Twin towers plan prompts calls for entertainment precinct plan in Mitchell St

An industry group has called for an entertainment precinct plan in Mitchell St as a Darwin developer announces high rise plans for the old Hog’s Breath Cafe site. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DEVELOPMENT of CBD precinct plans could help grow economic activity and put an end to dead zones in city centres.

Property Council NT executive director Ruth Palmer said planning must be done around re-inventing vacancy pockets in Darwin’s CBD through the implementation of precinct plans.

She said areas such as Darwin’s Mitchell St would beneift from precinct planning.

A number of empty buildings and vacant blocks along the street could be enhanced by precinct plans.

Ms Palmer’s comments come as a developer outlined an almost $50m plan to build two ‘skinny’, 26 and 27-storey towers at the old Hog’s Breath site at 85 Mitchell St.

She said an entertainment precinct would provide an economic boost for Darwin.

“That part of the CBD could support an Entertainment Precinct Plan. We have heard a lot of discussion with Mitchell Street and how to revitalize it and manage that entertainment precinct.

An artist’s impression of the two proposed ‘skinny’ towers on the old Hog’s Breath Cafe site on Mitchell St. Picture: Supplied

“While we cannot comment on specific individual private projects, we believe that a thriving night-time entertainment precinct is critical for economic activity, position growth and retention. An entertainment precinct plan is desperately needed and is the first step in creating a consensus vision for the area.

“Ideas and plans drawn for the Darwin City Centre Masterplan outlined an Entertainment Precinct Plan within the CBD however detailed further work was not progressed by either the NT government or City of Darwin to advance this concept.

“Considering the Civic and State Square and the Education and Community Precinct already underway, it can be concluded that an EMP is the missing piece for revitalising Darwin city.”

Meanwhile, plans to develop two ‘skinny’ towers on Mitchell St reflect increased confidence in the Territory economy.

Darwin-based developer Lloyd Nair lodged an application with the Development Consent Authority earlier this month to build two ‘skinny’ towers at the old Hog’s Breath site at 85 Mitchell St.

The 26 and 27 storey towers would include residential and serviced apartments, a food premises and bar and, if given the planning green light, could breathe new life into the Central Business District.

The planning submission states there are a number of idle assets in the vicinity of the project including the disused China Town site, the old cinema complex and the old Health House building.

Mr Nair declined to comment when contacted.

Two previous attempts to develop at the old Hog’s Breath site have drawn blanks.

In 2014, a 23-storey residential and hotel complex was proposed and in 2016 a submission was lodged to build a 16-storey tower.

Darwin town planners Cunnington Rosse and architects Rossi Architects prepared the development submission on behalf of Mr Nair.

Cunnington Rosse principal Brad Cunnington said a different economic environment was currently in play.

“There is quite a different environment in terms of demand for residential development than there was back then,” he said.

“The skinny towers are a result of constraints around the block itself but from a development point of view there is renewed interest around medium and large scale development in the CBD.

There are no height limits within the planning regulations within the CBD but the Australian Defence Force imposes caps to ensure its activities are not obstructed.

NT Property Council chief executive Ashwin De Silva said apartment developments could boost cities.

“Apartments in the CBD are always good because of the infrastructure which is required and the commercial setting will enable particularly younger professionals to come and own those apartments,” he said.

“Commuting is easier, accessibility is easier. I think it’s a good thing in regard to developments across the CBD.”

DARWIN’S TWIN TOWERS PLAN

INITIAL: A DARWIN developer wants to build two multi-level ‘skinny’ towers on the old Hog’s Breath Cafe site on Mitchell St.

Developer Lloyd Nair has engaged town planners Cunnington Rosse to develop the two-stage residential and hotel towers project at the 85 Mitchell St site.

Consisting of residential dwellings, serviced apartments, food premises and a bar, the development submission says the towers will include a first-stage 26-storey residential building with 875sq m of public space, a restaurant with alfresco ground-floor dining, landscaped paved pathways, lawn and a kids’ play area.

An artist’s impression of the two proposed ‘skinny’ towers on the old Hog’s Breath Cafe site on Mitchell St. Picture: Supplied

A common area and gym, landscaped outdoor barbecue area and pool are planned for the first-stage level six and eight one-bedroom dwellings on levels five and six, 76 two-bedroom units on levels seven to 25 and two three-bedroom units on level 26.

Vehicle access will be via a shared access agreement with a neighbouring property, there will be 68 secure bicycle parking spaces at the rear of the development, five additional spaces at the front and 109-bay above-ground carparking at levels one to five.

Stage two involves the development of a mixed-use building at the front of the site, 108 one-bedroom studio serviced apartments on levels eight to 25, a bar with outdoor deck area and a level-27 rooftop deck.

The submission says stage two is intended for use as short-term visitor accommodation “more akin to hotel rooms than apartments”, including a kitchenette but no laundry.

It says the proposed stage one residential tower is located at the rear of the site to provide separation for permanent residents from Mitchell St bustle and noise.

The submission responds to and “encourages pleasant microclimates, including through breeze capture and shading”.

A map of Darwin CBD showing the proposed location of the new towers in red. Picture: Supplied

It says landscaping on levels six and seven will create pleasant communal open spaces and the two ‘skinny’ towers will promote “breeze penetration” through the site.

“Artificial vertical landscaping and feature screening have also been incorporated in the design to ensure the building is attractive and complements the surrounding development.”

It isn’t the first time the old Hog’s Breath site has been put up for development.

In 2014, a 23-storey residential and hotel block was proposed and in 2016 a 16-storey tower was proposed.

In October 2019, approval was granted for two vans and an alfresco dining area.

Darwin’s next Development Consent Authority meeting is scheduled for Friday.