Toowoomba CBD residential, commercial projects in works, including Heritage Bank, Pigott’s, Bernoth parking tower, skyhouses

They’re the projects that will change what residents see when they look up. The Chronicle can now reveal the status of six major developments being built that will alter the CBD skyline.

Here are six projects changing Toowoomba's skyline.

Six key inner-city housing and commercial projects will reshape Toowoomba’s skyline over the next five years — and one is already being built.

With construction starting on Barry and Mitchell Bernoth’s new development on Mylne Street, The Chronicle has the latest on where these major projects are shaping up.

Hutchinson Builders site manager Damian Mills (left) and Sean Lees, team leader. Bernoth development in Mylne Street. Picture: Nev Madsen.

1. MYLNE STREET APARTMENT BLOCK

Local developers Barry and Mitchell Bernoth have broken ground at the site of their new $5m 12-unit apartment block on Mylne Street, less than 50m from Grand Central Shopping Centre.

Hutchinson Builders is completing the construction, with the 15m project to be finished by early next year.

PLANNED: Barry and Mitchell Bernoth have been approved for a 40m residential, commercial and parking tower on Neil and Bell Streets in the Toowoomba CBD.

2. PARKING AND RESIDENTIAL TOWER

The Bernoths received approval late last year for a massive 11-storey parking, hospitality and residential tower on the corner of Bell and Neil Streets.

The 40m project, which would be the tallest building in Toowoomba if built, features 24 units, 258 parking spots plus shopping and cafe areas on the ground floor.

But the project has headed back to council after the applicants submitted issues with a requirement to reconstruct the existing pedestrian footpath along Bell Street.

Infrastructure charges worth more than $534,000 were imposed, but there are incentives schemes that could apply to the project and it is understood the Bernoths are looking into them.

An artist impression of the Bowery Residences apartment complex.

3. THE BOWERY RESIDENCES

The 15-unit, 21m apartment block on the corner of Royal and Snell Streets in Toowoomba has been in the works for several years.

First planned by developer Broc Winten five years ago, the project was approved by the council in 2018 and has laid dormant since.

Mr Winten told The Chronicle last week he still intended to build it, saying the market was ready for inner-city living.

“I’m just trying to find a joint-venture partner, but the market is screaming out for it,” he said.

“I’m not really concerned about the market, there’s a demand for a good product.”

SOLD: The heritage-listed Pigott’s Building in the Toowoomba CBD has been sold to an interstate developer, which plans to invest tens of millions into the property.

4. PIGOTT’S BUILDING

The heritage-listed property on Ruthven Street was sold by Queensland billionaire John Van Lieshout last year for a cool $6.6m to a Melbourne-based consortium.

It is understood the new owners will convert the building, which had been Toowoomba’s Super Amart location for many years, into a hotel or short-term accommodation.

So far there has been no update from the buyers about when plans will be submitted.

5. HERITAGE HEADQUARTERS

Easily one of Toowoomba’s tallest buildings, the Heritage headquarters on Ruthven Street will eventually have a new use once the major mutual bank exits the 25m property by 2025.

A Heritage spokesman said the Toowoomba-based lender had not made any decision on the future of its old home.

Massive mutual company Australian Unity has been charged with finding a new location for Heritage’s next headquarters and is understood to have narrowed down the options.

Plans and drawings for the Toowoomba Skyhouses Project at Mylne St, Toowoomba City.

6. SKYHOUSES PROJECT

One of the most ambitious projects recently conceived for the CBD, the “skyhouse” development on Mylne Street was approved by the council last year.

It includes two linked six-storey glass towers each containing four “skyhouse” apartments, with views overlooking the city.

The plan also features four two-storey townhouses with open-air roof gardens fronting Baty Lane, along with a retail shop on Mylne Street.

Burke Enterprises is understood to be preparing an application for an infrastructure charges waiver based on existing incentive schemes.