I think its time for a run down on the current bunch of towers under way in Parramatta. I wondered around Parramatta the other day and here are my observations ......

The prime area of activity is Hassall Street. It is fast become a "canyon" with the number of towers under construction. There are still many cranes on the skyline ......

Meriton's Fiori - The twin towers are almost complete and actually look great. The shorter tower was completed a few weeks ago and is 18 stories in height. The second 22 storey tower is nearly complete with construction currently @ level 19.

14 Hassall St - I don't think we have mentioned this tower before on the forum. This one seemed to have snuck in unnoticed! It is a residential tower that is opposite the Fiori towers. Fast construction has currently taken it to Level 16 and there is more levels to come. I think the lower few levels are commercial. Its maximum height may be around 18 stories and looks to be a nice design on the cnr of Charles St. It sits directly behind the New Police HQs. This tower is being constructed by Elma Constructions!

NSW Police HQs - Both buildings have topped out. The tallest is @ around level 18 from what I could gather. The most impressive view of this tower is certainly not from the station, but from the other side on the cnr of Little & Charles Sts. Here you get the best view of its wide campus style look. It is here that you can observe how the 2 buildings are connected by a central core. The cops will probably be moving in over the next few months

Exetor Manor (76-78 Macquarie St) - Work is under way on Parramattas latest commercial tower after the Police HQs. The 12 level tower being built by Investa will be the latest tower in Parramatta. Scaffolding has been errected around the Art-Deco Exetor Manor which has been saved from demolition and will be included as part of the development. The site office is up and excavation is set to start.

25 Hassall St - Back to Hassall St where the site has been cleared for a new building. I have attempted to find out whats being built but the council wasn't much help. The site is large and it looks to be a big development. The developer is Skyton, but more research is needed.

101 George St - 10 level tower has halted, I guess they are seeking a pre-commitment before they begin. This site is being built by Leightons.

Skyline 2 - The smaller brother of the recently completed 18 level Skyline tower is complete. It is only around 8 levels. This is towards the end of Hassal St.

Meritons latest tower is under construction on the cnr of George & Charles Sts. Excavation has started after many months of archealogical diggings that revealed the buried cellars of a number of former colonial buildings and many other colonial artifacts. I think this tower is around 12+ levels but is a very wide building.

Nth Parramatta - a large site cleared and work about to resume, The council was hopeless in telling me what was being built. The girl @ the council told me the latest DA was for a coffee shop! I don't think so! The cleared site is a whole block!!!! The location is the cnr of Church & Palmer Sts.

In the pipeline ........

Civic Sq - In final planning stages with work anticipated in the next several months, a number of towers and the HQ for Sydney Water expected to be complete by 2004-05. Major Urban renewal is set to start in Parramatta

Legal Precinct - In final planning stages, new courts and residential towers.

Transport interchange - Yet to begin, underground bus station and new platforms for the new Parramatta - Chatswood rail line. Includes a 20 storey commercial tower.

9 Hassall St - Planned 17 storey residential tower to begin @ year end

1 Hassal Street - Planned 10 storey commercial tower to start possibly at years end.

Old Fire Station - Parramatta's tallest - no updates, site was sold last year with an approved DA for a 30+ storey residential tower opposite Westfields on Church St

Anyway the biggest news is that the NSW government is looking for 95,000 sqm of commercial space over the next 5 years as more departmenst are being centralised in Parramatta, that is a huge demand for buildings. I think things will really hot up towards the end of this year in Parramatta! ;)

If anyone has more info on the above sites or anything else in the pipleine ..... just post it here!

Great idea of you to update us on Parramatta. Parramatta has been neglected on this forum as there has been alot of activity in the Parramatta CBD and hardly anyone has been covering it.

I'll try and get a Picture of the Parramatta Skyline when I'm at Homebush. Hope the cranes are visible from out there.

thanks for updates sin! ill update ss.com asap! its great that finally work is starting on some of those projects and others are nearing completion.
Fab, i dont think were neglecting parra, its just we dont have a local out there . we did have KAY but he doesnt sem to be around anymore! i was going out there soon for a photo shoot.

I think Kay has been hanging around skyscraperpage.com. I noticed a few recent made posts on my last visits.

We also have Rondeez who would be able to cover Parramatta as he is only fifteen minutes away at Minchnbury.

In one of the stands at the Building Expo at Darling Harbour, - this weekend - on a side wall, is a poster "Coming to Parramatta" with an illustration of a relatively slender, Late Modern geometric style tower which looked to be about 30 storeys. I suspect it is the Church Street tower you mentioned, SinCity. It looks quite elegant in the drawing. The staff on duty had no information and were more concerned with flogging another project.

I had a quick look around and found a few renderings for some of the Parramatta residential projects:

14 Hassall St:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/4267/1664267ml1048907302.jpg

Fiori Towers, 13-15 Hassall St:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/7102/1677102mm1050028630.jpg

26-30 Hassall St:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/9240/1619240mm1045636697.jpg

And a few smaller projects:

24 Campbell St:

http://www.newideadigitalimage.com.au/CurrentWorks/24CampbellStParramatta.jpg

Central Park:

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/3911/1473911mm1033363023.jpg

2-6 Kendall St:

http://www.property.com.au/cgi-bin/getmedia.cgi?system=property&media=4155328/i1.JPG

thanks for that Finn! is 26-30 hassall st also known as skyline tower? or is it yet another highrise res tower for hassall st? whats its status?
its a pity the 24 campbell is 11 storeys not 12!
cheers

I went up the Olympic Park observation deck today and could see only three cranes on the Parramatta skyline. I couldn't get a picture of it as they battery went flat!

I have one from the grandstand at the showgrounds. Hope that one has it all.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by CULWULLA </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>thanks for that Finn! is 26-30 hassall st also known as skyline tower? or is it yet another highrise res tower for hassall st? whats its status?
its a pity the 24 campbell is 11 storeys not 12!
cheers</td></tr>
</table>

Yeah Cul, I think that is Skyline Tower - it looks to be the same, but the advertisement I got it from didn't give a specific name so not 100% sure.

Parramatta needs some serious heights.A couple of 140m buildings should do the trick.Has the coucil ever considered this

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I went up the Olympic Park observation deck today and could see only three cranes on the Parramatta skyline. I couldn't get a picture of it as they battery went flat!

I have one from the grandstand at the showgrounds. Hope that one has it all.</td></tr>
</table>

Here's that showground picture

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid59/p3fb91704ff7a96571b7ed5fbd1fb234d/fc5a6c74.jpg.orig.jpg

The renders for the very dormant site, 101 George Street. Small but nice. The web site still seems to be up 'n running though.

http://www.101george.com

http://www.101george.com/images/over_strip.jpg

http://www.101george.com/images/over_main.jpg

What a shame 101 George isn't a scraper only rising 11 stories above the ground.

Fairly impressive tower. I like the style of the building too as it attempts to bring the atmosphere of the CBD into Parramatta and reflects the style of the older CBD towers, but in a more modern way.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Fabian </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>What a shame 101 George isn't a scraper only rising 11 stories above the ground.

Fairly impressive tower. I like the style of the building too as it attempts to bring the atmosphere of the CBD into Parramatta and reflects the style of the older CBD towers, but in a more modern way.</td></tr>
</table>
it actually has a large plant room which is convienietly out of pic but this takes it to 12storeys so it makes ss.com.! It takes up 80% of its roof top.

oh yeh...... parramatta :D

ive been meaning to go take some pics. the new police headquarters look really good.

maybe soon =P

Parra City Council seem to be determined to make Civic Place happen - now they are talking about 5 years timeframe for the whole project which is fabulous! Huge amounts are being offered to current propery owners just to vacate the precinct (eg $20 mil+ to current owner of the Connection arcade). Council is even discouraging development elsewhere in Parra to favour the Civic Place! (apparently, noone could get development approval for the key Parramatta Central site...)

I am so glad every non-heritage building will be pulled town (as most buildings there look like a cityscape of the third world nation after the war...) If they could only find more tenants....Sydney Water is the only one I am aware of....Maybe Meriton can build something there too? I reckon Meriton building style suits Parra very well!

New Parra transport interchange should be complete by late 2006, so we are likely to experience the whole new city few years down the track...

:cool:

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Nick </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Parramatta needs some serious heights.A couple of 140m buildings should do the trick.Has the coucil ever considered this</td></tr>
</table>
well the height limit has been increased to 126m so thats a decent size scraper! i reckon in next 10 years one will be erected!

I managed to get out to parra today! heres some updated pix of some projects-
fiori Towers
impressive skyline now with all these new apartment towers.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199891.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199889.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199890.jpg


Police centre HQ-just about there. very nice.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199892.jpg
love the coloured glass feature-

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199893.jpg

new Charles st tower
this one creates a new 20storey wall along hassall/Charles st.
Elma projects are bldg it. not sure what it will be called? looks cool.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199895.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199896.jpg

quote from first post-

{Meritons latest tower is under construction on the cnr of George & Charles Sts. Excavation has started after many months of archealogical diggings that revealed the buried cellars of a number of former colonial buildings and many other colonial artifacts. I think this tower is around 12+ levels but is a very wide building.}

sincity,
i enquired about this site since it looked HUGE!! there will be 5 towers to be erected . 2 x 3storeys, 1 x5 storeys, 1x 12storeys and 1 x 15 storeys! So two more scrapers to add to parras growing list!
im getting a render sent today plus elevations for height references. illpost soon as can.
cheers

Thanks Cul! Those are great pics of the East side to which a visible skyscraper wall is forming. Nearby Civic Place will add even more beef to this part of Parra CBD.

On the opposite corner behind Fiori, a new residential is also on the rise. There is a tall crane on site. I must remember to inquire about this one. It is next to the rail line, more so on the side of Harris Park .....

found out more info. the massive complex will be called WEST PORT. it will consist of 217 units.the 13 storey highrise section (2 bldgs joined) will stretch along Charles st. the 5 storey lowrise section will rise along george st and 3 storey section facing river. Its basically a massive complex with a central courtyard like Meritons Farmers & graziers Wattle st project.
The 13storey towers rise to 41m and measures 100m in length!!!!!

West Port sounds like a massive project! :)

btw, Skyton have started marketing their latest project on 31-37 Hassall St (opposite Skyline). It is called "The Dominion" and will be only 7 storeys tall, but also quite long! Their apartments are very basic (Meriton units are luxurious compared with them!) but it's good to have more holes filled anyway!

Can't wait to see the Fire Station tower u/c! :D

heres a Charles street elavtion of the massive West port project. These 2 towers total 100m long.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/07/200301.jpg

Parramatta seems to continue its building boom. Anyway here are a couple of projects under or soon to be under way. Both are by "Skyton" Developers who are prominent with medium density projects in the Western Sydney area.

The first one is "only" 9 levels so unfortunately it cannot be classed as a skyscraper. The second project looks highly interesting .......

31-37 HASSALL STREET, PARRAMATTA
92 x 1,2&3BRM APARTMENTS & 385 SQM COMMERCIAL/RETAIL SPACE
‘A STRIKING BALANCE IN THE HEART OF PARRAMATTA’’
AVAILABLE 2003 - UNDER CONSTRUCTION

At 9 levels it will still create an impact on Hassall St which has clearly become Parramatta's major street of construction activity.

http://www.skyton.com.au/images/new_images/hassal%20st.jpg

1-33 NORTH ROCKS RD, NORTH ROCKS (ACTUALLY NORTH PARRAMATTA)
PROPOSED 133 x PRESTIGE 1&2BRM APARTMENTS, OFFERING 3BRM PENTHOUSES
‘THE REVIVAL’ - AVAILABLE 2003

http://www.skyton.com.au/images/new_images/north-rocks2.jpg
http://www.skyton.com.au/images/new_images/north-rocks1.jpg

The above project is a cluster of 4 towers located up against the "bend" of James Ruse Drive. (Opposite Bunnings @ Nth Parramatta on Old Windsor Rd). A couple of these look to become skyscrapers and will no doubt look very impressive at this location. Skyton are clearly progressing in regards to their current projects which are more high rise and high density.

Link to Skyton ......
www.skyton.com.au (http://www.skyton.com.au)

The people next door wouldn't like that tower being placed next to them. It won't be be long before the home is demolished itself and a tower (hopefully a scraper) is built on the site.

Originally posted by Fabian

The people next door wouldn't like that tower being placed next to them. It won't be be long before the home is demolished itself and a tower (hopefully a scraper) is built on the site.

..... I think from memory the other day, it actually was a derelict house. In the Parramatta CBD as far south as Harris Park, there are no more residential homes. Any houses in the CBD are either commercially leased or derelict ...........

Thats very unusual. I haven't heard of a place with a situation like that before.

Parramatta CBD is a proper CBD. If you wonder around, you will find very few houses. They are only there because of heritage protection, therefore their only purpose is as a musuem or used as a commercial/retail premises. There are a number of premises on the perimeter around Hassall Street in particular which are derelict but they are designated for some particular development. The area approaching Harris Park Station is reserved for commercial use and very few of the heritage protected houses are used as residential homes.

Therefore it is not unusual as you put it Fabian. I know the whole area very well and I can tell you that the Parramatta CBD bound by the Parramatta River, Pitt St, Great Western Hwy, Parkes St & Harris St has no houses that exist to this day which are used as residential, just as it is in the Sydney CBD ...........

Has anybody found any info on two major projects u/c on Church Street? - one is adjacent to Carlton Hotel and another one opposite Blockbuster Video.....
:?

Originally posted by SinCity

Parramatta CBD is a proper CBD. If you wonder around, you will find very few houses. They are only there because of heritage protection, therefore their only purpose is as a musuem or used as a commercial/retail premises. There are a number of premises on the perimeter around Hassall Street in particular which are derelict but they are designated for some particular development. The area approaching Harris Park Station is reserved for commercial use and very few of the heritage protected houses are used as residential homes.

Therefore it is not unusual as you put it Fabian. I know the whole area very well and I can tell you that the Parramatta CBD bound by the Parramatta River, Pitt St, Great Western Hwy, Parkes St & Harris St has no houses that exist to this day which are used as residential, just as it is in the Sydney CBD ...........

Does this mean we will eventually see office towers around Harris Park Station? But won't there be space for high-rise residential development like were seeing at the moment?

Fabs, the area around Harris Park Stn is all heritage protected and consists of a number of streets with rather nice Victorian/Federation streetscapes. These wont be touched but encouraged as they are now to be commercial premises, eg accountants, doctors, solicitors, etc ........

In a recent report, it is anticipated that Auto Alley will house the new skyscrapers in the future and that Harris Park will act as a secondary station to Parramatta due to its close proximity to Auto Alley .......

Originally posted by AltiusAltiusAltius

Has anybody found any info on two major projects u/c on Church Street? - one is adjacent to Carlton Hotel and another one opposite Blockbuster Video.....
:?

I tried to find out but everytime I contact the council I get this silly bitch with no idea. All she tells me is the history of the DAs for the sites but she never listens when I tell her that the buildings are under construction and they look to be a lot bigger than these so called coffee shops she goes on about being approved for those locations, like WTF????? ...... Multi-storey coffee shops ...... Geez :mad:

Parra Council is a joke! That's what they call Public Relations!:bleep: :rant: :mad:

Originally posted by SinCity

Fabs, the area around Harris Park Stn is all heritage protected and consists of a number of streets with rather nice Victorian/Federation streetscapes. These wont be touched but encouraged as they are now to be commercial premises, eg accountants, doctors, solicitors, etc ........

In a recent report, it is anticipated that Auto Alley will house the new skyscrapers in the future and that Harris Park will act as a secondary station to Parramatta due to its close proximity to Auto Alley .......

Have they decided what to do with the car dealers along the stretch? Is there an area they would be able to move to?

Why think about auto alley now when there is so much unused space in Parra CBD? :?

Most of Harris Park is a slum >( Harris Park looks like another planet when compared to Westmead....Westmead is a growing 'satellite suburb' of Parramatta with heaps of good quality apartments and Harris Park is such a disgrace. It would be a good idea to flatten it and build from scratch! :D

Parramatta has more potential for growth than any other place in Sydney. At the moment, there are 20 projects under construction and 10 will start shortly (second only to Sydney CBD) yet it seems fairly quiet and many sites are still crying to be developed...Some projects u/c are still a mystery to most of us...

U/C:

- NSW Police Centre (almost complete)
- Fiori Towers (almost complete)
- 14 Hassall St - Elma apartments (almost complete)
- Dominion, Hassall St - residential
- Parkes, Kendall & Station Sts, Harris Park - residential
- Cnr Parkes & Wigram Sts - residential
- Parkes & Cowper Sts (behind former Pizza Hut site) - residential
- Parkview tower, Good St Mays Hill - residential tower
- 'Le Fairways' - Parkside Lane, Mays Hill, 3 residential buildings
- 24 Campbell St - residential adjacent to Westfield car park
- 'Parramatta Point' @ 98 Marsden St - 10 residential buildings!
- Cnr Church & Campbell Sts - residential bldg?
- Exeter Manor site - commercial tower
- Church & Palmer Sts - residential
- Cnr Victoria Rd & Elizabeth St - residential?
- Near Cnr Marsden & Phillip Sts - smaller commercial?
- Cnr Church & Albert Sts North Parra - residential
- Westport, Charles St - 5 residential buildings
- 2/6 Campbell St, residential
- Cnr Argyle and O'Connell Sts, commercial

COMING SOON:

- Civic Place - the most important project in Parra's history
- New Transport Interchange featuring new commercial tower above the current bus interchange
- Parramatta Central site - residential/commercial
- Fire Station resid. tower, Church St - Parra's tallest ?
- 101 George St, commercial tower
- Blockbuster Video site, Church St - residential ?
- Cnr Victoria Rd & Church St, residential tower?
- No 1a Hassall St, commercial
- No 3 Hassall St, The Centour, 2 residential towers
- Kendall & Parkes Sts, site cleared for another residential?

....and there will be more!

:)

Great summary Altius! :)

Has anybody noticed what is happening on Argyle Street? The row of shops opposite the station are closing down! Some of them are already closed (eg 7 Eleven) and others have huge closing down sales....

This could mean that the whole block will be pulled down soon to clear the way for the new bus interchange! (part of the massive Parramatta Interchange project - should have started late last year but has been prolonged to late 2003....)

:guns1:

yeah lots happening in parra! heres a link to all the 40 scrapers on ss.com

http://www.skyscrapers.com/re/en/wm/ci/104878/bu/sk/li/2-2-1/

WOW!! Parra is now on skyscrapers.com! Great work Richard!

That Grand Central proposal still makes my heart beat faster! Could have been the first 'real' scraper for Parra...It's been quite a while since it appeared for the first time on the Crown website....

Seems like it's been shelved or forgotten....>(

Maybe it can be brought to life now when Parra Central site has been sold by the Malouf family?? Just wondering what the height limit for that site may be.....

It's a high time that someone erects a height limit tower in Parra! Or at least break ' the magic barrier' of 100 m..... Grand Central Tower would be Empire State Bldg in Parramatta terms! ;)

Anyone got any distant shots of the skyline

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p36685049a54273be7ffbef7d6d6da04d/fb9013c1.jpg

I think the next few images are of Westport.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p8752b3f1c76c87c2a8e7e8d09412cec2/fb90132d.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/pa987689bb790c4b137896303437e808c/fb901244.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p89437743facfad74e7bf0d24c3b2f04a/fb90119e.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p62aad7cafa04da8290f29a613dd81c16/fb901016.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p9671e5969fb58202eb79fd96d3dd5763/fb900f6b.jpg

And the 101 Geogre Street *halted* site.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid71/p399aa1a33930f7ba760dc4ea8417d9fe/fb9010c4.jpg
No distance shots from me.

Preliminary work on Parramatta's $100 mil Transport Interchange will commence on September 1!! :guns1:

The block bounded by Argyle, Church and Fitzwilliam streets will be demolished by December and replaced with a retail arcade (part of the bus interchange) which will have direct access to the railway station!

btw, builders have been spotted on the Exeter Manor site (new office tower) after a long time! Excavation work has finally started!

:cool:

Yes indeed Altius, the latest Parramatta Advertiser states that demolition is soon to begin and is expected to be complete before the Xmas rush as requested by the council. The pub has finally closed along with many shops. The Interchange is expected to house a tall (apprx 20 storey) commercial tower. It is believed to possible house the new HQs of Sydney Water.

DA is now being sought for the demolition of an old block of units @ 3 Hassall Street Parramatta. A new proposal being put before the council is a mixed development comprising of twin towers.

One tower is planned at 17 stories and the other is planned at 12 stories. Both will be residential and will most likely include adjoining properties which are vacant from memory.

This will further add incredible density to Hassall Street which already has the completed NSW Police HQs and the twin Meriton Fiori residential towers, among a few others recently completed ;)

Yes SinCity, all shops have close down sales and will be finally closed in 10 days or so! Great news!

That portion of the Interchange (bounded by Argyle, Church and Fitzwilliam Sts) should house a bus interchange & massive shopping arcade cca 3 storeys tall (and underground). The commercial tower should be erected above the CURRENT bus interchange on the opposite side of the train station (great design according to the model that was displayed in Parra a few months ago!)

I hope Sydney Water are aiming at the Civic Place site! That would be better as many other tenants may follow their example and Civic Place as a whole may come to life! :)

btw, I can't wait for the new res. tower that will start soon adjacent to the future bus interchange (Fire Station site in Church St) - developer is "Estate Properties of Australia":

http://www.estateproperties.com.au/properties/parramatta

No3 Hassall would be nice to have too....But my real worry is No1A Hassall (potential office tower)....It's been too quiet there for such a long time! :bleep: :?

If both No1 and No3 Hassall are built, Hassall St density will be incredible!! :D

Originally posted by AltiusAltiusAltius
Yes SinCity, all shops have close down sales and will be finally closed in 10 days or so! Great news!

That portion of the Interchange (bounded by Argyle, Church and Fitzwilliam Sts) should house a bus interchange & massive shopping arcade cca 3 storeys tall (and underground). The commercial tower should be erected above the CURRENT bus interchange on the opposite side of the train station (great design according to the model that was displayed in Parra a few months ago!)

I hope Sydney Water are aiming at the Civic Place site! That would be better as many other tenants may follow their example and Civic Place as a whole may come to life! :)

Agreed! Finally some action ..... :guns1:

This is what we should get in 3-5 years down the track (Civic Place model including the 'extra' tower above the current bus interchange - NSW Police HQ is also in the background):

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/civicplace/archive/impression2A.html

:guns1:

The hoardings are now fast spreading around the demolition site, so far they are in from of the 5 storey commercial building and also the Argyle Street Hotel.

Good stuff!! :)

Hope the Civic Place will follow soon! What are Sydney Water waiting for?? Parra is a boomtown! Maybe Harry Triguboff can buy one more site too?! (He has 3 completed towers in Chatswood, one more in Parra would be nice!)

:D LOL!

The last 9 posts has been nothing more than a discussion between me and Altius. I guess no-one gives much of a shit for Parramatta :badnews:

Not true. Quite the opposite.

Shame about 101 George. Not tall but looked like interesting architecture.

I'm just wondering with the official (yet dorky) announcement on the Epping-Parra section of the rail slashed; how this will afftect lots of new commercial developments still on the drawing boards?

...

Thanks Altius & Sincity for your excellent updates all the time. Great to hear they actually are working on Argyle Street (shame about the 7 eleven though I never liked ash that much)
And sorry if I got anyones hopes up for new info on Parra projects. I just used to live there since I was born and wanna know whats happening there!!
I cant wait to get back there (i'm far away in holland now) and maybe help get some more action happening.....
Anyway, I hope you all keep up the good work.

Originally posted by Nick
Anyone got any distant shots of the skyline A very recent one indeed. Can see Meriton's Fiori 1 almost topping out &
Fiori 2 already so. Also the NSW Police HQ.

http://www.airviewonline.com.au/photos/0305/1994/0305-1994-19.jpg

BTW c/- Meriton.com.au - Fiori 1 & 2:

______________http://www.meriton.com.au/fiori/sfiorione.jpg

The new NSW Police Building is now ready for occupation. at the moment 2200 staff are moving out of the Avery Building at Darlinghurst into the tower.

i have a few questions
what if any has been the impact of the loss of the rail link
and what is currently on the Civic Place ?

heres some pix i took a few weeks ago.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199891.jpg


http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199889.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199890.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/06/199892.jpg

Great pix Richard! :) Some good density around Hassall St! :cool:

Civic Place is a mish-mash of dilapidated buildings and should be developed soon....I don't think the lack of the new rail link can have a major influence - Parra is already well connected with the rest of Sydney! ;)

Even the Interchange should not be deferred - all shops along Argyle St have been closed and hoardings erected! :cool:

looks like parra is going off!!
looks like some of the towers are going up on small suburban streets! [ie pic 2]

other than the major shopping centre what would be the attraction of buying an apartment in para? I mean its not near the beach, the harbour isn't to spectacular at that end? is it just that sydney is lacking land and have to build up ?

Originally posted by chrisaus
looks like parra is going off!!
looks like some of the towers are going up on small suburban streets! [ie pic 2]

other than the major shopping centre what would be the attraction of buying an apartment in para? I mean its not near the beach, the harbour isn't to spectacular at that end? is it just that sydney is lacking land and have to build up ?

You have the riverfront, which is becoming an increasingly desirable place to live and work and part of the greater objective to attract residents and workers into the heart of Parramatta.

Parra is a great place to build skyscrapers! The CBD is a nice grid of streets bounded by the river in the north and parkland in the west and east - almost like Adelaide or Perth CBD! :D

It's a shame that taller towers are not built there - nobody has actually reached the height limit yet! :moods:

whats the height limit here??

Originally posted by SydneyDude
whats the height limit here??
it was 12 storeys for many years and then upped to 90m or 20storeys. Now its up to 126m or 40storey residential/30storey office tower. You could add an architectural feature and spire would easily get away with 150m/500footer!

A new crane in Parra!! Erected today above the "mystery development" on Church St (cnr Palmer).....They started only a short time ago and the first floor is nearly complete! Good progress!

Apart from that, nothing really exciting in the City: demolition of former shops (Bus Interchange site) is yet to begin....and no action whatsoever on the Exeter Manor site....:moods:

New residential tower at 14 Hassall is now scaffolding free - not very nice to look at especially on the station's side! Huge blank wall with tiny windows.....Better than empty site I s'ppose....

Another good news - demolition of the block bounded by Church, Argyle and Fitzwilliam Sts is underway! Good to see those ugly shops disappear and clear the way for the mighty new Interchange! :D

OK, finally I arrived back in OZ yesterday and went for a nice walk round Parra (took some pics aswell but they're still in my camera).

Well I noticed cnr Church and Palmer now up to 3rd floor- anyone got any idea what this is?? I went to look at the council notices in the Advertiser for the last year, but they had put them into stores >(

There also seems to be another building going up on the old Keg restaurant site, to join the cluster of midrisers there. This up to 2nd/3rd floor.

Excavation works occurring on Phillip St, near the Elizabeth St bridge, and also corner Argyle/O'Connell Sts. I have also no idea what these are for.......

Demolition almost finished for the station works site, only the building at the eastern end is only half finished.

Exeter Manor site it seems they are doing some excavations there too.

Corner Parkes and Station St, new apartment building I guess, is now up to 8th floor. On the other side of the railway line next to old Pizza Hut new ugly apartment building also up to 8th level.
Both are looking to be topped out.

Meriton's Westport up to 6th floor along Charles St, on George St they haven't done much I think..

The new development at the eastern end of Hassall St (near Skyline Tower), will be a very welcome addition to that cluster there, about 10 floors from memory and work just beginning, with crane on site!!

And the new St Patricks cathedral is opened this week, about time!

The Church St site, the old BBC, 101 George and Marsden/Macquarie/Hunter St sites are all having nothing.

Looks like a lot happening while I've been gone, just hope they all get past their excavation stages in the near future.

btw, pics to come soon.....

Cheers, Matt

Things are moving very slowly in rainy Parra town....

The block bounded by Church, Argyle and Fitzwilliam St will be cleared by the week's end. However I am not sure when the Interchange will kick off (according to some sources mid 2004...)

Exeter Manor site is totally dormant now - no excavation yet...

Not sure what Church/Palmer development is all about. Could be residential...

Only Hassall St apartments are doing well - one building after another are emerging on the skyline....Elma apartments @ No14 are now almost complete (I inspected them and must say that quality was much better than Meriton's Fiori across the road)...

Meriton's Westport is progressing well despite the crane falling down on site three times already - no casualties yet! (lol)

The worst thing is that Church St Fire Station resid tower seems to have been shelved (removed from the company website etc)...

Cheers

There is excavaction work going on at the site next to Westfileds. This is the corner of Argyle & Marden Sts I think, opposite the old cemetery. Anyone know whats going up. Looks to be big?????

You're probably referring to the residential development close to the corner of Campbell and O'Connell streets (between Westfield and a business centre)....

There will be one more residential project further down Campbell St (between O'Connell and Pitt Sts...)

The only potential office development in this block is closer to the corner of Argyle and O'Connell Sts (next to 'Ernst & Young' site)...

Yeah that's the one, that empty block next to E&Y which always had some big sign out the front aswell as the little building that used to be on the corner of Argyle and O'Connell, they have started digging the hole now about 1 floor deep!!

That has come out of nowhere.... will be intersting

Here's a rendering I just found of the development proposed for 1 Hassall St. It is up for sale at the moment, with tenders closing on 10th of December, and could be developed as office or residential! Looks pretty slick! :)

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/JLL/JLL_38/300/JLL_38_26108_15647.jpg

Originally posted by ParraMan
Yeah that's the one, that empty block next to E&Y which always had some big sign out the front aswell as the little building that used to be on the corner of Argyle and O'Connell, they have started digging the hole now about 1 floor deep!!

That has come out of nowhere.... will be intersting

Yep ParraMan, thats the one. I hope its commercial, but my guess is that it will be residential. Looks to be a wopper based on its footprint ......

Can't wait for No 1A Hassall to be developed! That site has been an eyesore for too long... It must be an office project - there are too many residential buildings down the road....

2 New Skyscrapers for Parramatta

Just found out today that there are 2 proposals for skyscrapers in Parramatta ......

6-10 Charles Street - 12 storey residential with retail base
5-7 Charles Street - 16 storey residential with retail base

These are nearing final stages and I think they are in the vicinity of Hassall Street.

Secondly Westfileds is looking to expand their complex over Church St in the direction of the new transport interchange under construction. This is to link to Parramatta Station.

Everything so far is residential ....... Ho Hum!

So you reckon there's gonna be an underground link between the Westfield and a new Bus Interchange? Maybe even a 'skybridge'? Hope that work on the Interchange will commence next year...

I think its to be a skybridge. The extension is to house new cinemas/retail planned by Westfileds. I think the interchange will have a underground pedestrian/retail link anyway because of the underground concourse of Parramatta station. I'm still hanging for some decent commercial towers, too much residential which I fear will end up 3rd world slum sooner or later ..........

New cinemas would be great as current ones (Village) really suck!

I never thought Westfield would be expading like this (expected only individual shops and cafes as a part of the new Interchange)

This is good as Westfield have money for this kind of 'exercise'. Go Frank Lowy! :cool:

We all just hope Parra Council doesn't decide to say Westfield can't do such a thing.... I noticed a change in the station development application to move the underground bus interchange to the block now demolished on Argyle St, and make it at street level. Sounds a lot like making the project smaller yet again. So I don't know whether there will be any underground component anymore?!?!?

As for the new apt buildings proposed in Charles, they appear to be close to Macquarie St somewhere- maybe one is the vacant lot next to RTA.

I'm always happy for more high-rises, but totally agree, this residential stuff is going to end up a bigger eyesore than 1 Hassall St always has been.

And great rendering too Finn- where did you get that????? Looks fantastic, although appears not to be a "skyscraper".

Originally posted by ParraMan
And great rendering too Finn- where did you get that????? Looks fantastic, although appears not to be a "skyscraper".

I got it from propertylook.com.au - just searched under development sites for sale.

Yeah, it looks to be only 10 or 11 storeys, but it's a nice looking design! :)

I made it to the State Library on Sat for a look into Cityscope Parramatta for an idea on what is happening with some of these mystery developments.....

Corner Argyle and O'Connell being developed by "Sun Gold" (sounds a bit of a worry), should be an 11 storey office!!!

Cnr Church & Palmer to be 8 storey residential with standard ground floor retail

and Cnr Church and Albert Sts to be 10 storey resi with 2 restaurants, the Keg and another tbc.

Think I'm gonna have to keep in contact with propertylook when I head off back to Holland in a few weeks. Rendering looks very nice, fills in quite nicely and gets rid of that corner :colgate:

Great job ParraMan! :)

Do you know if Estate Properties Australia have cancelled their proposed tower above the former Fire Station on Church St?

Thanks Altius :)

I have attempted to get the story from them to no real avail as they have stopped marketing (as you notice from the site) but the bloke didn't really have any clue. I was acting as a potential purchaser and so he just said he'll put me down on the list lol.....

LandEc. Partners have started advertising their future residential development at No 3 Hassall St - The Centour! Existing block of flats will be demolished to clear the way for 2 towers up to 17 storeys high! The design is pretty crappy though - lots of blank walls etc, but this should be allright once No 1 Hassall office tower is built.

More info at:

http://www.landecpartners.com.au/land_ec_property_detail.php?property_id=13

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another news is a very daring proposal to erect twin 28 storey towers in Granville!! (between Parramatta Rd and Cowper St - only a couple of blocks from Granville Station). The architect - Alastair Brodie said that twin tower development would make up less than 10 percent of the site. This would be a part of the huge mixed development - units, offices and shops as well as a large pedestrian plaza!

Parra City council will discuss a range of proposals for this site - the highrise is just one option. Councillor David Borger was quick to condemn the high rise vision..."Twenty eight storeys is just a developer pig-out", he said.

thanks for that alt! ill add to ss.com. They dont look too bad!
12storey and a 17storey!
hassall St is going to be wall st!

http://www.landecpartners.com.au/image_house/b13_parramatta.jpg

The rows of glass for the upper floors look pretty snazzy. Bases are a bit multi-level carpark looking though and I hope the huge expanse of blank walls either have or will have something flanked up against them.

I'm a bit curious why the taller tower is right behind the other. Their views will mostly be directly onto the back of the lower tower.

Hassall Street is thee place to be in Parra. at the moment.

BTW This one is certainly still a mystery.

On venturing to Parra. 2 weeks ago, 101 George Street's rendering is still up on site, even though the site has been lying dormant for yonks. They might be just sitting on the fence waiting for the market to determine its development.

It's website is still up 'n running @ http://www.101george.com and it's also on http://www.leightonproperties.com.au under "Current Projects" and stating "Now Leasing".

_____________http://www.101george.com/images/over_strip.jpg

_____________http://www.101george.com/images/over_main.jpg

I'd be thinking of 101 George as one of those all-too-common never builts....

Anyway, it's looking very quiet in Parra, has the place shut down for Christmas???

101 George must be dead but you never know...

It's freakin' quiet in Parra these days but hope some projects will pick up next year...

The only news is that proposed Interchange is on the drawing board again and the latest renderings don't look very good. The Bus Interchange bounded by Church, Argyle and Fitzwilliam Sts will be on the ground level not underground as previously planned. Also the shopping component seems to have been downsized...Hope that shops at this Interchange won't look like the ones in Bondi Junction...

I hope they'll put some shops on the ground level as I can't see anyone going upstairs (above the interchange) to visit any shops, unless it's connected to Westfield or some other big drawcard, which there isn't atm. And yeah, we can definitely do without a Tiffany plaza lookalike, every time I've been there it has been dead.

On the topic of Parra, is KayOz ( a.k.a FreaKay) still around the place- maybe using another name ? He was always passionate about Parra and always had the good info. :?

He is now moderator of the aussie section at skyscraperpage.com. He is moderating what is a very dead forum because of the fact everyone loves being here!!!:)

Kay or Freakay as he nows calls himself still rocks up to Sydney meets when he can, so you can catch up with him then.

@ fabian- thanks for the update on Kay.

Here's the front page from today's ( 27/12/03) SMH !

Westfield to build a way over the heads of the competition
By Paola Totaro and Sean Nicholls, SMH, December 27, 2003

A block of prime government land in the heart of Parramatta's central business district is to be sold without tender to Frank Lowy's Westfield so the company can link its shopping mall directly with the new $100-million train and bus interchange.

The proposed development includes a new skybridge, funnelling commuters away from businesses at street level directly into a new cinema complex and Westfield's shopping centre and carparks.

The budget committee of the NSW cabinet has given approval for Parramatta Rail Link, the authority in charge of the interchange, to negotiate a deal.

The plan was originally opposed by Parramatta Council, which owns the air-space rights over Church Street where the skybridge is to pass. The deputy mayor of Parramatta, Julia Finn, said the bridge would be unsightly, "extremely damaging" for street-level businesses and would remove pedestrians from Church Street.

But at an extraordinary council meeting held three nights before Christmas, a majority of councillors rescinded their original opposition but resolved to seek Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) advice on the plan.

The council voted to "request advice from the ICAC on the appropriateness and legality of the State Government entering into exclusive negotiations with Westfield and whether this is in accordance with State Government legislation on the issue."

Councillors also required Westfield to give a minimum of $50,000 a year for at least five years to promote business and cultural activities in and around Parramatta's Chinatown - the area directly below the sky bridge. Westfield will also be asked to pay for an independent study to find ways to encourage more street-level traffic.

The Parramatta shopping complex is Westfield's largest in NSW and also contains an ageing Village cinema complex.

The state-owned land is bounded by Church, Fitzwilliam and Argyle Streets. Westfield proposes to house 11 new cinemas for Village on the western side, opposite its shopping centre and adjacent to the rail and bus interchange. The eastern side of the block is earmarked for restaurants and cafes.

The proposal came directly from Westfield to the Government in April and has been dealt with as what is known as an "unsolicited project from the private sector" by the Infrastructure Coordination Unit of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.

It is understood the Government believes the proposal will improve the amenity of the area at night, particularly around the transport interchange, and would allow better use of existing car parking, and avoid more traffic in the CBD.

A Westfield spokesman did not want to comment on the council's move yesterday, but said the company always followed due process.

THANK YOU SPAZPECKER!!!! Excuse me I am really drunk atm and excuse anty spelling mistakes, but this is fanaatic news for PArra, hope the ICAC view uit favouraqbly and it gets the green light, I feel as though i"m hallucinating at this news. Very good stuff indeed.
PS you have to understand this is now second christmas day here and is an important time for staff to get together....hope there are many more staff coming Parra's way soon.
Cherrs, here's to another Heineken!!!

Great news! :cool: Parramatta badly needs new cinemas and the skybridge sounds great! Westfield should be given a green light and Parramatta City should be only happy to have Westfield's vision implemented ASAP!

The request from the Council that Westfield should "promote business and cultural activities in and around Parramatta's Chinatown" and even spend heaps of money on that is absolutely ridiculous! Julia Finn is talking rubbish...That part of Church St is such a disgrace - sleazy & tacky Asian shops and restaurants that totally diminish Parramatta's image...I reckon the best thing would be to get rid of them alltogether! :D :D

Absolutely right Altius x3 about Ms Finn, obviously has no idea- Westfield isn't going to want the sort of stores that currently exist in that part of Church St (tacky etc) and as such I can't see another skybridge taking business away from them. The stores along Church St serve a niche market and that niche market will not disappear because a skybridge takes pedestrians up in the air. There is no "passing" traffic that goes up Church St anyway that would be removed by the skybridge, and as such Westfields plans are complementary to it (as an added drawcard for people to come to Parra).

However, those tacky shops should absolutely stay, they add an extra dimension to the stretlife of Parramatta. Sure they should be done up and that little piece of Aird St needs something done to it, but that part of Church St is a real asset to Parramatta and has the potential to be as great as Church St north already is.

On the subject of cinemas, what's the deal with the Roxy atm, I saw it when I was there looking all good with the bars etc, but never open, I hope whatever is/was there hasn't closed down or something and there is just a problem with liquor licencing or something.

Oh and yeah wtf was I on in my last post?????

And bloody Parramatta council always getting in the way of anything good for Parramatta :bash:
What do they expect (or want) to be there instead? Another dead retail space or food court??

The Roxy has since closed and is likely to be redeveloped, but nothing has gone public.

The new Roxy bar & nightclub are actually ready for opening - the only thing to be resolved is a liquor licence... :cheers:

Thanks Altius, was really hoping it would've been open while I was back in Sydney but now I'll have to wait a few years, hopefully it opens soon, looks really cool..... :cheers:

It looks like Civic Place may kick off this year! Demolition of the existing block of buildings on the corner of Darcy and Smith Sts may start very soon (just noticed the fencing around all those rotten shops on the site...). Will check the local press this week to see what's happening!

Those shops on the corner won't be missed at all, except a friend who had an exhibition in the con/temporary arts centre.

I found an article that said they expected to start construction on the Sydney Water building (that site) in a couple of months, so I guess we don't have to wait for long.

They also said that Leighton is still expecting to start construction of 101 George within 6 months (lol) and the site on the corner of O'Connell and Argyle will be an office building.....

Cheers, and thanks for updating us

Indeed the work is for the new HO of Sydney Water, it was in todays Parramatta Sun. So far its only site preparation. The final design wont be announced until the end of the year. Work is to begin 2005 with a completion date in 2006. They want to try out some fancy options to minimise water usage in the tower, therefore the building will have radical designs to recycle and minimise water usage ....

Yeah that's is - Sydney Water have been waiting patiently and their vision will finally come to life! :cool: Hope others will follow their example....

Also it was good to see our old friend Francesco Sartor visiting the site to mark the occasion! Frankie knocked down a wall with a sledgehammer! :D

This is so bloody important for Parramatta's future! Hope the new Interchange & Westfield extension will start soon too! :guns1:

i'm actually surprised that Sydney Water still haven't finalised their designs for the new building, they have been planning it for some time now, must be because they waited for the Civic Place masterplan to come out or something. ANyway, will be looking forward to seeing some updates on this baby. Just a silly question, is that ugly little arcade which used to have lots of hairdressers in it going now too? Will they be making any alternate arrangements for people that walk through there?

Everything will be pulled down eventually - the whole block bounded by Church, Darcy, Smith and Macquarie streets! Only heritage buildings will stay (Town Hall and Uniting Church).

That arcade was particularly crappy - the new Civic Place will feature 35,000 square metres of new retail space clustered around the central promenade flanked by a colonnade)....

Go Civic Place! :guns1:

Everything north of that ugly brown thing that houses Parramatta Council is fenced off and ready for destruction! :)

Civic Place will look awesome! im glad there restoing the Leigh Memorial Church. hope they put the tremendous spire back on?

they show it here with the 44m tall spire back on? hope they do rebuild the spire. It was onec tallest structure in Town from 1885-1922 when it was pulled down!

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/civicplace/images/SCAN001.jpg

i reckon the 20story bldgs must be 90m+?

BTW who are builders /architects for this massive project???

Thanks for that bit of info on Leigh Memorial, a nice hiddenlittle thing at the moment.

There are no artichects or builders for Civic Place as suh, as it's still a sortof long-term project and buildings will be developed individually, although the council owns all the land now (correct me if I'm wrong on that) and will parcel of individual sites. Their new Offices will also be on the site, so eventually Parra will have a new "tallest demolished." I won't miss the brown one, the former Citicorp tower, but it's a shame the 1956? coucil building will go, Parra's first highrise (according to your model)

Cheers

yeah the council building was first highrise in city-not sure if its good or bad thats its going?
Yeah the councillor told me there starting on tallest one in 12 months. It will go to 120m/40st and mixed use-res and office!

heres a list i put on ss.com.
getting pretty impressive

bldg/height/storeys/year

1. Grand Central 128 m 36 (never built)
2. Civic Place Tower [Civic Place] 120 m 40 2007
3. Civic Place Tower [Civic Place] 120 m 40 2006
4. Parramatta Square 115 m 25 )never built)
5. Civic Place Tower [Civic Place] 90 m 20 2007
6. Church Street Apartments 86 m 25 2004
7. Commonwealth Centre 83 m 21 1988
8. Colonial Tower 81 m 21 1992
9. Civic Place Tower [Civic Place] 80 m 20 2007
10. Fiori Tower 2 66 m 22 2003
11. 25 Smith Street 65 m 12 2004
12. Federal Police Headquarters 64 m 15 2003
13. Ferguson Centre 63 m 15 1985
14. Pacific International Hotel 60 m 16 2000
15. Skyline Tower 60 m 18 2002

Great stuff Richard - restoring Leigh Memorial Church's spire is such a fantastic idea! :cool:

I previously thought that none of the Civic Place buildings would exceed 20-22 storeys....40 storeys sounds great (those ones must be 90% residential...). It's probably hard to tell at this stage what the final design will be...I hope the tallest one could be a bit more than 120 m!? :D

Thanks again Cul!!! That's a fantastic new listing.....getting very excited over here with these new 120m towers, good stuff!

Cheers, ps it's not too bad that it's going, just a bit of a more recent style of building that will be gone..

Just received an email from Estate Properties Australia.....

Their Church St tower is back on line! :cool:

This is such a good news - Fire Station residential tower will be Parramatta's tallest for a short while (until Civic Place towers are built...) :)

Originally posted by AltiusAltiusAltius
Just received an email from Estate Properties Australia.....

Their Church St tower is back on line! :cool:

This is such a good news - Fire Station residential tower will be Parramatta's tallest for a short while (until Civic Place towers are built...) :)

..... and indeed it is. I noticed towards the end of last week as my train pulled into Parramatta station that demolition work has already begun @ the rear of the old Parramatta Fire Station on Church St. The site has been obviously cleared so that excavation can begin. Looking good for Parramatta's next tallest to finally begin construction. ;)

wow, bout bloody time~! anyone seen a render yet?

Originally posted by CULWULLA
wow, bout bloody time~! anyone seen a render yet?

I think Finn had a render a number of months ago which I believe is still current. We'll have to have a hunt around if it hasn't already been archived .......... :)

Originally posted by SinCity
I think Finn had a render a number of months ago which I believe is still current. We'll have to have a hunt around if it hasn't already been archived .......... :)
Here's one I found on my computer - this might be the one I posted:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/lafin/churchstapts.jpg

I went for a walk around Parramatta on Friday and here's a short update on work.

*Dominon Apartments - tower is currently at ground level

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/p2f70f5d29bc869cd1e2438c465c0f2b4/f981216e.jpg

*Westport Apartments - The tower is around level 15

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/pf6b6b9d58afa80d5afd526b12c5a88ea/f9811dd1.jpg

And a demolition pic of apart of the Civic Place site. I didn't have much time so I didn't get close

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/p1b7a09fb71b524bf37f069999bdc6b87/f981201a.jpg

Originally posted by Fabian
I went for a walk around Parramatta on Friday and here's a short update on work.
*Westport Apartments - The tower is around level 15

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/pf6b6b9d58afa80d5afd526b12c5a88ea/f9811dd1.jpg


Considering that this development is so advanced, and that I haven't heard of any marketing of the apartments in the project (although there is a listing for leasing of the streetfront retail on Meriton's website), my assumption is that this will be a serviced apartment/rental property for Meriton - much like Rialto.

Bigger News ....... LOL!

Anyway currently under construction is Parramatta's latest tallest the 25 level apartment tower above the old Fire Station.

In todays local paper, plans were submitted in February for a new 26 level apartment tower which in part will consist of serviced apartments.

The location of the new tower is to be on site of the existing Parramatta Mall which is located in Geroge Street. I'll try and get more info.

More are on their way ........

Originally posted by SinCity
Bigger News ....... LOL!

Anyway currently under construction is Parramatta's latest tallest the 25 level apartment tower above the old Fire Station.

In todays local paper, plans were submitted in February for a new 26 level apartment tower which in part will consist of serviced apartments.

The location of the new tower is to be on site of the existing Parramatta Mall which is located in Geroge Street. I'll try and get more info.

More are on their way ........

sin checkout this thread>>>

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46991&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

Originally posted by CULWULLA
sin checkout this thread>>>

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46991&perpage=25&pagenumber=2

Culs, yeah I know about that project. What I am trying to say is that in today's Parramatta Sun newspaper, there is a story about another new 26 level skyscraper planned for Parramatta on the site of the Parramall arcade. The article said that it will cost 50 million. It is to be built by Sterling House 88 and will contain serviced appartments and offices.

This is a complete new propsal that went to council a week or two ago. This tower could end up taller than Escen on Church by a fraction .....

SinCity :)

Great news! :cool:

It's only early days and hard to find any rendering etc. Parramall site is so tacky and ideally suited to a new highrise!

Hope it's gonna be approved soon....maybe this is only a beginning of the new residential high rise trend in the City "where eels lie down"! Hope Parramatta Central site project is the next one! ;)

Originally posted by SinCity
Culs, yeah I know about that project. What I am trying to say is that in today's Parramatta Sun newspaper, there is a story about another new 26 level skyscraper planned for Parramatta on the site of the Parramall arcade. The article said that it will cost 50 million. It is to be built by Sterling House 88 and will contain serviced appartments and offices.

This is a complete new propsal that went to council a week or two ago. This tower could end up taller than Escen on Church by a fraction .....

SinCity :)
oops sorry!
wow thats unreal. another tall one!
yeah i know the site. Its on corner of horwood st and george st.
top site for a tall one.
ill try and contact parra council to find more info.
cheers

Originally posted by AltiusAltiusAltius
Great news! :cool:

It's only early days and hard to find any rendering etc. Parramall site is so tacky and ideally suited to a new highrise!

Hope it's gonna be approved soon....maybe this is only a beginning of the new residential high rise trend in the City "where eels lie down"! Hope Parramatta Central site project is the next one! ;)

Altius, I tried to find info about this company on the web, but little luck. I guess all we can do is check out the local papers. My only fear is that its height could get knocked back as the tower is very much a "city centre" location, considering the vast majority of Parramatta "skyscrapers" are built on the CBD fringes. Parramatta definately needs some tall ones in the CBD centre. Fingers, legs, arms, balls crossed that this one and Parra Central see some action ....... ;)

click>
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=94045

Here's a diagram I was able to scan today from the Parramatta Advertiser which is two months old of the proposed retail link from Westfield to Parramatta Station.

http://img8.photobucket.com/albums/v28/Fabian/Parramatta_transport.jpg

I just heard on the radio that Parramatta Gaol is set to close by the end of the year and will be converted into accomodation for backpackers. This is good news for local tourism.

LOL Backpackers are gonna love it! (it's a long way to any beach though..)

Few people know that Prince Alfred Park (between P'matta Riverside Theatres and St Pat's) also used to be a site of a major gaol and a place for public executions!) Today, it's very charming with its grand Victorian bandstand, palm tree alley and even a public clock! Good place to check the new red brick residential scraper u/c across the road...(Should be another one on Victoria Rd hopefully...)

Altius, cool, I didn't know anyone knew that about Prince Alfred Park, I thought I was the only one.

Anyway more importantly, the red brick (blaaah) under construction, is that on the corner of Church and Palmer Sts?? How is it looking if you've (or anyone else) seen it? How big too?

On Parra Gaol, good to see they've finally come up with the solution to this site, for a few years they've wanted to make it into hotel, apartments, offices and a marketplace sort of thing. Having something there other than the weekend detentioners will certainly help with the governments plans to make that area a big tourist destination with all the historic buildings across the river.

Cheers

More news on the Parramatta commercial scene. The NSW government announced last week that the NSW Health Department which are currently located in an office tower in North Sydney are set to move at some stage soon to Parramatta. This is great news as it will fuel demand for more office towers in Parramatta which has the lowest office vacancy rates of any CBD in NSW ........

...perhaps not-so-great for the North Sydney market....but it'll be O.K..

LOL @ The Parramatta Advertiser's render. I have absolutely no idea of what the damn thing looks like from that. The wall with the squarish windows across Church St on the very right belongs to the background skyline in a Hana-Barbera cartoon!!

Yeah, the 'red brick' thing on Church&Palmer has nearly topped out - it's an interesting design but can't really qualify as a true 'skyscraper'. The new one on the corner of Church&Albert is also topping out - a great looker! Meriton's Westport is also progressing very well and will include cca 200 units and a retail component too (21 shops)....

What we need in this town is a real SKYSCRAPER! lol I guess we have to wait for the Civic Place.....Hope the wait is not too long! :wallbash:

yer I dont get that diagram as well makes no sense to me
and yes same again parr needs a real center tower !

More leasing news for Parramatta. Its looks likely that the NSW Dept of Commerce will move to Parramatta to be part of the new Civic project. It is expected that they will be leasing 26,000 sqm in the development. This comes on top of the news that the NSW Health Dept will relocate to Parramatta as well. I reckon they should build 2 x 50 storey towers as there is now a lot of demand for government with already Sydney Water moving in ........

wow, great news. Parramatta is set to boom over next decade!!
i should draw a parra skyline 2010!

Here's an shot of Westport as viewed from the Parramatta River. The good news is that it has topped out.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pd6d6bba4756d740614fe932e482148af/f8c08203.jpg

Dominion has also been progressing fairly slowly with the building now up to level two.

Parramatta Interchange development will soon take the centre stage! :)

The railway station upgrade is kicking off and one section of Argyle St will be closed this month....

But the most exciting part is the Bus Interchange and proposed 11 cinemas/restaurant/cafe development above it! Westfield have lodged a new development application with the Council and the plans are on public display. There is a stunning rendering of the proposed complex in today's Parramatta Advertiser - hope it gets approved asap! :carrot: :banana:

The Westfield D/A goes before Parramatta Council tonight. I hope it's approved. I don't want that site empty for much longer.

the pic is in today tele! it has a large predestian bridge over Church st and Westfileds new 5storey bldg on the cnr next to the 26storey tower which rises in background! looks great!

Here the pic & story .....

http://images.news.com.au/thedailytelegraph/1345699_westfield.jpg

IN Parramatta, it seems all roads lead to Westfield.

Retail giant grows

By NICOLETTE BURKE Local Government Reporte
May 17, 2004

The shopping centre giant already dominates and, tonight, Parramatta Council is likely to approve a $50 million expansion, including the State Government's new transport interchange.

Train and bus users will be guided to the shops by underground walkways and overhead footbridges.

A group of business owners on Church St is opposing the proposal, saying it will threaten the viability of their strip.

Parramatta Chinese Business Association president, Ricky Char, owner of the Tingha Restaurant group, said negotiations gained some concessions for the community but it would still have an impact on their takings.

" A lot of people would go in there and not come to the street level shops," Mr Char said.

Some of the group's recommendations – including covering the footbridge with glass to enable pedestrians to see other shopping opportunities and escalators and stairs that lead to street level – are expected to be adopted by council.

Westfield also repositioned escalators to allow visibility between the street and concourse level to promote movement toward Church St, at council's request.

Westfield will also pay the Chinese community $50,000 a year for the next five years to host and promote cultural events.

The report before council includes a response from ICAC over whether it was legal for the State Government to enter into an exclusive negotiation with Westfield to privately develop part of the interchange.

ICAC said, while it had provided probity advice, it did not determine if the government agency had complied with this advice.

Westfield spokesman Matthew Abbott said Westfield's plans were on display and invited the public's view on them.

"We think our project will be a big plus for the southern Church St area and give life and vitality to the bus and rail interchange, particularly in the evening," he said.

This one is likely to be approved in tomorrow's Council meeting!

There are actually 3 new proposed cinemas (2400 new seats in total) and 45-50 new retail shops and restaurants....

Fingers crossed! :)

Here is a picture of the empty Westfield site along with the site of Escen

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/p082cf1064ff5c7eb3d95515cba7c2f10/f9812384.jpg

It's concerning to the Church st businesses, I mean, Westfield's is big enough. However, the improved transport interchange is LONG overdue. It will be interesting to see how it will fit together...

If I'am right, the site was intended to house the bus - rail interchange to be built as part of the Parramatta - Chatswood Rail link, but with the Parramatta - Epping component now on hold, they seem to assume that this component won't be built. It's good that the site will be developed but I wonder what will happen when the line does get built out there? What do they do then?

The picture shows the site of the new Bus Interchange - cinemas and shops will be built atop of it! The latest news is that 3-4 restaurants will be opened on the ground level too. It seems that a new rail link to P'matta will never be built....I'm glad the Interchange is still going ahead - the major centre like Parra needs a great transport hub regardless of the new link (current bus terminals and parts of the railway station are an absolute disaster...)

So called Church St businesses are just a bunch of cheap shops and restaurants (can't get any tackier than that)... :wallbash:
Those people should be only happy to have a grand new Interchange & world class cinemas next door - btw, it was a great relief when old Argyle St shops were demolished! I reckon Church St shop owners should be forced to upgrade their shops (if Westfield pays them for their potential 'loss' they should invest it into something useful!)....

This is finally something that can be described as 21st century Parramatta! Another big step will be the Civic Place! :carrot: :pepper:

This was on the back page of the business section in The Weekend S.M.H....

114 - 124 Church Street:

*The properties are centrally located on the eastern side of Church Street between Fitzwilliam & Parkes Streets.

*Close to Westfield Shoppingtown and Parramatta Bus / Rail Interchange.

*Development Application has been lodged to Council for the proposal of 80 residential apartments with one, two and three bedrooms and approximately 2,300 sqm of commercial and retail space, subject to Council Approval.

*The properties are currently leased to various tenancies with net rental income of approximately $374,848 per annum.

*Plans and drawings are available for viewing upon request. (ouwh, go Parra. forumers!!)

*Expressions of Interest: 09 July 2004, 3.00pm

http://www.propertylook.com.au/listings/KF/KF_67/300/KF_67_30186_18228.jpg

Another tower in 'Chinatown'??? Very Escen-like design!

They're all starting to look like Escen.

Cool, thanks for the info Muse - the tower looks about the same height as Escén, so it will probably be amongst Parra's tallest towers! It looks like it is just on the other side of the FreightCorp building, so Escén and this one will appear quite close together on the skyline! :)

I count 25 floors in this one, so prob ~80m, and being slightly more elevated than Escen, probably appear equal height....funny how tiny the Freight Corp building now looks in that render.

Anyway, I hope this doesn't go the way of many other "proposals" by people looking to offload a Parramatta landholding (ie demolishing the shops and leaving an empty lot to rot for 10 years ala cnr Macquarie/Marsden/Hunter Sts).

Fingers crossed someone with money is interested, and indeed looks quite Escenly....

Cheers
(Thanks Muse!!! :) )
PS- any idea who's offering it up for tender- agent?

Thanks for that scoop Muse. It doesn't look too bad at all, and should aid in the revitalisation of Church Street. I recently walked up this part of the street, and it looked a bit drab, in need of an upgrade.

I don't think it will the go the way of other proposals at all seeing the properties can be sold before even one sod of soil is turned and if they ain't selling, they can ditch it or postpone like they did with Emporio, which now has only just started.

This part of Church St may look like a little canyon in near future! There is one more ground scraper under development further south adjacent to the Suzuki's construction site!

One thing is for sure, if 'Escen2' is approved all units will be sold off the plan! (it's right in the heart of Chinatown)

This one is likely to be approved in tomorrow's Council meeting!

There are actually 3 new proposed cinemas (2400 new seats in total) and 45-50 new retail shops and restaurants....

Fingers crossed! :)

It's been approved

Here are the details from the Council Minutes on the Parramatta Council website (www.parracity.nsw.gov.au).

Minutes - City Development - 17 May 2004

Item No: 06 SUBJECT Civic Place - Westfield's Transport Interchange Proposal

REFERENCE G/2493

REPORT OF Senior Project Officer - Civic Place (CG 53/2004). Also, Manager Property Services Memorandum dated 14 May 2004.

Minutes No: 7164 RESOLVED (moved by Esber / seconded by Garrard)

(a) That Council acknowledge the design presented by Westfield for the footpath and pedestrian access and movement provisions at the Church and Argyle Street frontage as having satisfied the design resolutions of the Council Meeting of 22 December 2003.
(b) That Council acknowledge the amendments made by Westfield in the Church Street area to improve the vista and landscape opportunities as having satisfied the design resolutions of the Council Meeting of 22 December 2003.
(c) That Council inform Westfield that the Council in its capacities as the owner in fee simple of the public road comprising Church Street, Parramatta and as the Roads Authority for that road, support in principle Westfield’s proposal for the provision of both a pedestrian overbridge and pedestrian tunnel between Westfield Shoppingtown and the new Cinema Complex in the proposed Parramatta Interchange Building.
(d) Further, that
(1) Council, as owner in fee simple of the public road comprising Church Street, Parramatta, give owners consent for a pedestrian overbridge construction at 90° angle to the cinema complex and shopping centre, and construction of a retail underpass/tunnel.
(2) Council consent, as the Roads Authority for the public road comprising Church Street Parramatta, to an application that may be required to be approved under the Roads Act 1993 in connection with the construction of a pedestrian overbridge and tunnel.
NOTE: 1. Councillor A Issa OAM (6.51 pm) and Councillor C E Worthington (6.56 pm) arrived at the meeting during consideration of this matter.

2. The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor M K Walsh assumed the Chair during consideration and voting to enable the Lord Mayor, Councillor J D Finn, to participate in debate on this issue.

Thanks Fabian, great to note that a pedestrian tunnel is also proposed, thus giving a chance to revitalise the terrible lower ground floor of Westfield. Of course great to see that the development is approved in principle. Gonna be interesting to see how they fit in the extension with the current floorplan of the shopping centre, I assume the bridge will lead from level 4 (requiring Pumpkin Patch and Vendor shoe stores to be removed) thus to link the aboveground extension directly with the current cinemas. The below ground part though I wonder aloud how it will fit into the new interchange. As far as I can see there will be no underground platforms at Parra station anymore, and the bus interchange is at ground level...

Anyways fingers crossed that the SRA don't ned the empty lot for too long with the station redevelopment and Westfield can start building ASAP.

Cheers

PS- also good to note "moved by Esber"- liberal councillor, "seconded by Garrard"- labour councillor. Nice to see teamwork occurring there by people of the opposite teams. Go Parra Council! (nice also to see something resembling pro-development for a change too...)

Sorry to be back again so quickly!!!

I've been looking through council minutes, and found a few developments worth mentioning-

The site next to Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket on Church St between Campbell and Great Western Hwy (105 Church St) is to be an 8 level mixed use project. The deep excavation that is currently evident on-site is to be a 3 level basement carpark. Nice to see more basement carparks in Parra! Anyone know if actual construction is happening on this one yet?

Yet another 6 storey apartment block is to be built in that Parkes St area, this one at 52 Station St East (where precisely is this? I don't have a Sydway with me over here...)Looks like another density filler for this area.

Cheers

Hey ParraMan - if you ever need to check an address, just go to http://www.street-directory.com.au/ - it is the Sydway directory online (and the Melway and Brisway too for that matter, plus other formats of the rest of Australia).

Basically Station St East is right near to Harris Park train station. :)

The mixed use project on Church St will be nice - 8 storeys sound cool (the foundation work is well under way)...The large new Suzuki Centre is being built next door.... This is such a great improvement for the GWH/Church/Campbell block! Even the famous pub across the road has been refurbished!

The Westfield extension is still pending the final approval (one of the amendments is the request for a perpendicular skybridge). The Council as the owner of the site are still trying to get the best financial deal for themselves....

Thanks finn, I owe you a beer next time I'm around your way!

And yeah the renderings for the Church St site look pretty good, don't know the materials unfortunately, but has a fair bit of glass and a nice inverted roof at the top with retail stores at ground level.

Parramatta Shortlists Four To Vie For Civic Place!!

Parramatta City Council today selected its shortlist of private sector companies to be asked to bid to partner development of one of the largest urban renewal opportunities in the Sydney metropolitan area.


The $900 million Parramatta Civic Place gateway project involves the complete redevelopment of a three hectare city block whilst showcasing important Australian heritage.

Council last night decided to request Grocon Pty Ltd, Bovis Lend Lease Pty Ltd, Leighton Properties/James Fielding Group/Industry Superannuation Property Trust and Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd to submit detailed proposals in line with the 2003 approved Masterplan for the site.

Already Sydney Water has committed to moving its headquarters to the Civic Place site from its current Sydney CBD location at Bathurst Street. Sydney Water has purchased land within the Civic Place Precinct for a new head office.

Council is undertaking a two-stage open tendering process for the entire project - a whole city block in the heart of Parramatta - to enable efficient construction, phasing and site development.

It will include integration of heritage resources and Environmentally Sustainable Development initiatives such as water recycling across the whole development.

The shortlisted companies will be asked to respond to a detailed Request for Proposals document and to develop design and financial proposals. The selection process is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The public transport interchange and Civic Place represent major urban renewal projects centred on the railway station. Civic Place will result in 4800 long term jobs and about 6000 indirect and construction jobs, giving the local economy an immediate boost.

The State Government-approved Master Plan proposes:


- 65,000m² commercial office space
- 35,000m² new retail space planned to enhance the shopping experience available within Parramatta CBD and fill gaps identified in the current retail mix
- 6000m² of community space
- new central library, council offices and other community facilities
- up to 800 residential dwellings
- pedestrian links to the Parramatta transport hub, a new cinema complex and Westfield Parramatta

Go Parra! :)

Yay!

35,000 sq m of retail? Westfield is going to love that NOT! Let's see what tactics greedy old Westy tries to pull with this one.

Civic Place is definitely a "goer". It's been too long in the planning and there are other parties involved i.e. Sydney Water & The Transport Dept.

Yo Parra!

On another topic, the Roxy has finally opened its doors!!! It is again a (arthouse) cinema, run by the Palace group, but also a multipurpose facility, hosting live events and conferences- a lot already booked for the rest of the year, aswell as the bars etc on the George St frontage. Thank god it's finally open, I really hope it does a lot better than the old Village/Hoyts effort...

They've got a really cool site too- theroxy.com.au (http://www.theroxy.com.au/ro/index.php?id=home)

On another topic, the Roxy has finally opened its doors!!! It is again a (arthouse) cinema, run by the Palace group, but also a multipurpose facility, hosting live events and conferences- a lot already booked for the rest of the year, aswell as the bars etc on the George St frontage. Thank god it's finally open, I really hope it does a lot better than the old Village/Hoyts effort...

Interesting! I asked my friends from work that live near Parramatta about it: they both said that it was now basically a night club - one of them absolutely loves it cause it plays lots of club/dance/remix pop and the other hates it! She prefers the R&B nights at One World Sport in the upstairs nightclub. ;)

Ooops, made a mistake, checking thru the site, it's got no cinema, but a theatre for comedy shows, and conferences etc.

@finn, I'd definitely be one for the Roxy option, looking at the line up for this Sunday, the party kicks off at midday, and includes DJ Kid kenobi, mark dynamix and quite a few others that I don't know.

:dance:
This place has still got to be running when I go back to Oz one day!!!

the Roxy was once the largest building in Parramatta!!

(bldg in centre of pic)http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23817065-v


1975
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3082736-v

http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3082751-v
groovy interior!

http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3098118-v

^ Fantastico!! ^

Looks typically set for the older demographic. Events include "State of Origin III" and "Miss Snow Bunny 04" lol :|

http://www.theroxy.com.au/st/images/roxynights/preview_2.gif

Shame about the Palace Cinemas. Speaking of demographics, "Super Size Me" would have been a perfect opening feature.

Anyways.....back to real skyscrapers, and I don't know if you'd really call this in Parramatta, but Skyton developments (who is building Dominion Apartments in Parramatta, 9 floors), have a render on their site- http://www.skyton.com.au/projects_future2.htm of their new development next to James Ruse Drive North Rocks/North Parramatta, it's 12 storeys!!! The site is currently empty, left over from the construction of James Ruse Dr in the mid 80's, and a small fatory, it's a very narrow site leading from North Rocks Rd to the edge of Lake Parramatta Reserve, a beautiful piece of rainforest. Hope it gets going soon!

Cheers

I read in todays local that 2 devlopers have submitted 2 sperate DAs, both of which are for 9 storey residential towers. And surprise, surprise, both building are to be constructed in Hassall St, Parramattas premier street for construction! :)

Yeah, things are happening in Parra slowly but surely....

The latest design revealed is the "Etoile" residential block ('mystery' building being built on the cnr of Campbell and Church next to Suzuki development). This new "star" of Parramatta looks very average, around 6-7 storeys I reckon but still a huge improvement for that site! There is a great potential for 2 more developments on Campbell St very close to "Etoile". Maybe one day... :)

http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3098118-v

LMAO, I remember going to the Roxy back in the 80's, because that was the closest cinema there was living in the Hills District. In fact, there were no cinemas at Castle Hill or Maquarie Center. There was one dingy little one at Hornsby, and that always showed movies two or three weeks later than their release date.

It's good to see that the Roxy hasn't changed after all the years... I think they even have the same plastic furniture by the looks of it.

What's going on with all the french-sounding buildings going up in Parra...Altius, is this "etoile" right on the corner of Church/Campbell? where Motorcycle Accessories is/was, or next to that on Church St?

@Vitriol, I'm too young to remember what the Roxy used to look like, but watched Ghostbusters there in the early 80's when I was a little kid. The decor has now definitely changed in the Roxy (I'm guessing that image is from 1975) It now looks like your standard trendy Sydney CBD bar, a mix of est, tank stream bar and Civic Hotel.

The last image of The Stage Deli is exactly the same as the older Hoyts George Street cineplex b4 the major overhaul. Same position, same decorating (not)....same!

Could somebody confirm it is the Roxy just for my piece of mind.

@Vitriol, I'm too young to remember what the Roxy used to look like, but watched Ghostbusters there in the early 80's when I was a little kid. The decor has now definitely changed in the Roxy (I'm guessing that image is from 1975)

Those of us who remember the Roxy... there were only the Village cinemas in Parramatta, and what wasn't showing there was usually showing at the Roxy (due to it being a Hoyts).

The Roxy was actually a pink building at the time. You'd actually think that the place showed pornos just looking at the outside of it. The building, interiors, decor, etc... screamed tacky dark and dingy 1970s.

Actually, now that I think of it - to live in the Hills District at the time, the closet cinemas were the Roxy and Village cinemas in Parramatta, the crappy little one in Hornsby and the ones at Chatswood.

Or you could turn the day into an adventure and take the train into the city and see something at one of the "Big Three" cinemas on George Street, which have now been consolidated into one.

I guess Stage Deli is The Roxy then.

Anyways.....back to real skyscrapers, and I don't know if you'd really call this in Parramatta, but Skyton developments (who is building Dominion Apartments in Parramatta, 9 floors), have a render on their site- http://www.skyton.com.au/projects_future2.htm of their new development next to James Ruse Drive North Rocks/North Parramatta, it's 12 storeys!!! The site is currently empty, left over from the construction of James Ruse Dr in the mid 80's, and a small fatory, it's a very narrow site leading from North Rocks Rd to the edge of Lake Parramatta Reserve, a beautiful piece of rainforest. Hope it gets going soon!

Cheers
this still qaulifies for paramatta in ss.com. thanks for scoop
looks great

Yep, "Etoile" is being built not right on the corner but next to the existing motorcycle accessories 'bunker'.....Will look a bit awkward but that's the way it is! Luckily we are getting a new Suzuki centre on the other side! :)

Did you know that six shopkeepers are holding up work on Civic Place?:wallbash:
Just take the money and go

From The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au)

Shopkeepers hold out against $1bn project
By Darren Goodsir, Urban Affairs Editor
July 27, 2004

Six shopkeepers - including an Indian jewellery and fashion store, an underwear seller, a dentist and a hamburger chain - are standing in the way of Parramatta Council's plans to proceed with a $1 billion re-development of the city's run-down commercial centre.

As a result of the unlikely alliance's refusal to accept council's buy-out offers, the Civic Place project is likely to be delayed by six months.

A deal with one of four preferred tenderers - Bovis Lend Lease, Grocon, a consortium led by Leighton Properties and Multiplex - was initially due to be reached by Christmas.

But last Friday, the council's general manager, John Neish, said the reluctance of the Local Government Minister, Tony Kelly, to approve the compulsory acquisition of the Darcy Street lots - some of the last remaining non-council premises on the three-hectare site - had delayed the project.

A spokeswoman for Mr Kelly said yesterday that no decision would be made on the proposal until legislation was enacted - in line with recommendations from the Daly inquiry - to cover all public-private deals.

The Daly inquiry into public-private ventures recommended that council developments worth more than $30 million dollars or 25 per cent of the coucil's operating budget should be subject to government review.

Mr Neish said the State Government also wanted time "to examine our integrity and risk processes".

"Council has put in place a series of measures to ensure our own community, Government and the development industry all have the highest confidence in what we are doing for the project," Mr Neish said.

The Civic Place project, and the adjacent $110 million Parramatta rail and bus interchange, are seen as pivotal to the city's rejuvenation plans.

During the past few decades, the council has bought 82 per cent of the land to the north of the station, helping to propel long-held plans to launch a commercial, residential, government and retail centre, and open up much-needed public space.

It is in the process of buying land Australia Post and the Uniting Church.

But the eight sites owned by the six landlords is proving harder to acquire.

The Carr Government approved a master plan for the development in March 2003.

One of those holding out, Dr Lincoln Chew, said the council had offered him $450,000 for his dental surgery, the same price he paid for the old milk bar eight years ago.

"This offer takes into account nothing of the improvements that I have made, or of the price rises that have occurred in property in recent years," he said yesterday. "The issue is not whether I am willing to sell, it is whether I am willing to sell at any price. If the offer is fair enough, I will move out tomorrow."

Naheed Mirza, manager of a neighbouring store, Roshan's Fashion,

said she was aware of the plans to transform the city's shopping areas, but had no idea her boss might be forced to sell.

"I would hope we would survive any move," Mrs Mirza said.

:wtf: That's absolutely ridiculous! :bash:

I can't believe the bloody Council can't pay them straight away and kick them out...6 months delay?? That's crazy, can't be right! :soapbox:

The problem lies with the shopkeepers who refuse to take the councils money and go. It's them who is stopping the council from letting this get built.

I'm sure they can afford to pay a bit extra to buy the folks out.

Someone should merely burn down their shops :D

I cant believe the stupidity of some people, they just want more money. Greedy shits IMO.

The former site of Parramatta hospital is slated for redevelopment into a legal precient. A courthouse which features 14 courts will be built on the site along with commercial and residential development. The remainants of the Tent Hospital will be restored as part of the redevelopment.

It's good times for Parra :cheers:

I think the first cab off the rank is the new Children's court, nothing much has been released for the other buildings for this site.

There is a cover story in today's Parramatta Advertiser...There will be a record number of courts but also residential, retail and commercial office space...Should be complete in 3 years.

There is a cover story in today's Parramatta Advertiser...There will be a record number of courts but also residential, retail and commercial office space...Should be complete in 3 years.

I saw that. However most of the buildings looked pissy in height of no more than several metres. What they should do is build a couple of tall classy 20-30+ residential buildings next to the river bank. That would look cool down there. Give the place a bit of a Southbank by the Yarra look about the place IMO :)

The guys at Dominion are having a stocktake sale with apartments now on sale from $329 000. How is work on the tower proceeding?

Skyton are making a good progress - 'Dominion' will top out before the year's end...

Also Meriton's 'Westport' is almost complete externally...Doesn't look too horrible!

Two residential 'mid-rise' towers on Church St (Church & Palmer and Church & Albert) are in the final stage of construction too...

Etoile is above ground now (advertising campaign is in full swing)....So is another residential tower on Campbell St (near O'Connell).

Commercial tower on Argyle & O'Connell is well above ground. Will top out this year.

Escen is yet to start! - Estate Properties will probably commence construction later in the year?? (they are talkin' about late 2006 completion date!...)

thanks for updates alt!

Yep, THANKS aswell, Altius, good to hear they're still working over there on these sites, especially the one on corner of Argyle/O'Connell, which is to be 15 floors apparently.

I was just checking out the site of the developers, Dyldam (developers of the Cannes apartments at Westmead), and was wondering whether construction was happening on it yet.

Follow the link below for a render...as I can't seem to post images myself:Argyle Street, Parramatta (http://www.dyldam.com.au/futureDetails.asp?propertyID=58)

Cheers, Matt

Escen tower should be under construction very soon! The first hoardings were erected on Church St next to historic Fire Station! :)

Also, demolition work is in full swing along the railway station...clearing the way for mighty Parramatta Interchange...

:cheers:

I saw in an ad in The Blacktown City Sun mentioning that 70 % of apartments in the Dominion have now been sold. Thats great news especially when some developments in more popular areas ie Sydney CBD are struggling to even grab sales!!!! :)

Yep, THANKS aswell, Altius, good to hear they're still working over there on these sites, especially the one on corner of Argyle/O'Connell, which is to be 15 floors apparently.

I was just checking out the site of the developers, Dyldam (developers of the Cannes apartments at Westmead), and was wondering whether construction was happening on it yet.

Follow the link below for a render...as I can't seem to post images myself:Argyle Street, Parramatta (http://www.dyldam.com.au/futureDetails.asp?propertyID=58)

Cheers, Matt

The building underway on the cnr of Argyle & O'connel I think is only intended to be several stories high. I wish it would be 15 floors ..... :)

According to the Cityrail website, There will be major construction of the Western Concourse at Parramatta Station this weekend and on Monday as part of construction of the transport interchange. There will a suspension of train services between Parramatta and St Marys/Richmond and Blue Mountains Services will operate from Emu Plains to enable the work to be done. :)

Follow the link below for a render...as I can't seem to post images myself:Argyle Street, Parramatta (http://www.dyldam.com.au/futureDetails.asp?propertyID=58)Cheers, MattWell here is the pic of it albeit small. - If you do a serach on the left hand menues of the link provided above by ParraMan, the below pic comes up as 15 levels It also looks like there is an LMR (Lift Motor Room) atop - bringing it's height up even further. It will be an office building as note there are absolutely no balconies - fully glass clad from the below render...

_____________________http://www.dyldam.com.au/pics/montage%20dyldam.png

...

^^ Cheers Muse, thanks for putting that in. It's an interesting design, and not too certain whether to be excited about it or not, it has elements of 80's design with the concave corner curves and the colour of the building.

I hope this does get to be 15 floors, Sincity, is it looking anything like this atm?

Anyways I've just booked a ticket to go yet again on a holiday down under so am looking forward to seeing all the action in person!!!

Cheers

^^ Cheers Muse, thanks for putting that in. It's an interesting design, and not too certain whether to be excited about it or not, it has elements of 80's design with the concave corner curves and the colour of the building.

I hope this does get to be 15 floors, Sincity, is it looking anything like this atm?

Anyways I've just booked a ticket to go yet again on a holiday down under so am looking forward to seeing all the action in person!!!

Cheers

So far the core is about level 5 with a couple of floor plates. Taller would be better but if it is 15 levels than that would be great. I watch it every day as I pass by in the train. :)

Can't be 15 levels - the bottom part and the middle curved section (as per the rendering) are already complete (floor plates) and that's only 5 levels! So it's gonna be around 8-9 storeys!

dont like it at all
height not so much a problems it the over all desgin ugh !

Can't be 15 levels - the bottom part and the middle curved section (as per the rendering) are already complete (floor plates) and that's only 5 levels! So it's gonna be around 8-9 storeys!

I counted 11 floors in the render. One floor may not be visible due to the setbacks

Finally, we have some construction activity at the Escen tower site! The partial demolition of the Church St Fire Station has commenced this weekend. I guess the tower excavation work is to follow very soon! (I am sure this one will not end up like the 'Exeter Manor' site development which has been dormant all year - hope it's not dead!).

btw, Escen should be complete by June 2006... :)

I think my guesstimate on the above render was a bit "ambitious" @ 15 levels - more wishful thinking than an acute observation. It's still hard to tell from the set-backs and glasswork, so I dunno. :dunno:

have i got this one ss.com? even though its 11 storeys it easily 40m+ so should be on there. also its UC now!!
height estimate- 11storeys x 3.7m = 40m + plant 5m ,total-45m?

There was a quick report (but a main story) on Parra's Civic Centre on Channel 9's 6.00PM news last night.

It had the Mayor sprouting her confidence in the project and the voice-over saying to be completed within the next 5 years.

Also that it will be a boost for Parramatta in the business and entertainment industries and that it will be a contender for Sydney's 2nd CBD (as we already know).

[Let's hope this be a boost for Chatswood and North Sydney as well. Yeah! :)]

They showed the renders for the Civic Centre & Westfield that are in this thread.

Anyways, more leasing news for Parramatta ...... Westpac is looking for 10,000sqp of office space in Parramatta. They are trying to consolidate suburban office space.

Work is soon to start on the Childrens Court which is part of the new legal precinct redevelopment.

^Cool, great news SinCity, I thought Westpac was going to be reducing its space requirement in Parramatta due to KENS, so this is great news, I very much hope they find suitable space! (Maybe Exeter Manor or 101 George would be great...)

This new legal precinct has been a thing for years and years, and has stayed in the back of my mind as one of those things the government likes to tell us so that we vote for them, so I will be genuinely excited when I see construction (as opposed to demolition) starting!

Cheers, and thanks for the update!

I think my guesstimate on the above render was a bit "ambitious" @ 15 levels - more wishful thinking than an acute observation. It's still hard to tell from the set-backs and glasswork, so I dunno. :dunno:

Muse, you can blame me for that, I got the 15 levels from the site itself, the render seems much smaller so who knows what they're really planning- either a misleading artist to suggest views of the Westfield carpark behind it will be protected, or misleading info to get us skyscraper nuts excited. I dunno either :dunno:

Was just checking out the latest on Parra developments through my secret sources, and found not much big to be happening. That said, latest progress:

*The application for the courts development reveals that they will be demolishing most of the Parramatta Medical Services precinct for the project, excluding Jeffrey House (the four storey building from the 40's next to the river), and the curved building facing Marsden St. They will be integrated with the new development, and part of a new health service centre also to be on the site. It is the longest occupied health services site in Australia!

* Westfield has started construction of the new pedestrian tunnel under Church St, with works occuring on the corner of Church and Wentworth, part of the transprort interchange site. With Westfield, does anyone know what the "Terrace Food Court" is? I believe it is on level 6 above the foodcourt on level 5...where Intencity used to have their top floor.

* The first of two new underpasses to connect Argyle and Hassall Sts has been constructed, the second will be built this week, using the largest (800 tonne) crane in Australia!

* Grinspoon is playing at the Roxy!!!

Cheers

OK, here is a couple of projects under submission with the council. Basically for those that have seen, Hassall Street is almost a wall street with little space for anything but a couple more developments (Oh how I wish someone would do something with that corner opposite the pub :ohno: )

Anyway, Charles Street, around the corner heading towards Meritons project by the river is the next Parra hot spot for developers.

These are 2 submissions under consideration by the council which were in todays local paper .....

5-7 Charles Street
Construction of a 17 level serviced apartment tower over basement parking. (Existing commercial building to be demolished)

6-10 Charles Street (across the road ;) )
Construction of a 2x building complex, consisting of a 12 level and a 6 level mixed building consisting of apartments and ground floor retail.

looks like a lot of contrcrution is going on~

i dont know i was out there to day at the police HQ building and from the top floors it looked so empty

But was also so shocked to see a whole section of prime realestate shops knocked down for the transport interchange that is Under C

Thanks for the info SinCity, would I be correct in guessing the building to be demolished is the old Prospect CU building (ugly 2 storey brick and pebblecrete building with arches)? That block has been ready for redevelopment for a long time- it seems buildings (houses) were demolished ten years ago to make way for something and they have since been covered by surface carparking. I do very much they go ahead sooner rather than later, thanks to Parra Council for approving these....

Secondly, browsing through council's business papers, it seems they are looking at design changes to Escen, pylons to go through the roof of the fire station, providing car-lifts instead of ramps and facade treatments among others. I guess this explains the distinctly slow action on this one.

Finally, (don't know if I deserve it....) everyone congratulate me on reaching 500posts!!! Quite appropriately on the Parramatta page (I did plan it this way btw...) :cheers: and LOL.

Cheers

thanks guys, ive added new bldgs to ss.com.
hey i was wondering if you could tell me if the large meriton complex called West Port is completed yet? i have 2 towers as UC on ss.com.
cheers

West Port towers were completed externally a couple of months ago.

thanx alt. how does the complex look? good or meritonian?

hey, ive updated parra on ss.com and now totals 30 completed scrapers.
its total is 48.
this is what i have UC atm>
1. Escen on Church 84 m /25 /2005
2. Monach 50 m /16 /2004
3. Argyle Steet Tower 45 m /11 /2005
4. The Centour, Tower A 50m/ 16/ 2004
5. The Centour, Tower B 36/12 /2004

is this correct or are some missing?

thanx alt. how does the complex look? good or meritonian?

Looks great, definately not Meritonian in design, hardly any beige, more natural tones in it, but the way it fronts the street makes for a smart addition to this area. Pity it wasn't taller .......

Thanks for the info SinCity, would I be correct in guessing the building to be demolished is the old Prospect CU building (ugly 2 storey brick and pebblecrete building with arches)? That block has been ready for redevelopment for a long time- it seems buildings (houses) were demolished ten years ago to make way for something and they have since been covered by surface carparking. I do very much they go ahead sooner rather than later, thanks to Parra Council for approving these....

Secondly, browsing through council's business papers, it seems they are looking at design changes to Escen, pylons to go through the roof of the fire station, providing car-lifts instead of ramps and facade treatments among others. I guess this explains the distinctly slow action on this one.

Finally, (don't know if I deserve it....) everyone congratulate me on reaching 500posts!!! Quite appropriately on the Parramatta page (I did plan it this way btw...) :cheers: and LOL.

Cheers

Congratualtions on your 500th! :cheers1:

I'm not exactly sure which building is to be leveled, there are plenty of fugly candidates in this part of Parramatta. I'll take a look if I get down that way.

hey, ive updated parra on ss.com and now totals 30 completed scrapers.
its total is 48.
this is what i have UC atm>
1. Escen on Church 84 m /25 /2005
2. Monach 50 m /16 /2004
3. Argyle Steet Tower 45 m /11 /2005
4. The Centour, Tower A 50m/ 16/ 2004
5. The Centour, Tower B 36/12 /2004

is this correct or are some missing?

Unfortunately, the u/c list is too long! LOL Escen site has been dormant since the Fire Station demolition...Centour towers are not u/c (I think they need to demolish a couple of buildings first). Looks like Argyle St office tower will be under 11 levels...Monach tower in Westmead is already complete externally...Apart from Argyle & O'Connell St commercial the only other ones under construction are Etoile (Church & Campbell), Dominion (Hassall) and the one near the cnr of Campbell & O'Connell (all ground scraper residential)...Hope someone buys No1A Hassall soon! (It's been an eyesore for too long)

There are no true skyscrapers u/c in Parra atm! :bash:

thanx alt.hmmm i was told centour were uc?
the 11storey Argyle st tower is 45m so its easily a skyscraper is it UC?

thanx alt.hmmm i was told centour were uc?
the 11storey Argyle st tower is 45m so its easily a skyscraper is it UC?

Sure it is - the only new office tower u/c in Parra! (Exeter Manor seems dead and Civic Place is gonna start next year - God willing lol). It seems like we'll see the final core rise next week....Should be a great looker!

btw, the Centour is proposed residential highrise @ No3 Hassall Street (no action yet - need to demolish existing blocks of units first). On the other hand, the Centurion is the 45m/11 st office tower currently u/c on the cnr of Argyle & O'Connell Sts! Bloody names! lol

Thanks for the congrats Sincity- looks like I've gone back though in the last few weeks....

Anyways, a little update-

No3 Hassall St, The Centaur site, has applied to council for an amended da of two towers of 4 floors and 18 floors, with 55 apartments over basement car parking.

The long-awaited development at 25 Smith St (Exeter Manor) is awaiting re-assessment as they want to reduce the height (of course...) by one level.

That seems to be it. Cheers

I went to Parramatta today. Here are some shots from the major sites in the CBD

Escen - Excavations have begun

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p1c6ec843641de9e3476d3860ef80cb9a/f661bb35.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pcf16fcde3a69fe29c3cf99024921469f/f661bb68.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p529f2a39d694fa217e40dff2f83dd681/f661bb4f.jpg

134 Argyle Street - Core is at level 10, floorplates are at level 9

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p42e4a0211f39e540c873a471ca51ab12/f661bad8.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p07bd1976d261f28f8e6d54776e017fc6/f661bae8.jpg

Westport - virtually complete

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p682327fb2f82f58c6bf9fe846ae1cee9/f661be2e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/pc4712e358e295a5c4bb15014185221bf/f661bdfe.jpg

Dominion - topped out

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p7178a2ba8d1ff0dbecc6f2c737ba7c7f/f661bdc3.jpg

thanks for update i will be out there monday for interview will get some from top of police center it gives a great view as i have been there before

Fabian, great pics! :)

Great pics. Looks like P is moving along quite well. I know there are plenty of sites and plenty of potential out west. Good to see this new developemnt. :)

Parra is moving slowly but surely...Here is the summary:

Recently completed:

1. West Port - residential, Charles St
2. Residential ground scraper on the cnr of Church & Palmer Sts
3. Residential ground scraper on the cnr of Church & Albert Sts
4. Fiori - residential towers, Hassall St
5. Elma - residential tower, Hassall St
6. Skyline residential tower, Hassall St
7. NSW Police HQ - Charles St
8. Residential block on the cnr of Macquarie & Pitt Sts
9. Residential block on the cnr of Hunter & Pitt Sts
10. Residential highrise on Good St, Mays Hill
11. Residential on Campbell St, near the cnr with Pitt St
12. Residential ground scraper, Cowper & Marion Sts
13. Monarch highrise residential in Westmead, Bridge Rd

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Under construction:

1. Centurion - office, Argyle & O'Connell
2. Suzuki - commercial, Gt Western Hwy & Church
3. Etoile - residential, Church & Campbell
4. Residential tower on Campbell, near the cnr with O'Connell
5. Parramatta Point - 10 residential buildings being built at 98 Marsden St
6. Dominion - residential, Hassall St
7. Escen - 25 st residential, Church & Fitzwilliam, full scale excavation will commence very soon
8. Office building(?) on Marsden St facing Parramatta River
9. The Interchange - Argyle, Fitzwilliam & Darcy Sts

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Approved:

1. Civic Place - mixed use highrise: Church, Macquarie, Smith & Darcy Sts, Parra City Council will award contract to the preferred developer by April 2005
2. Exeter Manor site - office, Macquarie & Smith Sts, amended design expected soon?
3. Centaur - high rise residential, 3 Hassal St, amended design expected soon?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Proposed:

1. Office tower @ No1A Hassall St, vacant site currently offered for sale
2. High rise serviced apts @ 5-7 Charles St
3. Residential buildings @ 6-10 Charles St
4. Office tower @ 101 George, seems dead now?
5. Parra Hospital site - proposed Legal Precinct, Marsden & George Sts
6. 'Parramatta Central' site - Macquarie, Marsden & Hunter Sts, the latest proposal is a 9 level mixed development
7. 'Parramall' tower - high rise serviced apts, George St
8. Highrise mixed use tower in Chinatown, Church St
9. Mixed use tower on the cnr of Victoria Rd and Church St, the most prominent site in North Parra, seems dead?
10. Commercial building on Hunter St, near the cnr with O'Connell
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Finally, there is a huge site bounded by George, Charles and Union Sts & Argus Lane (opposite West Port) which is presumably earmarked for future development. Does anybody know what is planned there? (maybe another Meriton tower??)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Great round up Altius.

Estate porperties on the cnr of Marsden and George has some models on display incl. Escen and neo20 (Melbourne).

Nice pix fabian, look forward to yours Trances (I'm surprised we have access to the top of heavily guraded Police Centre - or is that just the ground floor security?) and appreciate the summary Altius x 3.

New residential ground scraper on the cnr of Church & Palmer nestled between Dong San Uniting Church and Carlton Hotel:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72370900.jpg

Centurion from O'Connell St (Jessie Street Centre in the background):

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72370525.jpg

Hassall St 'canyon' (Dominion u/c):

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72369682.jpg

West Port & Colonial Centre:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72370120.jpg

New Campbell St residential ground scraper making a good progress:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72371239.jpg

101 George is still a dream:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72371829.jpg

Exeter Manor site looking sad ('now leasing!' lol):

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/73177167.jpg

'Parramatta Central' site awaiting major development:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/73177315.jpg

No1 Hassall Street site is still for sale:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/73177539.jpg

1 0 1 G E O R G E . . . . . :drool:

Nice pics Altius.

dong san? lol
sounds silly. like calling Opera House something else.
I know it as St Peters Concregational church built 1872. I measured spire at 26m high.

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/72370900.jpg

thanx for pix!

Wow!!! Looks like my extended vacation from ss was worth it...although I was planning to surprise you all in two weeks with update pics for Parra when I get there. Thanks heaps for the pics Fabian and Altius, they've really been moving on some of these developments.

About the site on the corner of Victoria and Church (old BBC), council is still looking at planning controls etc, so not quite dead but as usual, a little patience required.

Cheers

Wow!!! Looks like my extended vacation from ss was worth it...although I was planning to surprise you all in two weeks with update pics for Parra when I get there. Thanks heaps for the pics Fabian and Altius, they've really been moving on some of these developments.

About the site on the corner of Victoria and Church (old BBC), council is still looking at planning controls etc, so not quite dead but as usual, a little patience required.

Cheers

That site deserves something tall and prominent. Even the corner with Macca's should be flattened for something big. Such a prominent intersection.

alt- so what i can understand is the only 35m+ scrapers UC atm in parra are Centurion and Escen?

Yeah Richard, that's right. Escen excavation has only started (still a long way to go) and Centurion has just topped out:

http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL795/2808866/5644163/73337121.jpg

Cheers

thanks

Any chance of building a observation tower in Parramatta?

Since it's at the centre of Sydney metro.

Yup Matix, I totally agree!

I have always suggested we rip down Sydney Tower and move it to Parra - 235m is an ok height limit for a suburban CBD IMO.

Then we could keep sydney Tower - pop it the locus of the population, provide good views all over the city including the west and we could get a new tower in the city at 500-600m tall :colgate:

Stick Two International Financial Centre (Hong Kong) where Sydney Tower is positioned.

Let illuminating and spotlights do it's magic.

For Parramatta, Let's build something like Australia Square except 2 times taller. What about an obolisk!

There is a fire at Parramatta Mall at the moment. I sense something suspicious about this one:? :ohno:

Any chance of building a observation tower in Parramatta?

Since it's at the centre of Sydney metro.
yes ive always reckoned it would be a great spot for one. Since height limit is 136m, the turret would have to clear this height. parramatta would look silly with a tower that rivals sydney tower ,so nothing over 180m i would think would suit its scale.

The renders for the very dormant site, 101 George Street. Small but nice. The web site still seems to be up 'n running though.

http://www.101george.com

http://www.101george.com/images/over_strip.jpg

http://www.101george.com/images/over_main.jpg

I love this post-modernist look. Impressive!

^^Looks like crap to me...maybe if the revise the design to something more contemporary (and taller - especially being across the street from one of Parramatta's tallest) then they'll actually land an anchor tenant!! ;)

There is a fire at Parramatta Mall at the moment. I sense something suspicious about this one:? :ohno:

I think thats the site of Parramatta's new tallest proposal.

Guys ..... I think 101 George St is dead. Its a commercial proposal that I think will eventually become residential or mixed use ....... :(

^^Looks like crap to me...maybe if the revise the design to something more contemporary (and taller - especially being across the street from one of Parramatta's tallest) then they'll actually land an anchor tenant!! ;)Perhaps, perhaps it looks like crap to you finn...each to their own, huh!?!

It can't be totally dead, considering the official website is obviously still up and running.

Then again maybe both you and Maxtor are on the right track in regard to both your last posts.

Personally, I love its homage to Georgian architecture; classical lines, cornices, bay windows etc. etc..

...

Hi again everyone :)

I wouldn't get too excited about the fire, it was just a small discount store in Church St Mall, and a small fire at that. It is located between George and Macquarie Streets, in a small shop that managed to burn down two years ago (that is suspicious...)

RE 101 George, I hated it at first site when it was proposed 5 odd years ago. It has grown on me in the interim (unfortunately it itself has not managed to grow :bash: ) and I do now approve of it- as Muse mentions the classical looks, it has a sense of permanence and durability, paying some sort of respect to Parramatta's obvious heritage importance.

As far as I know, the proposal is pretty much at the height limit for that area, but with the amount of residential construction activity occurring in the immediate vicinity, surely this one has to come up one day?!?!!!!

I hope so.

Perhaps, perhaps it looks like crap to you finn...each to their own, huh!?!

It can't be totally dead, considering the official website is obviously still up and running.

Then again maybe both you and Maxtor are on the right track in regard to both your last posts.

Personally, I love its homage to Georgian architecture; classical lines, cornices, bay windows etc. etc..

...

Each to their own, yes...I haven't been a fan of post-modernism since it went out of fashion in the early 90's (examples of which were actually just buildings designed in the mid/late 80's finishing their construction i.e. Chifley Tower). Maybe it means I am too heavily influenced by current design trends, but I like to think that design keeps progressing in one form or another, as it allows the buildings that are built to form a timeline of construction in a city. :)

I think it's the strange juxtaposition of a nice, solid, block-edge, heritage-esque design with the expanses of glass curtain wall that are off-putting to me.

From around the city-

Does anyone know what is happening at the site on George St near the corner of Albion Lane? It is a very large site that has just been cleared and some digging is apparent. I can't find any info on this one???

At the interchange/Westfield site the entrance to the new tunnel into Westfield is now apparent, and as usual there is a lot of activity on site.

Centurion appears to have topped out, and internal fitting out has commenced, although facade is yet to appear.

The mystery apartment building on Marsedn St near the river is now at level two, and has a light/cream brick facade.....wtf is this??? in a prime site too?

Apartment building on Campbell St just behind Westfield carpark is now at level 6, don't know how far there is to go on this but undoubtedly not far.

And E'toile on Church St (to be 9 floors) appears to be at level 2, with a bit of level 3 at rear. It is next to the Suzuki redevelopment (new two floor showroom).

New building on Philip St by Elizabeth St footbridge is topped out and has a black marble/granite facade (only4 floors I think...)

The new apartment building on corner Albert and Church St is externally complete- front looks good but rear is another blank cream wall. I think is 7 floors?

And BrandSmart is open, with new shops opening over the next few weeks.

Cheers, will do some pics over the weekend I hope.

Thanks for the round up on Parra. All I managed to catch is what I see when I pass by in the train. This one on the cnr of Albion seems interesting. However these are dwarfs and I'm waiting to see some big ones rise.