Novocastrians For Change

13/12/2023

Council approves 'skinny' Newcastle West office building on gateway site

The commercial building on the corner of Stewart Avenue and Hunter Street has been proposed by Newcastle development firm Spartohori Pty Ltd, the company that leases the office building across the road from the council.

The planned commercial building exceeds the narrow site's floor space ratio limit by 71 per cent, or nearly 1500 square metres, but councillors voted to approve it at a development applications committee meeting.

The proposed Spartohori building is 13 metres wide.

Newcastle architects CKDS designed the glass-fronted building with a distinctive pattern of "triangulated hoods" to mitigate against the western sun.

13/12/2023

Unique co-living tower with communal art space a first for the city

A UNIQUE $18 million co-living tower has been approved by the City of Newcastle.

Sydney developer Good Housing, which specialises in disability accommodation, originally lodged concept plans for a 15-storey unit block with 72 rented rooms and a communal art space on Denison Street.

The concept was sent back to the drawing board a number of times throughout the assessment process and was eventually reduced to 12 storeys with 51 rooms nestled between 'The Store' development, Newcastle Interchange and Bob Jane T-Marts.

The project is understood to be the first development in Newcastle designed under co-living provisions in the Housing State Environmental Planning policy put in place in 2021.

While any physical works would require a further development application, the proposal would see smaller private rooms built around shared living areas, a dedicated community artist space, an outdoor terrace on Level 2 and a communal rooftop space.

The proposal would provide nine car space, five motorbike parking spots and space for up to 50 bicycles.

26/03/2022

Student living and mixed commercial development for the site of the current Cambridge Hotel.

What do you think?

Live music would not be part of the plan, its backers have confirmed.

17/03/2022

🏗 Theatre Royal sale: apartments, rooftop restaurant in developer's plans 🏗

As one iconic Newcastle cinema sells to a new owner, another is in the planning stages of redevelopment.

Event Hospitality and Entertainment confirmed this week that Tower Cinemas had been sold off market, about three years after the King Street venue's closure.

The new owner and their plans for the site remain a mystery, however, the ball is rolling at another significant CBD venue.

Theatre Royal was sold in July last year after a decade under the ownership of Hillsong church.

According to CoreLogic, the theatre site at 669 Hunter Street and adjoining two-level building at 659 were sold to "a charitable organisation" for $2.53 million and $4 million respectively.

The sale was facilitated by Knight Frank's Michael Boom and PropertyFox's Tim Fox, who said the new owners were looking to incorporate residential and commercial into the site's redevelopment.

Mr Fox said apartments, a rooftop restaurant and commercial spaces catering for a medical centre or professional suites were among the options being considered.

14/02/2022

Winning architectural design unveiled for prominent West End site

A landmark design to reimagine the former Spotlight and Anaconda building has been unveiled following a targeted architectural design competition.

A three-member independent jury unanimously selected the innovative design by Plus Architecture for the proposed redevelopment of 711 Hunter Street, Newcastle West, which extends from Hunter Street to King Street and along the northern side of National Park Street.

The winning design has an overall height of 90 metres and features 267 dwellings across two towers, as well as 1400 square metres of commercial floorspace and 322 parking spaces, with an estimated construction cost of $100 million.

Stand out design elements strongly supported by the jury include the ‘meeting place’ concept - a public domain to facilitate and encourage people to meet, and the visual link between National Park Street to the Army Drill Hall, with jury members also supporting the design’s warm tonal palette and horizontal staked layers.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the architectural design competition had delivered design excellence for the redevelopment of 711 Hunter Street which will lead to positive outcomes for the city.

“Newcastle’s city skyline is set to be further transformed when this significant redevelopment in the West End comes to life,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle congratulates Plus Architecture on their winning design and commends the joint venture partners, St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group, for their commitment to the ongoing revitalisation of Newcastle's West End.

“The construction associated with a redevelopment of this size will generate jobs and help buoy Newcastle’s economy which is a positive as we come up against the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and look to the future.”

Manager Regulatory, Planning and Assessment, Michelle Bisson said the competition will raise the benchmark of architectural design excellence in Newcastle.

“Ongoing revitalisation and development is continuing to transform Newcastle particularly in the West End, and 2022 is shaping up to be another exciting and busy year for our city," Ms Bisson said.

“Once constructed, 711 Hunter Street will boast a hallmark building that will stand the test of time for future generations to admire."

The architectural design competition was run by an independent jury process under the governance of City of Newcastle and the NSW Government Architect's Office. Consultants Urbis administered the design competition on behalf of property developers St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group.

St Hilliers Property Project Director Paul Smith said the design competition has been a great way to bring the best architectural talent and ideas to the fore for this prominent site in Newcastle’s West End.

“The quality of architectural design presented by Plus Architecture is really impressive and we look forward to further refining the design by incorporating the jury’s recommendations before proceeding to the next phase,” Mr Smith said.

“With a development of this significance, we will work closely with Plus Architecture to set sustainability targets and quality design outcomes during the more detailed development application phase, including a focus on thermal comfort, energy, waste and water.”

A development application for the site is expected to be lodged by St Hilliers and The Spotlight Group in the first half of 2022.

11/02/2022

Great read about Newcastle’s renaissance!

Have you been to the Crystalbrook Kingsley yet? The views from Romberg's Newcastle are absolutely stunning!

The Crystalbrook Kingsley is yet another sign of the spirit of revival sweeping this 200-year-old seaside town, proof there is plenty of fizz left in the bottle.

11/02/2022

👏 Newcastle Art Gallery expansion begins 👏

City of Newcastle has received the certainty needed to progress with the expansion following a $10 million grant from the Commonwealth and NSW Governments announced in Newcastle this morning by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was the beginning of an exciting new era for Newcastle Art Gallery, which will celebrate its final weekend of operation with extended hours and special activations on Sunday before closing doors for the expansion’s early works.

"After more than 16 years of effort to make the expansion a reality, the commitment of $10 million from the Commonwealth and NSW Governments allows us to start the project immediately," Cr Nelmes said.

"This is both a regionally and nationally significant project and I’d like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister and NSW Deputy Premier for their support of the arts and Newcastle Art Gallery.

"This funding will add to the $16.5 million already committed by the City of Newcastle and $10 million bequeathed by the late Val Ryan. City of Newcastle will partner with the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation and the community to raise the remaining several million dollars as the expansion works commence.

“City of Newcastle will now issue a national tender to decant the Newcastle Art Gallery and securely store its 7,000 works, which are collectively valued at more than $115 million.

"By doubling the size of the Gallery, significantly increasing the exhibition space and delivering a suite of modern facilities, this project will deliver an expanded and upgraded gallery of international standing that will offer a valuable cultural tourism opportunity for Newcastle and the Hunter.

The expansion project includes an additional 1,600 square meters of exhibition space with dedicated areas for the Gallery's collection on the lower level, while the upper level will cater for a variety of travelling exhibitions, including international shows.

The project will deliver a new café and retail shop, multi-purpose and educational program space, a secure international standard loading dock, and will extend the building's footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street.

11/02/2022

City of Newcastle: Newcastle's revitalisation and transformation continues with a record $1.8 billion of development approved over the past 12 months set to generate approximately 3,500 direct jobs and buoy the local economy.

Newcastle recently announced a design competition for the $100m redevelopment of the former ‘Spotlight and Anaconda’ site at 711 Hunter Street in the city's revitalised West-end, meaning the pipeline of significant future development applications expected in 2022 is strong.

Newcastle's revitalisation and transformation continues with a record $1.8 billion of development approved over the past 12 months set to generate approximately 3,500 direct jobs and buoy the local economy.