western facade is future proofing the design so residents are not looking directly into other living rooms or bedrooms.”

The tower’s units have all sold out already.

Cr Tate criticised the project at a press conference last week, saying it should have been designed by an architect rather than an engineer.

“I just had a quick look at the building and it appears like it was designed by an engineer,” he said.

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Even Mayor Tom Tate has had a shot at its design.

“I would say please use an architect next time. The pride of the city is out there and even though you comply with the codes and all that, it would help your product in the locals.

“It fell short on that.”

But Mr Calvisi hit back and said the tower was the creation of an experienced and award-winning architect, Plus Architecture.

He said it was designed to fit in with the area as a more developed suburb in the coming years.

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The tower’s units have already sold out.

“In 2018/2019 more than 10 cranes could be counted in Palm Beach due to a fairly recent change in the planning scheme,” he said.

“While Pacific leads the suburb’s development revolution it was designed beyond the current landscape to be a comfortable, sophisticated and private spaces for its residents well into the future.”

Palm Beach has been at the epicentre of debate over the City Plan amendments in recent months.

Critics of the suburb’s development boom won a small victory last week when council announced it would have height limits and scale back density of future buildings.