Any details on this 24st project on Mitchell St?, sounds promising.

Hey Crawf

This is all I can find at this stage. Not sure if it has been posted before. It's a little bit cartoon-like. I'm sure a more detailed image will be available soon.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/chinatown.jpg

^thanks, i wonder if they will place a restaurant near top?
24storey mixed use equates to about 90m? hope so.

This development has been approved since March 2007, however there still remains some tweaking to satisfy the Darwin City Council therefore a new development application is required.

Council meeting last week revealed a significant shortfall in on-site parking which needs to be addressed prior to commencement and several changes to mixed usage.

Although the west tower at 111m AHD does not comply to building heights in Central Darwin, it had been approved last year at this height.


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/scan005.jpg

Interesting! Have you seen any renders?

Interesting! Have you seen any renders?

No, but I do have some more plans from different perspectives, which I will post in next 24 hours.

The 24 storey building is actually quite substantial when viewed from side-on.

The western tower is 24 floors (incl GF) with a pergola covered rooftop. The eastern tower is 9 floors and they will be linked at first floor level.

Cheers. How tall is this on street level?

Btw moved some posts from the Darwin Projects thread to here.

Cheers. How tall is this on street level?

90 metres above ground level to top of pergola.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/scan004-1.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/scan008.jpg

great stuff. Its RL111m - 25m @ ground= 86m above grd.
so are you saying this isnt approved now?

great stuff. Its RL111m - 25m @ ground= 86m above grd.
so are you saying this isnt approved now?

I was just being cautious with the thread title, as it has not been completely signed off.

The two major non-complying issues, carry over to the next variation, with one being the height of the west tower, but this was approved with both previous development applications.

The other issue involves a significant shortfall in on-site car parks which may cause a delay in this one getting underway. The devolopers, I believe, were hoping to utilise some of the abutting Chinatown Carpark building for spaces, however the Council is refusing this request.

This ariel shot from Google Earth shows the site at 68 Mitchell Street with stage One (multi-level carpark and office building) already complete to the North.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/CT1.jpg

The other huge vacant lot is the $29m Crocosaurus Cove development. 3 level theme park with 2 storey marine tanks, plenty of live crocs etc.

This one is actually close to completion, ready for the dry season tourist trade.

The Chinatown tower development is definitely underway - lots of excavation and shoring work going on here (see pics below taken a few weeks ago). Apparently the apartment sales release is scheduled for August.

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/8832/img00255yz3.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9144/img00253fy1.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/669/img00244uf2.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1832/img00243nf9.jpg

great , so its UC?

great , so its UC?

UP, UP and AWAY,... you beauty!!

Mind you, the issue with carparking needs to be resolved, but there is no doubt that the height is AOK.

This will be a terrific addition to Darwin City, not only for its height and density but for its purpose and location.

Let's hope the carparking issue is resolved soon.

great stuff. its location at Rl25m is pretty high up for the city. must be highest part?
It will be 3rd highest on skyline
Evolution-RL120m
Pandanas-RL115m
Chinatown tower-RL111m
ive checked google earth. its not far from panadanas , approx440m east.

just scaled the 9fl office component and it measures 37m high. so this will also be added to emporis.
other stats
cost-$90mil
office bldg= 9000sqm
retail=3000sqm.
cheers

heres a quick g00gle earth screen grab showing the big 3 locations.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2493606862_e612760713_o.jpg

^ lots of blocks there with carparks and other open space/low rise that will be prime for future development. what is that mass of area above evolution that stretches all the way up to near the top of the screen?

^ lots of blocks there with carparks and other open space/low rise that will be prime for future development. what is that mass of area above evolution that stretches all the way up to near the top of the screen?

Some of it was the original fuel storage 'farm'. This has been relocated to the new port and now the land is available for development.

Another part of it towards Stuart Park was a town camp for a local Aboriginal group.

There is no doubt about the scope for development, with old Government flats occupying some city blocks. These will eventually have to go.

i'm guessing development on that mass of land will be lowrise then, i doubt they'd go for anything tall considering the current climate. it does seem like a real opportunity to extend the cbd but it probably isn't really necessary as there's lots of opportunity still available in the current grid.

i'm guessing development on that mass of land will be lowrise then, i doubt they'd go for anything tall considering the current climate. it does seem like a real opportunity to extend the cbd but it probably isn't really necessary as there's lots of opportunity still available in the current grid.

Outside of the new boundary for talls. Would suggest 36m max.

i'm guessing development on that mass of land will be lowrise then, i doubt they'd go for anything tall considering the current climate. it does seem like a real opportunity to extend the cbd but it probably isn't really necessary as there's lots of opportunity still available in the current grid.

Still lots of opportunities in the CBD such as the old Woolworths site, which is in a prime location being smack bang in the heart of the city centre and many others..

Wouldnt be surprised if the Housing trust apartments on Mitchell Street (opposite the Chinatown project) gets demolished eventually and the land sold off to developers considering its another prime location and the apartments have a very bad reputation for crime.

Wouldnt be surprised if the Housing trust apartments on Mitchell Street (opposite the Chinatown project) gets demolished eventually and the land sold off to developers considering its another prime location and the apartments have a very bad reputation for crime.

I'd be very surprised since the apartments to which you refer are all privately owned strata title units and have been for many years. There was once a redevelopment proposal but a number of the unit owners did not wish to proceed. That's one of the problems with strata title units: Unless all owners agree, the existing cannot be redeveloped.

However, a new developer might come along with a good proposal that is under the 36m height limit and maybe all the owners might agree to redevelop.

great stuff. Its RL111m - 25m @ ground= 86m above grd.
so are you saying this isnt approved now?

An excerpt from the recent council meeting says "The proposed building height for the west tower at 111 metres AHD exceeds the height restrictions in the Northern Territory Planning Scheme by 21 metres".

This will lift height to 90m to top of pergola.

This is certainly another exciting major development for Darwin.

ive included pergola in 86m height. without pergola is 80m.

GOOGLE EARTH - fly through.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/GE-chinatown.jpg

Will update construction next month.

This city certainly seems to be heading upward all of a sudden. Good!

very cool

any updates?

any updates?

Plenty of updates from 15th July. Will be in Darwin for a week.

...I walked past the site and there's a 2-storey hole in the ground! It's huge. There's a solid site fence around the site so you can only get glimpses of what's going on at the front gates. Looks like they're still digging...

Sounds like nothing has changed since I was there, this is probably going to be another slow development.

P.S You can get a awesome view of this from the Chinatown carpark on Smith St.

Sounds like nothing has changed since I was there, this is probably going to be another slow development.

As I said in post #9 the parking issue has not been resolved and has yet to be reassessed by Council.

Looking up can you get some photos? Ill personally send you a digital camera if you dont have one.

Looking up can you get some photos? Ill personally send you a digital camera if you dont have one.

No need to SEanll, I'll be in Darwin on Tuesday for a week with camera in hand. Will be posting a bevy of development updates.

Well this is the update I promised and as I have said in my earlier posts this one has stalled due to a major shortfall in carparking provisions.

I'm sure it will be resolved, however at the moment we have a big hole in the ground and no activity.... on a Tuesday afternoon!

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/DARWIN2008026.jpg

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/DARWIN2008027.jpg

cool, thanks for updates. the old carparking cuffufel.always stuffs everything.
thats a big hole for darwin.
cheers

cool, thanks for updates. the old carparking cuffufel.always stuffs everything.
thats a big hole for darwin.
cheers

Car parking regulations are ridiculous in Darwin requiring:

- 2 car spaces per residential unit (irrespective of whether the unit is 3-bedrooms or a studio);

- 3 car spaces per 100sqm of commercial space; so if you wanted to build a relatively small office building of 5,000sqm you would also need to provide 150 car spaces!

Car parking regulations are ridiculous in Darwin requiring:

- 2 car spaces per residential unit (irrespective of whether the unit is 3-bedrooms or a studio);

- 3 car spaces per 100sqm of commercial space; so if you wanted to build a relatively small office building of 5,000sqm you would also need to provide 150 car spaces!

Very true but I believe the developers, who were involved with the current Chinatown Carpark at the back of this site, assumed they would be able to secure a portion of this facility for their twin tower project. Needless to say, the Council has said "NO WAY".

Perhaps they failed to flag this requirement when they built the carpark!

On my recent visit to Darwin, this picture was taken from the newly completed Crocosaurus Cove attraction in Mitchell Street.

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/DSCF0295.jpg

Still some serious parking shortfalls to contend with before final approval.

The Chinatown carpark in purple is at the centre of a dispute over carparking requirements for the proposed twin tower development.

any action?

Took this pic yesterday, workers and excavators still busy on site digging away:

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1807/img00413qv0.jpg

You know what? It doesn't look like that excavator has moved since my last two photos!!!

I think this one still has some tweaking to do before the DCC will give the green light.

You know what? It doesn't look like that excavator has moved since my last two photos!!!

I think this one still has some tweaking to do before the DCC will give the green light.

I think that area in the backgtound of the excavator has been dug out further since your last pic, and there were some workers and a bobcat or two running around on site when I was there - so there's definitely something happening, just not a lot.

Hi is there any news on this? :cheers:

i was going to ask same thing

the hole is deeper, it's a very big hole.

hope they have good pumps on order, otherwise this is going to "Lake Chinatown" in month or so.

They could thrust bore under Mitchell Street and the Esplanade to the cliff face and drain the hole to the sea as long as they don't encounter one of the underground WWII oil storage tunnels.

They could thrust bore under Mitchell Street and the Esplanade to the cliff face and drain the hole to the sea as long as they don't encounter one of the underground WWII oil storage tunnels.

Does any one happen to know where to get a map of these WWII storage tunnels other than seeing it when your there in Darwin?

I have been down there over 15 years ago and it was amazing how deep far inland they go. I think it runs along the Esplande somewhere from down near the wharf.... I wonder if they ran into them when doing the Waterfront project...

The Waterfront project is built on open, low-lying land; although there is the entry to one tunnel just North of the new hotel site.

There are 5 tunnels. Two are under Parliament house but these were blocked-off as a precaution against the Guy Fawkes syndrome suffered by self important members of Parliament.

The others run into the peninsula under the CBD from the West Esplanade.

I once saw a map but you can't get it any more.

The naval oil storage tunnels were built just in time for the end of WWII in response to the 63 bombings of Darwin by the Japanese. Some were used briefly but they leaked.

The movie "Australia" will apparently show the first bombing of Darwin. It was the same carrier force that bombed Pearl Harbor two months before as well as additional land based bombers. They dropped more bombs that day (19th of February 1942) than on Pearl Harbor and more shipping tonnage was sunk in Darwin Harbour than at Pearl Harbor. Most of the casualties were on board the American warship "USS Peary" (91 lives lost). The ship went down famously with it's guns still blazing. The yanks turn up every year on the 19th of February to commemorate the bombing.

Ironically, the wrecks were salvaged by a Japanese company in the 1950's and, no doubt, the steel was used to make Japanese cars that were then sold in Australia.

The Waterfront project is built on open, low-lying land; although there is the entry to one tunnel just North of the new hotel site.

There are 5 tunnels. Two are under Parliament house but these were blocked-off as a precaution against the Guy Fawkes syndrome suffered by self important members of Parliament.

The others run into the peninsula under the CBD from the West Esplanade.

I once saw a map but you can't get it any more.

The naval oil storage tunnels were built just in time for the end of WWII in response to the 63 bombings of Darwin by the Japanese. Some were used briefly but they leaked.

The movie "Australia" will apparently show the first bombing of Darwin. It was the same carrier force that bombed Pearl Harbor two months before as well as additional land based bombers. They dropped more bombs that day (19th of February 1942) than on Pearl Harbor and more shipping tonnage was sunk in Darwin Harbour than at Pearl Harbor. Most of the casualties were on board the American warship "USS Peary" (91 lives lost). The ship went down famously with it's guns still blazing. The yanks turn up every year on the 19th of February to commemorate the bombing.

Ironically, the wrecks were salvaged by a Japanese company in the 1950's and, no doubt, the steel was used to make Japanese cars that were then sold in Australia.

Two Points:

1) Who or what is the Guy Fawkes Syndrome?
2) I bet you can't get the map anymore because people are afraid of Terrorism might occur at any given time in this day of age. Some fool could put a bomb down there and blow up the esplanade or what ever else :nuts:

^ look up guy fawkes night on the net, it's like our old firecracker night! the history of it will explain...

^ look up guy fawkes night on the net, it's like our old firecracker night! the history of it will explain...

lol just looked it up. very long wiki page, but i got the idea. apparently the mask from v for vendetta was modelled on popular characturisations of him.

any updates? is it progressing at all?

any updates? is it progressing at all?
:banana::banana: MAJOR PROGESS

the hole, which is a bit deeper near the NAB building now resembles a swimming pool.

the water is lovely and clear tho.

lol
watch out for the crocs

lol
watch out for the crocs

yeah i agree, they're hidious, you can get them lined with wool now! naisty.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/crocs_mammoth1.jpg

any updates? is it progressing at all?

No progress. It's come to a grinding halt. The builder is moving the equipment out.

fu...

Whats that? - SPQRSPQR are you suggesting that the project has been halted?

I have found the project manager and builder of China Town Darwin listed under:

http://www.pyramidpacific.com.au/
and http://sitzlers.com.au/content/standard.asp?name=Current_projects

Perhaps i will contact one or both of them tomorrow and find out for sure what the deal is....
http://sitzlers.com.au/content/standard.asp?name=ContactUs

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa25/seanoff_2007/IMG_0019.jpg

it's 1m - 1.5m deep

Any one for a swim!!

This project according to the most recent Construction Snapshot is not scheduled for a start until late 2009 early 2010.

Believe that carparking is still the main issue holding it back.

For those that like pictures of holes...here's some more taken today:

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09017.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09014.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09012.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09011.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09010.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09026.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityMarch09022.jpg

will incur financial penalties this yr.

http://www.ntnews.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/05/03/chinatown.jpg

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/05/04/48931_ntnews.html

Big trouble in Chinatown
BEN LANGFORD

May 4th, 2009

THE future of Darwin's Chinatown is in doubt with developers unlikely to meet the deadline for finishing the landmark project.

Darwin may be left with a great hole of China in a prime CBD location if the developer can't find a way out.

While some parts of the Smith St precinct are finished, the main hotel, apartment and office building is still a hole collecting water.

Lord Mayor Graeme Sawyer said the council's contract with the developer said the project must be completed this year.

"It's not a good outcome at all," he said.

"We should have a fully functioning precinct there by now with the accommodation and everything else there."

Leeon Consortium developer Jason Lee would not say last week if the development would be finished. His partner Dennis On did not return calls.

Financial penalties are likely if the deadline is not met but Mr Sawyer said the project details were "commercial-in-confidence".

Darwin City Council awarded the right to develop the prime land to the Leeon consortium. But a series of delays had observers wondering if it would ever be finished.

Sydney developer Robert Magid was brought in to save the project in 2006.

Mr Magid was in Melbourne yesterday and could not be contacted. But he earlier told the ABC that banks were becoming less willing to lend money for new developments.

The global credit crunch has seen banks tightening conditions on lending, including demanding high levels of apartment sales or tenancies to be guaranteed before building begins. Mr Sawyer said the developers had not spoken to the council recently.

"They didn't have the funding secured and it's turned on them," he said. "The belief was the consortium had everything they needed ... but obviously that wasn't the case."



anyone want a hole in the ground. suit large building, approval for mixed residential, office and hotel development. possibly cheap, may come with conditions.

Wonder if any crocodiles have made that their home?. Perfect location for them to grab a tasty late night snack from the selection of drunken people that surround the area at night.

Wonder if any crocodiles have made that their home?. Perfect location for them to grab a tasty late night snack from the selection of drunken people that surround the area at night.

Do you think they might escape from Crocosaurus Cove just up the road?

The project never got off on the right footing.

Just walked past this and saw a couple of workmen there, hopefully its a sign that this is about to recommence.

Just walked past this and saw a couple of workmen there, hopefully its a sign that this is about to recommence.

Maybe not, perhaps you should have asked them? but hopefully if you see some vehicles there later then perhaps it will happen shortly... :)

Drying up it seems

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinOctober09032.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinOctober09029.jpg

It's ready to fill up again as the wet rolls in :)

dev application in today's NT news

66x1 bed

122 x 2 bed

74 x 3 bed

63 serviced apartments

pub, shops and offices

in 3 buildings of 5, 23 and 28 storeys, + 4 lvls basement parking.

...meaning action soon? SPQRSPQR - whats your take?

whoa....it's all happening. whose building it? what does it look like/ how deep is the hole in the ground now - 2 or 3 basements down? finally its happening. this should be a winner for council given theyve been twiddling there thumbs since giving the green light.

This is for the China Town development ^^ from the NT d/a site..

Very NICE

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5610/darwinchinatown.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/i/darwinchinatown.jpg/)

A larger image can be found on page one: in the Architects StatementAnnexure 2 Architects statement.pdf"]here (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%202%20Architects%20statement.pdf&docId=59426160)


I've included the links to all the development plans, elevations and town planning reports.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9517/sitehy.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/sitehy.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Address:
Lot 07587 Town of Darwin
68 MITCHELL ST
DARWIN CITY

Town Planning Zone:
CB - (Central Business)

Description of Proposal:
Mixed use development comprising 66 x 1, 122 x 2 and 74 x 3 bedroom multiple dwellings, 63 x serviced apartment suites, pub, shops and offices in 3 buildings of 5, 23 and 28 storeys, plus 4 levels of basement carparking

Consent Authority:
Development Consent Authority (Darwin Division)

Exhibition ends at:
Friday, 17 December 2010 4pm

Applicants:
June D'Rozario & Associates Pty Ltd

Brief Description of Existing Land Use:
Excavation for basements

Value of Works:
$108,000,000

Statement of Effect of Use or Development Proposal:

Attached File:
Annexure 3 Traffic and Parking Assessment 23 11 10.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%203%20Traffic%20and%20Parking%20Assessment%2023%2011%2010.pdf&docId=59426182)

Attached File:
Annexure 2 Architects statement.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%202%20Architects%20statement.pdf&docId=59426160)

Attached File:
Annexure 6 G Ministers statement.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%206%20G%20Ministers%20statement.pdf&docId=59426227)

Attached File:
Annexure 5 Lightning Protection .pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%205%20Lightning%20Protection%20.pdf&docId=59426215)

Attached File:
Annexure 4 Survey Compilation 05_6170-6.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Annexure%204%20Survey%20Compilation%2005_6170-6.pdf&docId=59426205)

Attached File:
Lot 7587 Town of Darwin s 46 report.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Lot%207587%20Town%20of%20Darwin%20s%2046%20report.pdf&docId=59424462)

Dimensioned Plans:
Attached File:
Floor plans Part 2.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Floor%20plans%20Part%202.pdf&docId=59425775)

Attached File:
Elevations sections Part 2.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Floor%20plans%20Part%202.pdf&docId=59425775)

Attached File:
Landscape Concept_revD.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Landscape%20Concept_revD.pdf&docId=59426127)

Attached File:
Floor plans Part 1.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Floor%20plans%20Part%201.pdf&docId=59425756)

Attached File:
Elevations sections Part 1.pdf (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planningPopup/lta.viewDocument/59424246?Elevations%20sections%20Part%201.pdf&docId=59425884)


Note:
This application can be inspected at Development Assessment Services.




Source (https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planning/lta.dar.list#development_Darwin)

There appears to be a lot of 5 and 7 story buildings proposed for Nightcliff and surrounding suburbs at the moment.

The northern suburbs must be fairly dense...

there's plenty of renders, elevations, floor plans in those above links... never mind fixed the pic's size.

Here's more

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/CHINA5.jpg


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/CHINA1.jpg


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/CHINA2.jpg


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh64/wilkiebarkid/CHINA4.jpg

That...
is....
really....
great. :cheer:

I might have to get a new camera just for this :)



The four story one on the right really interests me - will something like that work in Darwin I wonder.

Yummy:
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/Gate.jpg
<inserts tears of joy smiley>

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/HighView1.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/HighView2.jpg

I hope this is under construction when I'm there in July.

If I remember correclty there was a BIG issue with carparking falling well short of planning regulations when first proposed. I believe they are about to relax some of those that require 2 parks per unit.

It will be a great addition to the City and the akyline of course.

I do like!

It looks great. It's the street level activation that really adds to this.

Looks like it will be Darwins tallest although I can't seem to make out what the heights are. Between 98-100m.

No it's not the tallest, I wouldn't think so. There is Evolution on Gardiner which is a 33 story resi tower (with carpark & retail on the base) on the corner of Knuckey, McMinn and Gardiner Streets; stands at 99m; AHD of 120m.

Then only about 150m down the road there is Mantra Pandanus (a hotel tower with lower retail & carpark) it sits at 27 stories plus ground. (So 28 stories); that one sits on the same main road at the corner of Knuckey Street and Woods Street. There's a fairly dense cluster of iirc 13 levels of office space immediately next door.

Then there's a cluster of resi towers side by side on the Esplanade which were completed in 2008 or 2009. iirc the tallest of that cluster is at 24 stories high. There are then another biggie which was completed last year and it sits at about 22 stories on the northern end of Woods Street.

There's been a few more proposed and the D/A's that are not yet expired, but i'm not sure on their individual status updates... If I recall correctly Actually a couple of these new biggies are also under construction at the moment; resi and a new 5 star hotel.

So essentially depending on what finishes first this could be probably the 3rd or 4th tallest tower in Darwin when completed.

my :2cents:

Well, whether its the 3rd or 4th tallest tower or not it will still be a great addition to the city!

Great building, love the street activation.

The elevations show the shorter tower at 95.5m and the taller one at 115.7m :)

I think that the thread title needs to be changed :)

Great building, love the street activation.

The elevations show the shorter tower at 95.5m and the taller one at 115.7m :)

I think that the thread title needs to be changed :)

Ground level (for the shorter tower at least) is RL25.5 so that makes the shorter tower 70m and the taller tower 90m.

NT News today 25 January. Great news. This will be a landmark development for Darwin.

DARWIN'S Great Hole of China

At last to be transformed into a gleaming shopping, office and apartment development.

Chinatown, which has been little more than a big hole in the ground for the past few years, is to go before the planning authority next month.

The project, which had been stalled by lack of finance, will cost more than $100 million.

It will have two skyscrapers - one 28 storeys and the other 23 - and a nine-storey block, all linked by a pedestrian plaza.

There will be 260 apartments, pub, shops, offices and "themed" entrance gates.

But there will be only 414 car parking spaces, a shortfall of 380.

A Darwin City Council report says 71 shared "tandem" bays could not be taken into account and would lead to motorists parking away from the complex.

"Tandem bays only function when the drivers of both vehicles are able to co-ordinate their movements sufficiently to minimise inconvenience," the reports says. "The proposed arrangement of tandem bays is likely to result in drivers finding more convenient parking off site."

Even if the tandem bays were taken into consideration, the shortfall would still be "unacceptably high".

The council does not have planning powers.

And its objections about the shortage of parking bays may not influence the Development Consent Authority because the NT Government has signalled that the number of mandatory spaces for city centre developments will be reduced.

Chinatown is bordered by Mitchell, Smith and Peel streets.

It is being developed by Jason Lee, who fled to Australia from East Timor with his family in the 1970s.

Work was suspended after a huge foundation hole was dug several years ago.

Anyone know where this is at/was it approved/stalled/modified ?

I'm not sure where to look.

Sigh. No updates. Taken 15/5/11

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/AprMay2011028.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/AprMay2011027.jpg

wasn't there another DA go through on this?

This and the awesome info Skyline put up (P4 of this thread) went in, in December last year. But haven't been able to find any updates or resubmissions.

Address:
Lot 07587 Town of Darwin
68 MITCHELL ST
DARWIN CITY
Town Planning Zone:
CB (Central Business)
Description of Proposal:
Mixed use development comprising 66 x 1, 122 x 2 and 74 x 3 bedroom multiple dwellings, 63 x serviced apartment suites, pub, shops and offices in 3 buildings of 5, 23 and 28 storeys, plus 4 levels of basement carparking
Consent Authority:
Development Consent Authority (Darwin Division)
Exhibition ends at:
Friday, 17 December 2010 4pm
Applicants:
June D'Rozario & Associates Pty Ltd

great news. but some of that grass needs setbacks.

...the grass = landscape component

Anyone know what's happening on this site? Lots of movement and machinery lately -- although I think they're just cementing the walls heading into the wet season (to ensure the neighbouring buildings don't fall in!)

4/12/11

/http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityShots014.jpg/

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityShots013.jpg

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityShots012.jpg

What a shame this has stalled, such a blight on the city landscape.

need to concrete the entire area hole, cover the concrete with thick vinyl, fill it with water, stick in some little floating fountains.

replace the fence with something see through and have a water feature.

doesn't look like it's going to be a building anytime soon.

need to concrete the entire area hole, cover the concrete with thick vinyl, fill it with water, stick in some little floating fountains.

replace the fence with something see through and have a water feature.

doesn't look like it's going to be a building anytime soon.

Sweet! Love it


OR maybe some Acapulco style diving from the already-built carpark!


http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/DarwinCityShots012a.jpg
My best photoshopping ever... apologies.:cheers:

Haha love the idea :P

Update on the marine life in the Great Hole of Chinatown:
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/January2013023_zpsc6db7435.jpg
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj376/twolny/January2013024_zpsf821799c.jpg

Maybe this belongs here?

I found this proposal render on a website when looking up china town darwin. I have never seen it posted in here before yet.



DARWIN CHINA TOWN DARWIN

-

This proposal for a high density residential building in Darwin’s city centre consists of two towers, 27 and 23 stories in height, that rise out of a podium that addresses four street frontages.

With the modern Chinatown as its podium, the development includes a strong hospitality, retail and food identity in a dynamic laneway space expressing a changing and active relationship with its street frontages.

Each tower is individually orientated with façades designed as climate specific shading devices, modelled to minimise the heat gain from overexposure to the tropical sun, control the penetration of sunlight into the apartments and maximise views of Darwin Harbour from all apartments through angled view sharing.

Sky gardens alternate up and down the west and east façades of tower one. The punctuated gardens create additional outdoor public space for apartment dwellers, promote cross-ventilation and visual interest from afar.

http://www.squillace.com.au/content/images/projects/HIGH_DENSITY/DARWIN_CHINA_TOWN/DarwonChinaTown01.jpg



SOURCE - Squillace (http://www.squillace.com.au/projects/info/darwinchinatown)

Is this a new proposal maybe?

Maybe this belongs here?

I found this proposal render on a website when looking up china town darwin. I have never seen it posted in here before yet.



SOURCE - Squillace (http://www.squillace.com.au/projects/info/darwinchinatown)

Is this a new proposal maybe?

Let's f............king hope so!!

Looks better than the original proposal.

Hope so too!

27 floors would be pushing around 100m!

^probbaly more like 85m-90m.
theres a 100m height limit in darwin. thus why Evolution has reached 99m.

just a quick diagram/ these heights are worked out if floor heights are 3m.
tower 1=83m
tower 2=72m

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6564/chinatownb.jpg

if the heights are 3.1m per floor
towers heights=
1=86m
2=75m

if maximum at 3.2m
1=89m
2=78m

I'm guessing they'll be 3m floor heights since that's what they were in the previous proposal. :)

83 and 72m tall buildings on the same block isn't too bad at all!

Darwin and Townsville are steaming ahead!

I'm guessing they'll be 3m floor heights since that's what they were in the previous proposal. :)

83 and 72m tall buildings on the same block isn't too bad at all!

Darwin and Townsville are steaming ahead!

it's still more likely that my proposal to cover the hole with thick poly-vinyl stick in some fountains and either turn it into a swimming pool or stick crocs in it and use it as a tourist attraction/anti-dickhead facility (ie throw idiots in with the crocs).

^^ Somehow I don't think so........

^probbaly more like 85m-90m.
theres a 100m height limit in darwin. thus why Evolution has reached 99m.

90m height limit in most of Zone CB and 36m on the periphery extendable to 55m if the site is larger than 3,500sqm, an energy rating in excess of the Building Code of Australia requirement can be achieved and (discretionary) at least 15% publicly accessible open space can be provided for itinerants to hassle taxpayers and thieves to mug people and ....

Heights are ultimately controlled by the Dept of Defence due to the effect of CBD buildings on the RAAF base radar. Heights are controlled throughout Darwin by the Dept of Defence. NT Planning Scheme just mimics the requirements of Defence (Areas Control) Regulations 1989. See the section relevant to Darwin at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2004C00073/Html/Volume_10 or the whole regulations at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2004C00073/Html/Volume_1. The federal minister has the power to order buildings that offend to be remodelled or demolished.

"...due to the effect of CBD buildings on the RAAF base radar..." Nice finally some sense on why to keep the heights down. I was sick of the "flight path" nonsense.

So after all that planning business a few years ago, is there any chance approval of over 90m is possible?
*still eyeing off that old woolies site.... for a subway terminal.... and 50 storey mixed use...*

Edit: argh sorry - kinda off topic.

Subway?! I think your about 50-100 years ahead of yourself?

"...due to the effect of CBD buildings on the RAAF base radar..." Nice finally some sense on why to keep the heights down. I was sick of the "flight path" nonsense.

So after all that planning business a few years ago, is there any chance approval of over 90m is possible?
*still eyeing off that old woolies site.... for a subway terminal.... and 50 storey mixed use...*

Edit: argh sorry - kinda off topic.

Yes, it's the radar. I've dealt with the gentleman in Defence that looks after Darwin.

90m plus is possible under the Defence (Areas Control) Regulations but it requires a specialist (in radar) to get it past Defence and DIA (Darwin International Airport). That's how Evolution got through by direct dealings with Defence. DIA also has a parallel interest and they have to give clearance as well. The regulations cover the whole of Darwin and not just the CBD: Casuarina Shopping Square got tapped on the shoulder by Defence when they had Civil & Civic build the cinema.

Is 90m possible under the current planning scheme? NO. Apparently, there are legions of militant busybodies that don't own any land in the CBD that think that they have a right to say what can or can't be built on private land. The law is on their side. Like the perennial question of the old Woolies site. Lots of people have their say on what should happen with it but none of them are Kerry Manolas.

Subway?! I think your about 50-100 years ahead of yourself?

I have a long term positive view, that Darwin could take some of the more positive aspects of Singapore's approach to building, greening, transport, and dealing with the heat.

Building - density and mixed used with old and new intermingling. (too bad we don't have too much nice old stuff.)
Greening - 30m-40m Rain trees and Angsanas lining every road side. Buildings with greenery applied to the outside.
Transport - hotmix roads (I'm sick of the poor quality of Darwin's coarse chip roads. The small slivers of hotmix we have are delicious.) Monorail/Subway airconditioned between key spots - multi city, waterfront, airport, casino, casuarina, CDU, and to Palmerston central with airconditioned hubs alternating with architecturally designed outdoor platforms, loaded with snack bars and or other methods to separate you from your money.
Dealing with the heat - see greening above.

Mother of God.... ...shut up and take my money... or better yet.. bury me alive in the slab when they do the concrete pour!