Gold Coast development: Awaken Residences approved to replace Coolangatta’s Cafe DBar
The operators of Cafe DBar have signed a deal to revive their popular eatery in the new luxury tower taking its place at Point Danger. SEE THE FULL REPORT
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THE operators of Cafe DBar have signed a deal to revive their popular eatery in the new luxury tower taking its place at Point Danger.
Cafe DBar will reopen in developer Paul Gedoun’s 12-storey Awaken Residences on Boundary Street. Construction will begin later this year once the existing building is demolished.
The new-look Cafe DBar restaurant will take out the first level of the building. It will have an expanded seating capacity and view of the ocean.
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Cafe owner Donna Archdeacon has operated the business for 14 years and said she was pleased to reach a deal.
“We are delighted to be to be expanding our businesses, which is something we have wanted to do for a while, offering both a beach style cafe and an elegant restaurant in a building that we envisage is going to be something very special for the Gold Coast,” she said.
“We are planning for that beach atmosphere downstairs with upstairs a more elegant, timeless and cosmopolitan theme dining experience with a larger patron capacity that will also offer options for private parties and small gatherings.
“The developer has offered us that view on the first floor and we’re excited to retain that for the public. I feel very grateful for being able to give the public back that space.
“Over the years the cafe has become a bit worn out, so we’re excited for concrete floors and lots of natural beauty to bring the outside in for more of a seamless style of dining.”
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Mrs Archdeacon said the restaurant would adopt a “cosmopolitan New York-style” of dining for both lunch and dinner drawing on local ingredients.
The Gold Coast City Council has the new development a green light in April, with Mr Gedoun fast-tracking construction.
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The famous Point Danger cafe site was bought in 2020 by Mr Gedoun’s S & S Projects for $8m.
The project, approved by council under delegation, will have 10 units, including a four-bedroom, two-level penthouse. The remainder will have three bedrooms.
It will also have the Gold Coast’s largest artwork – an 11-storey tall, 200sq m painting that will stretch along the length of the tower.
However, locals opposed to the development have held a rally and called on Deputy Premier Steven Miles to overrule council’s planning decision by using his rare call-in powers to halt the project.
Community activists argue the development is not in line with the neighbourhood’s character.
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COOLANGATTA’S famous Cafe DBar will be demolished this year after council gave the green light to a 12-storey luxury tower on the Point Danger site.
The Awaken Residences project will be fast-tracked by Brisbane-based developer Paul Gedoun’s S & S Projects on the back of the city’s booming real estate market.
Mr Gedoun’s $74m Flow Residences on a neighbouring Rainbow Bay site sold out in late 2020 and the developer said he wanted to get his latest project onto the market quickly.
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“We believe this is one of the best and most spectacular development sites, not only on the Gold Coast but on the eastern seaboard, and we are looking to create something extra special,” he said.
“Our last development was well oversubscribed with buyers and no doubt a lot of those people who missed out will be looking to secure a place in Awaken Residences.
“We are looking to bring some of the same elements that attracted so many buyers to Flow Residences into this new project, all with an eye on relaxed coastal living which is what the southern Gold Coast beaches are all about.”
While the existing Cafe DBar building will be demolished to make way for the new tower,
Mr Gedoun said it would not mean the business itself would end.
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He said discussions were underway with its operators to “continue their legacy” in the new tower.
The famous Point Danger cafe site was bought in 2020 by S & S Projects for $8m.
The project, approved by council under delegation, will have just 10 units, including a four-bedroom, two-level penthouse.
The remainder will have three bedrooms.
It will also have the Gold Coast’s largest artwork – an 11-storey tall, 200sq m painting that will stretch along the length of the tower.
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The project has attracted criticism from community activists who say the development is not in line with the neighbourhood’s character.
Nicolle Archer, who has played a key role in attempts to preserve the old Burleigh Arcade, said she had concerns about the project’s impact on the area.
“(My) concerns relate to the impact and assessment of the proposed development on local character and amenity, as well as impacts on the heritage-listed Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse,” she said.
“I question whether the proposed development complies with the requirements and intent of the Neighbourhood Centre Zone Code.
“Urbis’ Building Height Study: Volume 2 completed for council in 2017 outlined that natural features, in particular the city’s headlands, should be maintained while high-rises were identified as potentially impacting the amenity and landscape character of headlands.”
RESIDENTS FURIOUS AT REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
RESIDENTS and workers are upset with plans to demolish a southern cafe.
Cafe Dbar will be turned into a multimillion-dollar, 12-storey tower.
The community and tourist favourite cafe was bought for $8m by developer Paul Gedoun.
He said it was a prime location for new apartments but locals and visitors say otherwise.
Mudgeeraba resident David Thomasson said he and his wife visited the cafe often.
“They can build them down the hill where the rest of the apartments are, but not on the point,” Mr Thomasson said.
A supervisor at the cafe who did not want to be named said she was upset with the decision.
“We are sad, our jobs are going,” she said.
Resident Malisa Howard said the decision was predictable.
“The high-rises and apartments aren't going to mean anything in a couple of years,” she said. “All these amazing cultural spots are getting demolished.
“I have a lot of friends that live in the area, they are so frustrated.”
Father and son George and Vince Johnson, from Banora, said there was no need for more apartment buildings.
“Its money driven,” Vince said. George added: “We go to lots of cafes but we have come here a few times, it’s a good place to go.”
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