Hey,

I noticed a sales office for "Panorama Sky Apartments" and Pacific International open up in a small shopfront next to the round Suncorp Centre building on Ann st. Is this the apartment building going in on the vacant site opposite the masons buildg on Ann st, or something else? Any clues?

Sounds like it could be - I'll take a look after I finish uni. Are there any models or anything?

Jayt

Did it look like this?
http://www.mldesign.com.au/what/images/twa_mul03_b01.jpg

http://www.mldesign.com.au/what/images/twa_mul03_b03.jpg


jt

They have an outline looking rendering, but no pictures as such yet, it looks like they are still fitting out the office. It does look a bit like that pic though but its hard to tell to the untrained eye. :cool:

I had another look today, the office is open. It looks like the tower will be both residential and an apartment hotel known as Pacific Hotel apartments. The rendering/outline looks just like the pictures so I guess we have abother tower going up. Prices start from $207,000 for a one bedroom.

jt

it looks like westpoints new ann street tower
http://www.westpoint.com.au/pictures/Ann%20Street/Perspective.gif
www.westpoint.com.au

Yep I had a closer look at the pic on the wall in the office and it is certainly the building that is in the pic posted above. Can see clearly the facade thats already there, even whats written on it.

Looking good, I wonder when construction starts :D

If anyone is interested in this tower there is now a scale model in the window of the ground floor of Oricle House on Ann Street - just near Central Station.

Looks ok but I think it will be just another one for the pile.

jt

Here are some pics of Skyline Panorama tower from RE.com

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/8021/1738021ml1053928975.jpg

http://www.realestate.com.au/objects/props/8021/1738021cl1053928965.jpg

jt

That new rendering seems to show the crown no longer in the design.

Take a look at the model on Ann street - there is no crown.

jt

Damn, that was one of the few aspects of the tower that I liked. :(

Here is a map to show where it exactly is

http://home.iprimus.com.au/sdlennon/33ann.jpg

http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/index.php

http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_default_heading.gif

http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_map_map.gif

http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_default_building.gif

http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_views_photo1.jpg


jt

i contsacted westpoint months ago for height stats and they told me 136m. But didnt mention spire? was this with original design? i might contact them again to enquire .good to see this one starting up

Originally posted by CULWULLA
i contsacted westpoint months ago for height stats and they told me 136m. But didnt mention spire? was this with original design? i might contact them again to enquire .good to see this one starting up

some one should contact westpoint for info on the emu brewrey development *hint hint* :D

Very nice view. It must be one of the highest apartments in Brisbane after Riparian.

umm i think your forgetting aurora and possibly even emerald and barouke?

Not sure how indicative the view is. According to the Panorama Sky website, "View taken from 41st level of Central Plaza One. This view may change over time and is illustrative of its panorama only." Central Plaza One is a lot closer to the river.

BRING IT ON!

GO BRISSY! GO BRISSY! GO BRISSY!

The view pic is a little misleading, it wont be the view at all! This is a view from Central Plaza 1. The view will look very different!
I nice little tower anyway...

i might merge this thread with other one.

the new design looks a little unfinished, like they ran out of money so they left the top feature off. still, its attractive enough though

I spoke to the developer on Ann St - they start construction in Feburary.

jt

So does anyone know exactly how many levels this sucker is? And how many metres? Cul said that he was going to ring the developers?

In that part of town, anything over 120m is really going to stand out.

Originally posted by Lord Mayor Tim
So does anyone know exactly how many levels this sucker is? And how many metres? Cul said that he was going to ring the developers?

In that part of town, anything over 120m is really going to stand out.
Have a look here..
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52378

Another sterile, boring tower.

merged

Originally posted by Lord Mayor Tim
So does anyone know exactly how many levels this sucker is? And how many metres? Cul said that he was going to ring the developers?

In that part of town, anything over 120m is really going to stand out.
they told me 136m to roof. but haent finalised spire yet. could go to 150m+.
ill try again this week.
Its RL154m so it will really standout in the area.

It was reported in the Courier Mail today that this building is to be managed by Pacific International. I guess that means it is much more likely to get off the ground.

Photo of the model and the site. It is apparent that the existing facade is to be incorporated into the building.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/7decsky1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/7decsky2.JPG

any more news on this baby??

Should be starting construction around now?

Here's some eye candy courtesy of http://www.primeinvestment.com.au
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Elevation%201.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Elevation%202.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Elevation%203.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Elevation%204.jpg

The floor plans still show the original roof feature

http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Ground_Level.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Level7.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/Level8.jpg
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Floor%20Plans/serviced13_14.jpg

Impression of a studio appartment.
http://www.primeinvestment.com.au/All_property_listings/Managed/QLD/panorama/Photos/Studio_lg.jpg

thanks for that.

It's almost impossible to read the heights but i think the top of the building is at 157m (RL).

They put back construcion last time, Hopefully they wont do it again.

The plans seem to show the "top of the building" as just below the actual very, very top.

Originally posted by Orfeo
thanks for that.

It's almost impossible to read the heights but i think the top of the building is at 157m (RL).

They put back construcion last time, Hopefully they wont do it again.
your correct that roof is 157mRL. the blades go a further 1.7m. thus total 158.7m. The ground floor is 21mRl so total height is 137.7m or 138m on ss.com (they round there figures up).
the actual roof is 126m.

bloody great looking tower!

Is it just me, or do these apartments seem REALLY small?

They are small. However we should remember that these are only serviced hotel apartments, so the small size is quite understandable.

Its great that Brisbane developers are starting to churn out a greater variety of apartments, from the big Riparian Penthouses, to these small studio hotel apartments. Variety breeds urban sustainablity.

If you think that these are small, go have a look at the Kingsgrove Apartments thread. Now THAT is what I call small!

There seems to be some action starting to happen on this site with workmen and signage...maybe they are about to start construction.

They also have a "Look whats happening over the road" sticker plasetered over the display office, looks like you might be right!

I walked past the site on Thursday afternoon. No sign of any excavation or equipment at this stage.

when i contacted architects for heights ect back in Feb, they indicated that construction will hopefully begin mid-year!! so right on schedule!!

took this pic through a real estate window in sussex street today. I asked about it inside and they said its selling well!

http://img52.photobucket.com/albums/v158/culwulla/pansky.jpg

I notice there is a big banner hung over the existing facade advertising the development, so it can't be too far away now.

Love the pic, especially all those Al Fresco coffee drinkers. That pic is right outside Suncorp Centre, and unless Suncorp start offering a Cafe Latte with every new account, that pic is a little misleading because there isnt a coffee shop anywhere in that part of town. They've also conveniently forgotten to draw in Lexicon, pretty much next door. Gotta love the marketing :)

Actually there is a coffee shop just 2 doors down from this site in the ground floor of the Rothbury Hotel. It's between the masonic temple and the church .

OK I forgot about that one, but its over the other side of the road and isnt alfresco :P

is that a westpoint office? cause they are doing to swan brewrey development in perth, if it is ask for some info!

any action on this one yet?

haven't noticed anything. I walked past there on Thursday. I walk past quite often, so I'll try and remember to let ya all know when I see something if I'm not beaten to it.

Site clearing is in progress, there is a crane on site and a pile driver thingy whatzit. The horrid pink hoardings have been repainted dark grey and some of the wall in the laneway between Ann and Adelaide st has been removed to allow vehicle access. Looks like this one is under way :)

cool!! this one will be a fab addition to this end of town!

walked by today and they had a crane up. Boom similar to a scraper crane, but smaller, and not mounted on a 'tower'. Also what to me looks like a pile driver, kind of like a tall very skinny forklift. The type of equipment you'd see if they were starting foundations. However the old concrete walls crisscrossing the site have not been cleared, so I have no idea what they are doing.

any new pix?

nothing to take a pic of last time I looked, but I haven't been into town this week.

its been 11 weeks.
any action yet?

not last time i walked past. No one on the site, its still cleared but no one is there, no equip, just a big fenced off hole.

anything yet?

Haven't seen any activity on the site at all. But I believe the display centre is still in operation across the road.

Still looks as it did back in May when the site was being cleared. Nothing has happened, the display office is still there but the model is gone.

What is the towers height RL?

Its gotta be pretty tall, since its on quite a big hill

your correct that roof is 157mRL. the blades go a further 1.7m. thus total 158.7m. The ground floor is 21mRl so total height is 137.7m or 138m on ss.com (they round there figures up).
the actual roof is 126m.

bloody great looking tower!

there ya go malt. info from a few months back. its over 500ft above Brissy river so should fit nice on skyline.

heres some interiors

http://www.mldesign.com.au/html/projects_int3_1.htm


dont know if theyre current

I drive by this site daily and haven't noticed the sales office over the road from the site open recently. Does anyone know if this project has been delayed or cancelled?
With recent media talk about a number of apartment towers in the CBD not proceeding it makes me wonder if this is one is dead.

Hasn't that sales office been there for over a year?

For a while anyway. My understanding was that this building was to be operated as an apartment hotel, like the Sebel or the Oaks. Maybe there all sold or maybe they simply didn't sell enough to make it viable.

Looks like this one might be a fizzer.

If it has died, it wasn't the greatest desing anyway, although it did have some respectable height.

An apartment in this property is still being advertised today by Key Asset Real Estate - Sydney.

http://ninemsn.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&ag=&s=qld&c=7177604&tm=1110627446&id=101693614&f=80&p=10&t=res&ty=&snf=rbs&cu=MSN&fmt=&header=

That'd be a damn shame. I quite like this one. By the way it's actually listed as UC on Emporis.
http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_contact_photo1.jpg

Looks like this one might be a fizzer.

Thats what I thought too.
jt

Id think it was listed as UC because they did some work on the site (ie signs of beginning work).

For a while anyway.

Sorry bribri - I misread what you said... all clear now.

According to WestPoint’s quarterly newsletter (Dec 2004)...

Construction work on the Ann Street development, which will include hotel and luxury apartments, started in September. The original concept has been increased by three floors and now consists of 44 levels. All major pilling works have been completed and modifications to existing columns in the Energex substation (under the proposed building) will be competed in the next two months.

If what they said is true (and theoretically they would have little reason to lie) the project is well on its way to fruition and 'real' construction should either have started by now or start very soon. The website is still up, and though I can't remember particularly well, it looks like it has been ungraded since the last time I saw it mid-2004. Maybe someone else can have a look (panorama sky (http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/)).

Newsletter (http://www.westpoint.com.au/downloads/Onpoint_property.pdf) (620kb)

UC? - there was some excavation ages ago, but Last i looked it was still a boraded up hole in the ground. Nothing happening.

I walked down the alley between the site and the Masonic centre on Friday night and noticed that they have moved the entry gates back a little into the construction area - presumeably to let larger vehicles get around the corner into the site. Anyway, there do seem to be things happening, just sloooowly.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

i wish it would get built so it would hide the damn ugly side to the christie corporate building

According to WestPoint’s quarterly newsletter (Dec 2004)...etc
Interesting. Thanks.

As reported in the Westpoint Ann St update (May 2005), the height has been increased again and DA approved for an additional 3 levels, taking the tower to 47 storeys. Piling works have been completed and reconstruction of columns within the existing substation is currently underway. Design, consulting and pre-construction works are well advanced.

Check out the newsletter:

http://www.westpoint.com.au/downloads/AnnSt_Bulletin_May05.pdf

wow. Will be very tall. (taking into account the hill)

Alot of work we cant even see going on lol.

so how tall (RL) will it be? i dunno wat the RL of the hill is. i assume the building will be approx 146m now

It's still not the most attractive looking tower though. Something that Devine would build.

the original height was 138m. so another 3storeys = 9m, thus 147m. the Rl at ground level is 21m so 168mRL. thats higher then Waterfront Place.
ill try and get official heights

good.

i cant seem to find "ML Design" in phone book. who are architects.
devine dont seem to know anything.

http://www.mldesign.com.au/

I cant see to get the site to load.

yeah seems stuck?
now i know what ML stands for.

McKerrel Lynch Architects

heres another site
http://www.amok.com.au/cs_mldesign.asp

http://www.mldesign.com.au/html/projects_int3_1.htm

You can access the site from there (i posted it on page 4)

i cant seem to find "ML Design" in phone book. who are architects.
devine dont seem to know anything.

Devine won't know anything cause it's not their project - it isbeing built by Westpoint.

Oh? someone put ML Design on Emporis for its architects?
thanks

Wht does ML Design have to do with devine?


Isnt it being built by developer Westpoint, and designed by architects ML Design ??

lol...all I said is that it looks like something Devine would build.

Did anyone see ML's massive Margaret and Mary tower - it was one of the options for Vision. Has a gold top like Eureka!
jt

It wasnt an option for Vision.

chatted to architect from Westpoint. he said the new height will be basically 9m more metres on to 138m.(3x3m floors) so were pretty correct anyway. they hope to get approval soon and commence construction.

can someone walk past the site and confirm piling works have commenced.
curious
cheers

I will if im in there soon.
Someone else will prob get to it first though

I walked past yesterday lunch and didn't notice anything significant going on.

Why would the developers add 3 more floors to the building. I mean it's not something you'd do for the hell of it, particularly if you need to go through another approvals process (would it be the full process or a shorter process?). The best reason I can come up with is that with rising building costs they want a few more apartments to sell to balance the books??

Anyway good that construction has begun regardless :banana:

Why would the developers add 3 more floors to the building. I mean it's not something you'd do for the hell of it, particularly if you need to go through another approvals process (would it be the full process or a shorter process?). The best reason I can come up with is that with rising building costs they want a few more apartments to sell to balance the books??

Anyway good that construction has begun regardless :banana:

I think the serviced apartment component was increased, so there aren't any more apartments for sale, just more serviced apartments in that part of the complex.

can someone walk past the site and confirm piling works have commenced.
curious
cheers

Not sure about piling, but there were people doing stuff on site and another group had blocked off a lane to do stuff to the hertiage facade today.

I walked past about an hour ago and had a good sticky beak cos no-one was around. From the street it doesnt look like much is happening. When you go around the back and walk up the drive of the building behind you can see over to the substation, it looks to me like supports are in for the back of the building, there is formwork around some of the pillars which are about 2 stories high, bit hard to tell really, but it all looked too new to be something they would be altering. To me, I couldn't see any reason why the construction of the building wouldn't be ready to go as soon as the approval of the extra floors comes through, which we have already been told.

this building is a deadset mystery. no one knows whats going on!

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing this get canned, then another developer use the current height approval, but completely redesign the exterior.

I just hope something soon hides the ugly arse of the christie corporate building.

I'm now nearly convinced that it really is under construction. I walked past today and you could see several concrete pillars rising up that looked quite new. They had formwork around them as well. Seems really strange to me that they haven't cleared the existing walls from the old building first though. Maybe they will all be incorporated in the building? Since when do skyscrapers get built without clearing a big hole first?

The old building is being used - you can see it in the render
http://www.panoramaskybrisbane.com.au/images/pskybris_contact_photo1.jpg

Hope this one gets up - the back of Christie Corporate really could do with some concealment - nothing ruins a facade like 2 big pipes running up the length of the building :)
http://img326.imageshack.us/img326/7579/christiecorporateback9ku.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

walked past today and they've started doing some serious digging. With one of those long arm with a shovel on the end things that I can't remember the name of. Except smaller than a normal one because of the amount of building still there. They might be building a basement roughly half or a third the size of the plot.

Is anything happening on this building?

they build a couple concrete pillars, dug a hole, and since then I haven't noticed any progress. Does seem to be people around doing something when I walk past sometimes.

This is a most bizarre case.

any action yet?

No

anything? mice in yard? lol

This is from Westpoints August newsletter (http://www.westpoint.com.au/latest_news.php)

Panorama Sky Apartments
333 Ann Street Brisbane
Construction for the tower support columns has almost been completed inside the 3-storey underground substation that covers 50% of the site. This stage is expected to be completed soon. Work above ground will commence shortly after the finalisation of these underground works. The design of the podium and the lower tower levels has been reviewed and improved upon. A number of amendments have been made to the current development consent which have been positively received by the Brisbane City Council planners. We are now looking forward to receiving an early approval of these changes.So sounds like there may be work going on underground. Or perhaps that's finished and they're awaiting approval for the alterations.

Talk about having to be patient for this one!!!!

sounds like it. ah well least its progressing forward

Good new's for westpoints perth tower's if this goes ahead. As there in money trouble.

Does anyone still have faith in this thing?

No.

I hate these half-baked developers who are all talk and no action. I wish they'd get their shit together. :(

Doubts on Westpoint's Ann Street tower

Tina Perinotto
321 words
6 December 2005
Australian Financial Review
First
55
English
© 2005 Copyright John Fairfax Holdings Limited. www.afr.com Not available for re-distribution.

A second company in Norm Carey's troubled Westpoint group has come unstuck.

The corporate regulator yesterday sought orders in the Federal Court in Perth to place Ann Street Mezzanine Pty Ltd into provisional liquidation.

The key concern is that it raised $72 million in risky promissory notes funding from retail investors when the company's information memorandum said only $25 million would be raised.

The executive director enforcement at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Jan Redfern, said about 800 investors were involved.

They had accepted 12 per cent interest - with financial advisers and wholesalers of the notes reaping another 10 per cent - to fund a 47-level tower in Ann Street Brisbane. It is little more than a hole in the ground. The amount of the shortfall is unclear.

Similar concerns triggered action by ASIC last month when it sought orders over York Street Mezzanine Pty Ltd, a funding company for the Scots Church apartment project in Sydney, where about $80 million, nearly double the amount of mezzanine funding promised was raised through more than 800 investors.

In the case of York Street, Westpoint countered the regulator by appointing a voluntary administrator.

Ms Redfern confirmed yesterday that ASIC would continue to pursue the appointment of a provisional liquidator when the matter returns to the court on Wednesday.

The first York Street creditors meeting last week heard that at least $26 million of mezzanine funds raised for the development company over Scots Church had been funnelled to unknown destinations and it was not certain if they could be recovered.

But in the case of York Street at least the project is substantially complete and so has a higher current value presumably than Ann Street.

In its court applications last month, ASIC also sought the disclosure of financial statements for several Westpoint companies.

thats a shame

Tuesday 6th December 2005

WESTPOINT CORPORATION DEBT RESTRUCTURE TO PROTECT INVESTORS

Managing Director of Perth-based Westpoint Group,
Mr Norm Carey, announced today that the independent directors of each mezzanine company involving the non regulated promissory notes, which have been the subject of inquiries by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have taken steps to appoint administrators to assist in the process of restructuring debt during completion of the projects to which the relevant debt relates.

This is aimed at protecting the investments of all investors as the Group continues to move to a full regulated product regime under deeds of company arrangement for each mezzanine fund company.

However it will not affect projects involving regulated debt or the balance of the Westpoint Group’s business activities.

This approach follows Westpoint Group appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers as administrators for York Street Mezzanine Pty Ltd, Westpoint’s financing arm of the Scots Church development on Sydney’s York Street, on
December 1 2005.

Mr Carey said the move to restructure all unregulated debt was aimed at protecting investors and the Group as a whole and to put an end to the legal issues which have been raised by ASIC.

“Westpoint is committed to working with the administrators and regulators to ensure investors receive their entitlements and to preserve the investment value of development projects,” Mr Carey said.

“The Westpoint Group and its professional advisors are also working to allay the concerns of investors.”

Restructuring mezzanine debt effectively means all secondary loans will be consolidated into a regulated product regime under a deed of company arrangement for each mezzanine fund company.

In respect of the Scots Church development, delays in construction and the settlement of sales contracts have impacted on the project’s repayment schedule. However, construction has now been completed and settlements will occur over the next few months.

The restructuring and consolidation of secondary mezzanine debt for development projects will give Westpoint Group significantly greater financial strength and flexibility to repay investors.

[QUOTE=finn]I hate these half-baked developers who are all talk and no action. I wish they'd get their shit together. :(

Here! Here! Brisbane, and in particular various Petrie Point proposals, have a very sad record of proposals that have come to nothing. I suspect that the huge time lag between genuine proposals being submitted to the BCC and their processing time is at least in-part responsible for many failures of such proposals going ahead.

I'm not saying that this is so in this particular case. It was approved ages ago and the fact that people have invested and bought units in Pamorama Sky really stinks if it now doesn't go ahead. As finn says, developers should be held to be not only more responsible for soliciting monies for such ventures but I think that they should also suffer more (i.e. be financially liable) if they propose ventures that don't go ahead, particularly where they have a history of ripping-off investors.

[delete) sorry.

[QUOTE=finn]I hate these half-baked developers who are all talk and no action. I wish they'd get their shit together. :(

Here! Here! Brisbane, and in particular various Petrie Point proposals, have a very sad record of proposals that have come to nothing. I suspect that the huge time lag between genuine proposals being submitted to the BCC and their processing time is at least in-part responsible for many failures of such proposals going ahead.

I'm not saying that this is so in this particular case. It was approved ages ago and the fact that people have invested and bought units in Pamorama Sky really stinks if it now doesn't go ahead. As finn says, developers should be held to be not only more responsible for soliciting monies for such ventures but I think that they should also suffer more (i.e. be financially liable) if they propose ventures that don't go ahead, particularly where they have a history of ripping-off investors.

Well when you have an average of 10,000 to 12,000 DA's coming in every year they take a while to get processed. I mean there are planners, engineers, architects, ecologists and LA's that all have to take a look - each one can take months! Though most of the CBD stuff is Code assessable which is usually quicker than Impact assessable stuff.

I guess what I'm saying is that its not a fast or easy process.
(Rant)

I guess what I'm saying is that its not a fast or easy process.
(Rant)[/QUOTE]

Gosh you're first of the mark response with a speedy response, particularly since I'm in Spokane, Wa, and it strikes me as a pathetically defensive comment from a guy whose views I really respect. I'm not talking about thousands of applications. I'm talking about MAJOR applications. I can list those from Petrie Point that I've also referred to my local Brisbane council member ( H-Planning Chair) about tardy decisions if you really want me to. I read as many of the additional matters required by the planning c'ttee that need addressing for specific applications' approval but I also only have what's shown on various planning application sites to go on. You are more entitled to think that response times are reasonabe than I am. They look to me to be generally very poor. I am aware that there are many regulations to be satisfied and that approvals can take years. Meeting developmental requirements is good - the number of in-house staff that it takes in the BCC to even get it before council seems to be an Australian record! Cheers.

I guess what I'm saying is that its not a fast or easy process.
(Rant)

Gosh your first of the mark response with a speedy response, particularly since I'm in Spokane, Wa, and it strikes me a pathetically defensive comment from a guy who I really respect. I'm not talking about thousands of applications. I'm talking about MAJOR applications. I can list those from Petrie Point that I've also referred to my local Brisbane council member (Planning Chair) about tardy decisions if you really want me to. I read as many of the additional matters required from the planning c'ttee that need addressing for specific applications but I also only have what's shown on various planning application sites to go on. You are more entitled to think that response times are reasonabe than I am. They look to me to be generally very poor. I am aware that there are many regulations to be satisfied and that approvals can take years. Meeting developmental requirements is good - the number of in-house staff that it takes in Brisbane to even get it to council seems to be an Australian record! Cheers.Sorry I wasn't trying to be rude but you know burocracy - it takes time for a development to process. Unless of course you have the Mayor behind the process and then amazingly it all happens very smoothly - AKA Vision Tower.

Dear Jay T - I ain't never ever thought you ever suggesting you were being rude, I never thought nuffing other than that you weren't ever OK. Cheers

Nothing happening:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/PanoramaSky_20051223_512x384_01.jpg

^ i dont know about that. those plants are getting taller. ;-)

Article on the second page of today's Courier Mail about this tower.

It's history.

The company building it, a subsidiary of Western Australia's Westpoint is in liquidation just like it's parent and the tower is officially canned.

No great loss, in fact, good cos the land will be sold and something better built on it no doubt.

Article on the second page of today's Courier Mail about this tower.

It's history.

The company building it, a subsidiary of Western Australia's Westpoint is in liquidation just like it's parent and the tower is officially canned.

No great loss, in fact, good cos the land will be sold and something better built on it no doubt.


here is the link

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18087821%255E3102,00.html

Only Swan pano and market street have a hoep of getting of the ground. A hope.

I not entirely sure I'm sorry to see this appartment get shelved...There is plenty of better examples of aesthetics for an appartment highrise of this size and Panorama wasn't one of them.

It should be pointed out with the sale, it is still possible that whomever picks it up will build the currently approved tower.

I'd prefer something taller....so you'll actually see it.

Surely that would be a good spot for an office block...about 50 metres from central railway station

Surely that would be a good spot for an office block...about 50 metres from central railway station

Yes I agree, the site is within that commercial office precinct of Eagle Street, and the news is we are desperately short now of premium office space

I have family members who lost $70,000 in this. Unlikely to get much if any back. And even then they won't know till the administrators are finished in 2009!.

Grrrr.

There are plans to fund the westpoint towers through ING but there is no chance that ann steet will go up. Half Asics fault.

I dont care. It wasnt particularly attractive.

I never particularly liked this tower (don't know why - had no specific problems with it either) - I hope something better is proposed if the site is sold. I just think it was a very ordinary development...

:gaah: devine again - http://www.devine.com.au/corporate/investorrelations.html

Lol, press release says a 25 level Devine office tower, start construction early next year. Well they are nothing if not quick!

25 lefvel office tower, what's that make it, about 110-120m?, methinks this will be a glass box, maybe cos it's office they will refrain from their usual putrid hospital green glass... maybe!:P

^^ putrid hospital green glass...I actually laughed then...lol, classic!

Oh god...can Devine cock up a commercial building as much as they do residential ones.

Devine have gone nuts!!

I probably should wait until plans to come out to pass any judgement, but a 25 level office building isn't going to be particularly tall and this site deserves more.

From the articles it says tower design by ML Design, they did the MacArthur tower from memory, apparently was a fair few bidders for the site and all had mixed use/commercial in mind, I wonder what others were planning, sounds like other bidders had 480 queen/Empire Square idea in mind, oh well, in any case:

Devine to test office market
7 July 2006, The Courier-Mail

DEVINE will build its first commercial tower on a site it has bought from the receivers of collapsed property group Westpoint for $11.1 million.

The site at 333 Ann St has been earmarked by Devine for a 25-level, commercial office tower worth $125 million.

Property records reveal the site was bought by Westpoint for just over $5 million in 2003. An approval was in place for a 41-storey apartment complex it had intended to develop and call Panorama Sky.

Devine national manager commercial Jim Watson said the completed tower would add about 16,500sq m of A-grade office space to the current tight market.

He said because the previous owners had already cleared the site and dug it out, the commercial space should hit the market mid-2008.

Mr Watson said this would be Devine's first completely commercial development, to date. He said the organisation decided on something manageable at 25 levels despite the approval for a bigger residential building on site.

"We did a commercial risk analysis, we are very confident with the size, it is our first foray, we are not trying to build the Riverside Centre," he said.

Typical floor plates in the development will be about 850sq m while two of the four podium levels will be about 950sq m.

Mr Watson said the site was well positioned in terms of transport, only 125m from Central Railway Station.

And with the site on an elevated part of Ann St, offices in the top of the tower should offer good views to tenants.

The historical facade of the Robert Exton and Co building will be retained and incorporated into the design of the building.

Devine managing director David Devine said the organisation's in-house construction company would build the tower.

Ken Lucht and Bruce Baker of Colliers International negotiated the sale.

Mr Lucht said Devine's entry into the CBD office market came at a time when the Brisbane market was enjoying record low vacancies and ongoing rental growth.


Wallets out for Westpoint assets
AFR, 7 July 2006

The carve-up of the Westpoint empire is gathering pace following the sale of the failed developer's Panorama Sky site in Brisbane.

Listed Queensland developer Devine fought off a range of bidders to pay $11.1 million for Westpoint's Ann Street land, which is earmarked for the group's first office tower.

More sales are expected as receiver KordaMentha tries to claw back funds for up to 4000 investors estimated to have lost $320 million when Westpoint collapsed.

The strong property investment climate has been a boon for KordaMentha, which has achieved a price at the top end of early estimates for 333 Ann Street in Brisbane.

Colliers International agents Ken Lucht and Bruce Baker negotiated the sale to Devine, which is planning a $125 million office project.

While the site is approved for a mixed use project, Mr Lucht said none of the bidders had residential schemes in mind.

All of the interest had centred on the potential for an office tower or a mixed office and hotel scheme.

"The vacancy factor for A-grade office premises would currently be sitting at 0.5 per cent, which equates to a critical shortage of options available to tenants," Mr Lucht said.

Devine managing director David Devine said the group's planned office project could be completed by mid-2008 to capitalise on the city's record low vacancy rate.

Westpoint bought the 1563 square metre Ann Street site four years ago for $5.8 million and later spent about $3 million on structural works.

Devine is planning a 25-level office tower which would comprise about 16,500 square metres of space.

The complex, designed by architects ML Design, would incorporate the historic two-level facade of the Robert Exton and Co building.

The deal comes as Devine diversifies its business and moves into commercial and industrial development as well as funds management.

Jim Watson was recently appointed as the group's national commercial manager, to drive projects such as 333 Ann Street.

The tower will boost Devine's work book to more than $1.9 billion taking into account major mixed use developments such as the $200 million Hamilton Harbour project in suburban Brisbane.

Devine paid $19.5 million last week for the Hamilton land, better known as the Butter Board site.

The site deserves more than this IMO. Would it be safe to now change panorama sky to never built on Emporis?

How's this one going?? Same article as Locke's but with the location picture...
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/Devineoffice.jpg

now devine can bless brisbane with commerical towers............great

Should point out that Devine actually sold this last week to a Sydney company, Domaine or something from memory.

The tower still goes up, however, just once complete it will be handed over to Domaine.

Just thinking about it too, 25stories x 4m = 100m. So I don't see it being 120m. :(

I hate Devine! :rant:

It seems odd that they are not going to rape this site for more GFA...I don't get it!!! In the burbs you have to offer GFA as an incentive, and in the city you can't give it away it seems!!!

I wish they would go taller, like the original 41 stories. The site has approval for this size building! Bloody Devine. Think of the future!

Yep, they are quite up on a hill, the view must be excellent, hard to image why you wouldn't stick some apartments up there.

Oh well, as the article on the other page said, the other offers for the site were for mixed use towers, unfortunately they didn't pay enough I guess.

It seems odd that they are not going to rape this site for more GFA...I don't get it!!! In the burbs you have to offer GFA as an incentive, and in the city you can't give it away it seems!!!
Just look at their apartment projects, not exactly the tallest things out there. They seem to prefer to squeeze things in as cheaply as humanly possible.

Devine just gives me the shits... wish they would go away.... :bash:

It would cooler if it was taller but no one can really deny that Brisbane could use some more office space. Having said that though they aren't particularly large floorplates for an office tower.

O my god! I'm so sorry people! :cry:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i16/soulvisionQ1/Dtower.jpg

Mr. Devine please go overseas or go broke.

Please Devine, go somewhere else like to Adelaide or Darwin. I'm sure you're very welcome there. But we've had enough of you here. It's time to call it quits in Brissie. We deserve something better.

A reminder of the original design for Panorama Sky and the site as it currently is. The requirement to maintain the facade limits their options at street level.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l228/johnthay/7decsky1.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l228/johnthay/7decsky2.jpg

Disappointing to see such a quality project turn out like this

its not that bad. at least its glassy. just got no height

i guess, but i rather liked the curved facade of the original proposal.

oh well, plenty more fish in the sea as far as brisbane is concerned

Please Devine, go somewhere else like to Adelaide or Darwin. I'm sure you're very welcome there. But we've had enough of you here. It's time to call it quits in Brissie. We deserve something better.


Ahh....yes, PLEASE Devine...piss off.. :bash:

This will add some density in Brisbane. At least when they are looking to demolish buildings for bigger ones, this will be one of the first to go.

Whatever, who cares, it's a footnote in our skyscraper future.

Whatever, who cares, it's a footnote in our skyscraper future.
Yeah but a waste of a bloody good site.

Devine - FUCK OFF!

OMG, that sure looks like a piece of crap.
Another attempt to build a plain concrete tower for least amount of money.

And it looks rather like some super-cheap residential building than office tower.

Could just someone please finally build a 300m+ single purpose office tower in Brisbane, that would actually look decent???

Yeah but a waste of a bloody good site.

Devine - FUCK OFF!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this development is worth making a comment on once the DA goes online, something like:

The CBD is a tight area and is growing in popularity and population of workers and residents quickly. The CBD area has not been indicated to move in either the cityplan or CBD masterplan. If developments like this continue, the CBD area will be quickly taken up and developers will avoid the CBD as it will become too expensive. This building needs to be at least 80 metres taller with occupiable floors especially with it's proximity to the geographical heart of the CBD and Central Railway Station.

I have to check the DEO's for the CBD as well to see if this can help the argument as well.

I hope this thing gets rejected... but unlikely, yet Emerald... :ohno:

Your crys for help (and for devine to go away) have been answered.

Domaine buys $125m Devine tower
The Australian Financial Review - Friday 28 July 2006

Sydney-based investor Domaine Property Funds has made a quick foray into the Brisbane CBD market, buying Devine’s proposed $125 million office tower in an offmarket deal.

Devine bought the site at 333 Ann Street in June from Westpoint receiver Korda Mentha and was planning its first office tower in the Brisbane CBD.

Devine paid $11.1 million for the 1536 square metre site. Demonstrating the strength of Brisbane CBD’s office market, Devine has sold the proposed 25-level office tower without tenants in place.

Devine managing director David Devine said investor interest in prime CBD office towers remained strong because of Brisbane’s low vacancy rates and healthy rental growth.

‘‘The off-market sale negotiations currently under way represent a major vote of confidence in
Devine’s first Brisbane office tower development,’’ Mr Devine said.

‘‘We were not actively seeking to pre-sell the development at 333 Ann Street but when the offer was received it presented an excellent opportunity for our shareholders and [will] make a solid profit contribution in the 2008 fiscal year.’’

Devine must still get development approval from Brisbane City Council for the 16,507 qmtower
but expects to commence construction early next year.

MLDesign is designing the complex, which will incorporate the historic two-level facade of the Robert Exton and Co building, constructed in 1907.

Westpoint had proposed a large apartment complex for the strategic site.

The deal was negotiated by Colliers International and Curtain O’Donnell Property Group

By the sounds of that article it seems like Devine will still go ahead and build it as is except that Domaine will buy it. It take this to mean Domaine is buying the completed building, not the vacant land. So looks like that tower will still be built after all, pending approval.

^^ I think they mean that the building has been pre-sold. They will still build it.

That was already posted though.. last page

^^ the one on the last page was dated 7 July 2006, this one was dated 28 July 2006.

^
yes, but it is the same thing: the 7th of July was Domaine making its intentions for the site clear,while the 28th was the actual sale.

devine mean business.
page from todays fin rev.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4125/image002ph1.jpg

have we left out 333ann on brissychris map? where will it go?

1. Transit Towers I - 100m
2. Transit Towers II - 100m
3. Evolution - 117m
4. 31 Tank St - 129m
5. 400 George St - 145m
6. BAC Centre II - 143m
7. Brisbane Square - 151m
8. Empire Square - 240m
9. Student Accom. - 17 stories
10. Casino Towers - 129m (I almost typed in Llama Apartments)
11. Festival Towers - 135m
12. M on Mary - 145m
13. Vision Tower - 246m
14. Brisbane Central - 54m
15. Charlotte Towers - 138m
16. Riparian Plaza - 200m
17. Central Plaza III - ???
18. Picadilly Centre - 12 stories ?
19. Devine Office Tower - 120m?
20. Aurora Tower - 207m
21. 480 Queen St - 80 stories
22. Emerald Tower - 230m
23. 596 Queen St - 186m
24. Macrossan Apartments - 37 stories
25. Skyline Apartments - 160m
26. Intercap Tower - 107m
27. The Hub - 8 stories
28. Suncorp Office Tower - 95m
29. Parklands Towers and Pinnacle - up to 15 stories
30. Observatory Tower - 86m
31. Oxygen Apartments - up to 12 stories


http://members.optusnet.com.au/chrismayhew59/brisbaneaerial_sites.jpg

19 is 333

thanks, its high up there about 30mRL, so about 150m/500ft above sea level. should standout.

It just annoys me that being so close to Central Railway Station it isn't higher. (Central is essentially half way between 19 and 30 on the above map.

What about 275 George St?

If Brisbane needs office space why don't just someone build an office supertall instead of shitload of 100m crap...

supertall = landmark
landmark = tourists
tourists = money
+ they make city look great

When is someone going to learn this pattern???

In couple of years people will be desperate looking for such great sites and sadly they will be occupied by Devine's supercheap crap.

The saddest thing is that this is probably just the beginning of Devine's destructive quest around Australia.

EDIT: http://www.devine.com.au/commercial/index.html http://www.hamiltonharbour.com.au/

:gaah: :cry:

Here we go again...

Why have such grap got approved??? They refuse all cool stuff and approve Devine's crapscraper.

I want to encourage you guys to write a submission to BCC at:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/psf/servlet/DAServlet/bcc/953957
I think it is fairley important to say that you understand that it complies with the codes, but that you still think it should be...(taller, better designed etc.)

render
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8227/333annbj8.jpg

If Brisbane needs office space why don't just someone build an office supertall instead of shitload of 100m crap...

risk. it's a lot easier to find the dozen or so tenants you need to fill a 100m building than it is to find the thirty or so to fill a 250.

^^ True which also takes into account the much higher costs and the longer time before prospective tennants can move in.

That render doesn't actually look too bad (for a Devine building anyway).

Yeh, I was just thinking that too. If that black part of the facade is black glass, I think this building could have potential to turn out quite alright.

risk. it's a lot easier to find the dozen or so tenants you need to fill a 100m building than it is to find the thirty or so to fill a 250.

Or with other words: they don't have guts. There are some people out there studying office demand outlook and vacancy rates, right? According to graph I saw in some other topic office demand in Brisbane is again at the peak.

We already know about Hamilton Harbour and don't jump to conclusions about the design because you never know... Devine could get the Buchan group to design it???

We already know about Hamilton Harbour and don't jump to conclusions about the design because you never know... Devine could get the Buchan group to design it???

I posted that 1 month ago...

The DA of this has been up for a while now. So if you want exact heights check it out, though I wouldn't bother RL is 122.something metres, and above street level it's almost an exact 100m, in fact, 99.9m or thereabouts.

So knee high to a grasshopper basically. But then 100, 120, hardly makes a difference when it's this low.

That render doesn't actually look too bad (for a Devine building anyway).

Hehe - I was going to say the same thing too. It's certainly not the best we've seen, but because it's Devine I was actually expecting something so much worse.

BUT, let's not forget, a number of Devine's projects have looked good in the renders, but turned out to be crap - so if this only looks 'ok' in the renders, maybe it will be 'utter crap' when it's finished??

Or with other words: they don't have guts. There are some people out there studying office demand outlook and vacancy rates, right? According to graph I saw in some other topic office demand in Brisbane is again at the peak.

yes, there is a strong demand for office space.. but because construction costs are so high the new buildings need to acheive rents that are significantly above the current market.. and it's very very hard to predict what the demand for office space will be at higher rents. so again, it falls down to risk.. who wants to spend $120m on an office tower only to find out they can't get anyone to rent it?

The development is now Impact assessable!!

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/psf/servlet/DAServlet/bcc/953957

That's funny! What's trigged the impact assessment on this one? A new 350m version would be nice;)

Not much of a guide really is it. It did not need to go much higher to become IA

It was the heritage that triggered the impact assessment, nothing to do with the height.

Oh yer, wrong thread ... was thinking of a different building

This seems like it has turned into a fairley messy application. (http://www.ourbrisbane.com/psf/servlet/DAServlet/bcc/953957?pagenumber=2)
I don't think Devine would have expected this!!

^^ i just had a quick flick thru, how is messier?? did i miss something?

(yep, i realise it's now impact.. but that was mentioned before)

Lol, you read the first 'submission' - make it taller!:P

no change in the design, but a few more renders:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9966/3331uu9.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2598/3332zs4.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/445/3333rh6.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5295/3334vq3.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2103/3335vl2.jpg

I like it, but as the first submission says, I wish it were a little taller.

Reminds me slightly of 111 George St. I like it.

Well, this little baby has been approved!! (http://www.ourbrisbane.com/psf/servlet/DAServlet/bcc/953957)

pfft, i was hoping devine wouldnt get a foot in the door for the bris office market :S

I reckon Devine went for a very conservative height rather than 40-50 stories, because it's quick to approve, quick to build and less chance of the market going sour on them on their first venture into the market in Brisbane.

Damn they are quick! Work on this site began yesterday!

Not too sure what they are doing, but they appeared to be taking down part of the steel structure (where there is no old facade) - I would say in preparation for construction.

You think they are racing 400 George to get first on the market?

In all honestly they will probably do very well making a quick buck on this.

Is this another speculative project, or have they managed to snatch up a few tenants?

PropertyLook have the building advertised and are listing the entire floorspace as being available so it doesn't appear to have any pre-commits. I guess space could be under offer though. The space is available from June 15th 2008.

i dont mind it. it will conceal the ugly rear end of the christie corporate building and its on the edge of the city and 100m with a bit of natural elevation should stick out a little bit.

Thats all we need - Devine now building office towers!!! Hasn't the council learnt from the rest of the shit they throw up!!!! ****** must be getting BIG kickbacks from David. This facade is a disgrace! Given the neighbour's design, the beautiful old temple/lodge.

^^ The facade will be nice if they use real copper panels ..... if they paint some roof sheets like i have seen in some places it will look like turd.

its a very nice design but if suit it alot better if it was more like 150m instead of 100

Boooring. God, this tower looks bad enough as a render. Can't imagine how horrible it's going to be when it's actually built. *barf*

^^^^ Welcome to "Divine town" where you leave all possible traces of style and design at another postcode - these guys must be embarressed when they look at Vision and Empire Sq, compared to what they are leaving on our skyline. Riverplace is dissed by so many people who don't even care about these such forums.

Devine don't care about what the public thinks, they are more interested in what their share price is on the stockmarket.

In all honesty though this building could turn out ok if the use the right materials to finish it off. It certainly should look at lot better than any of their residentials. At has a bit of a retro 60-70's tower look about it.

Thats all we need - Devine now building office towers!!! Hasn't the council learnt from the rest of the shit they throw up!!!! ****** must be getting BIG kickbacks from David. This facade is a disgrace! Given the neighbour's design, the beautiful old temple/lodge.

if it complies with the planning scheme, they cant reject it just because they dont like it!

I don't think office tennants are as concerned about asthetics as a residential tennant. Id say the businesses are more concerned with practicality and ammenities. With the vacancy rate as tight as it is anyone looking for office space probably doesn't have "visually attractive" very high on their list of priorities.

I don't think office tennants are as concerned about asthetics as a residential tennant. Id say the businesses are more concerned with practicality and ammenities. With the vacancy rate as tight as it is anyone looking for office space probably doesn't have "visually attractive" very high on their list of priorities.

That may be true, but it's still a bit of a concern that there are people with such a lack of talent and imagination in these positions! For such a large company, surely they'd want to leave a positive mark, and make the world slightly better. I'm speaking generally though, I think this is one of Devine's better developments, despite the fact that it is a total waste of a prominent space and clearly doesn't make any positive impact on the world, aesthetically. In fact, the best thing about it is the heritage facade (though I'm sure if it wasn't law, they wouldn't bother).

Yes true. I was just putting forward possible reasons for it considering many people ask why they design rubbish. :) I do think it looks quite mediocore though.

I also don't like how that heritage facade is there. I know they are required to retain it and that's fine, but it looks like they merely worked around it and didn't really integrate it into their design too well. It's like they tolerated it but didn't really embrace it. But thats just my opinion on it.

meh, it adds to density.

Tyson, yeah it looks like it was just added, but I really dig the definite contrast between old and new (if only the new was something interesting!!).

And as for density, you can still have density without compromising design and quality!

Is this another speculative project, or have they managed to snatch up a few tenants?


Devine have already sold off the building, (although they are still the developers)

The new owners will be leasing out the space!

Yes true. I was just putting forward possible reasons for it considering many people ask why they design rubbish. :) I do think it looks quite mediocore though.

I also don't like how that heritage facade is there. I know they are required to retain it and that's fine, but it looks like they merely worked around it and didn't really integrate it into their design too well. It's like they tolerated it but didn't really embrace it. But thats just my opinion on it.

I actually like the way the building seems to wrap around the heritage facade. I think they've done a much better job than what Aurora did with their Heritage facade.

bah nothing wrong with it!

i like it. very smart looking office bldg.
so is this UC?

I did walk past it and they had blocked off the footpath and something looked to have changed on the site, but I'm not sure what. I think they may have cleared some of the existing structure. This was as off a week or two ago.

I've noticed the design has changed since the last time I checked this topic. I actually like it now. Of course it's way to low to be significant, but at least it's not going to look like some cheap apartment building for Asian students.

I've noticed the design has changed since the last time I checked this topic. I actually like it now. Of course it's way to low to be significant, but at least it's not going to look like some cheap apartment building for Asian students.

yeah i agree, the ones built for the indian students are much nicer.

Went past and I also noticed a big change to the site. It took a little while but they have removed the large structure that went down the laneway next to the Masonic hall. Looks a lot better already :)

yeah i agree, the ones built for the indian students are much nicer.

The last time I checked the map of the world India was still in Asia...

From the MLDesign web site:

http://www.mldesign.com.au/projects/gallery/images/2.jpg

Why can't we get their Emirates projects!!

http://www.mldesign.com.au/projects/gallery/images/206.jpg

Sorry for the crap photos. Taken at night without a tripod!
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h11/KJBrissy/IMGP0137.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h11/KJBrissy/IMGP0139.jpg

Had a walk past today and they are excavating. Maybe 1-2 stories down so far.

There appears to be a crane on this site now.

I was wondering when this was going to happen. Good news!

This one is flying up!! The core is already above street level.

wow not wasting anytime at all.

cool. might be close to topping out by xmas then. i like this building. i have long hated the ugly rear of the christie corporate building

Second crane is up on site, the core is about level 2 and construction has about 1 level to go to hit street level (although it's well above ground level at the back due to slope)

On a side not I noticed a heap of graffiti tags on the core. Don't know how vandals get into some of these places!

need pix. oh thats right its not over 200m.lol