Gold Coast development: Azzura Group to fast-track 108-storey Imperial Square supertower
New plans for a unique ‘twister’ tower have been unveiled as part of the massive $2.3 billion Imperial Square development. SEE THE PICTURES
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PLANS for a spectacular 54-level ‘twister’ tower have been unveiled as part of the $2.3 billion Imperial Square project.
Construction of the development, which will include the southern hemisphere’s tallest tower, will be accelerated on the back of strong sales, with Azzura Group boss Robert Badalotti vowing to begin building the $155 million first stage in the first half of 2021. Its centrepiece, a 108-storey supertower, will follow sooner than expected.
“We have redesigned our masterplan and have eliminated one tower and brought forward the tall tower to stage two,” Mr Badalotti said.
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“Stage two is on the plan to be released in the third part of this year and we think we will be sold out on stage one in the next six to eight weeks.
“We have redesigned the third tower which is a twister. There are only two others like it in the world — one in Dubai and one in Vancouver.
“We have invested millions of dollars to achieve these things, we’re not pretending, I’ve built on every site I’ve owned.”
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The mega development, planned for the corner of Meron Street and Ferry Road, was previously expected to have four towers, but it has been scaled back to three. They are:
● The Regal Residences, an 18-storey residential and hotel project that will be the first stage of the build and includes 145 units and 200 hotel suites.
● Monarch Place: a 54-level “twister” tower that will front the Ferry Rd side of the site.
● The Imperial Tower, an 108-level building that will become Australia’s tallest building, beating out Surfers Paradise’s Q1.
Architect Kris Kowalski has worked on the project for five years and said the redesign of Imperial Square came after much research.
“When you have an 108-storey tower the lower levels will have commercial and medical facilities so the residences will be starting higher up with great views and vistas,” he said.
“We were thinking that three towers is a good separation of residential, commercial and hotel — you create far more outdoor space.
“It means more distance between the towers, more privacy and more natural light. Having the two major towers is a far greater urban outcome.
“The majesty of a 108-storey tower speaks for itself.”
More than 53 apartments, with a total value of $22.5 million, were sold in the Regal tower over the festive season. Another 15 units were reserved for prospective buyers, bringing its sales to near 50 per cent.
“We have experienced a solid pace of inquiries for apartments in this debut offering at Imperial Square since January,” Azzura sales director Jason Paris said
“Local buyers have included a mix of first-home buyers and downsizers, all looking for the lifestyle this central location has to offer.”
Interstate buyers account for about half of the sales, which have been struck at an average price of $425,000.
Southport ‘could be our Silicon Valley’
A developer planning to build the southern hemisphere’s tallest tower in Southport says he is tired of those without “skin in the game” rubbishing the CBD, as “it has all the elements to become our Silicon Valley”.
“Southport is close to my heart and anyone who talks badly about it needs to go and dig deeper,” Azzura Group boss Robert Badalotti said.
“I don’t respect people who go out and speak badly of those who work every day, especially if they do not have skin in the game like I do.
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“I have invested all this money in Southport and here are people who give it shit, yet they have no money in the game.
“I am sick and tired of hearing guys talking crap about our town, about Southport, when it has all the elements to become our Silicon Valley.
“Land there is cheap and we are building a community in Southport for the future generations.”
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Mr Badalotti was responding to criticism that Southport had become a “bomb site” because of empty shops, failed investments and developer land banking as part of its Priority Development Area (PDA) status.
The PDA was introduced in 2013 to stimulate development of the CBD by streamlining the application and approvals process for projects.
Mr Badalotti is the developer behind Imperial Square, a giant multi-tower complex with a 108-storey skyscraper at its heart. Construction of its first stage is expected to begin this year.
Mr Badalotti says the private sector cannot do all the heavy lifting and demanded the Gold Coast City Council and State Government put their money where their mouth is in supporting the CBD.
He backed Mayor Tom Tate’s calls for a $300 million “tower of power” in the heart of Southport to house staff from both tiers of government.
“Council and the government need to work together with developers,” he said.
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Mr Badalotti’s support for the CBD echoed area councillor Brooke Patterson who last month said a “tower of power” and legal hub would be critical to the area’s future.
“We do need a Federal Family Court here, as well as a Supreme Court, and state government department,” she told the Bulletin in January.
“There is already enough people who have to go up the M1 to get work when they should be able to be based right here where they live.”
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