APG have begun marketing their new development to be built on the old Volare restaurant site on the Gold Coast Highway in northern Broadbeach.  Details are still incomplete, but the project is expected to comprise 1+ study and 2 bedroom apartments with pricing indications from $439,000.

Following the recent launch of their beachfront building, Eclipse, Amalgamated Property Group are already planning their next Broadbeach highrise.

Plans have been put to Council for a 108-apartment, 20 storey tower to be built on what used to the the Volare restaurant on the Gold Coast Highway, opposite the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Situated right on the proposed Rapid Transit System route, if all goes to plan, APG could launch the building as soon as the end of 2010.

Following Council approval for their 20-storey, 31-apartment residential tower on Broadbeach Boulevard, Amalgamated Property Group are finalising details for the offical launch of ‘Eclipse’ in approximately four weeks’ time.

The $120 million tower will be made up of 25 large apartments over the first 13 levels ranging from around 240sqm to 280 sqm in size, 5 full-floor subpenthouses and a tri-level penthouse coming in at close to 1000sqm in size.  Pricing has not yet been released, but is expected to range between $10,000 and $13,500 per square metre.

A construction timetable has not yet been released, however the site has been cleared and it is expected that the building will take approximately 18-20 months.

Boutique residential buildings are becoming a prominent feature in APG’s Gold Coast projects, following the success of similar developments, ‘Verve’ in Broadbeach, ‘Ivory’ and the recently-launched ‘Element’, both on the Esplanade by Burleigh Beach.

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Following the success of their beachside ‘Verve’ development, and the recent completion of ‘Sierra Grand’, Amalgamated Property Group have completed the purchase of a 3666sqm site between the Gold Coast Highway and Jubilee Avenue, opposite the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach.

A development application is presently before Council and the site is expected to include a hotel and apartment development.

Amalgamated Property Group (APG) have started demolishing the existing buildings on their site on the corner of Broadbeach Boulevard and Australia Avenue.

No timeframe for the development has been released at this stage, with APG last month withdrawing their original plans following Council upholding the  Town Plan-mandated 20 storey height limit on the block.

Following ongoing back-and-forthing between APG and the Gold Coast City Council, the Council have ruled that they will be strictly upholding the town plan’s 20 storey height limit on APG’s site on the corner of Broadbeach Boulevard and Australia Avenue.

In light of this, APG (who originally had applied for 32 levels) have withdrawn their application and presumably returned to the drawing board.икони

It is by no means confirmed, but there are a number of people who believe that APG may challenge the ruling on their Broadbeach Boulevard development site (discussed here).  Perhaps the most notable being City Planning Chairman Ted Shepherd – the only member who did not vote to reject APGs original 27-level submission.

The chief argument goes as follows:

1. APG have not exceeded the plot ratio (that is, the number of bedrooms allowed on the site), only the height restriction of 20 storeys.
2. The existing ‘Talisman’ building, on the southern corner of the same block (Cnr Broadbeach Boulevard & Queensland Avenue) is 27 storeys and therefore the precedent has been set for height in the area.
3. Therefore, provided that they continue to adhere to the plot ratio, APG should be allowed 27 storeys on their site.

This presents an interesting situation for a number of reasons, one of the chief ones being that a legal challenge to the ruling represents a challenge to the existing town plan, and as such, set a precedent for future action. While any legal action would be costly (for both sides) and probably drawn out over some time, APG certainly has the size and depth of pocket to mount such a challenge if they feel that they stand a reasonable chance of winning.

This is only a rumour at this stage, but it will be interesting to see what course of action APG decide to take.

Amalagamated Property Group have been busy in Broadbeach over the past few years, recently completing the upmarket, residential-only ‘Verve’ on Old Burleigh Road and continuing construction on the 30-storey Sierra Grand Resort & Spa on the corner of Margaret Avenue and Surf Parade.

However, their application to build a 27-storey apartment building on the corner of Broadbeach Boulevard and Australia Avenue has been rejected by 13 of the 14 city councilors on the grounds that it was “too tall, bulky and ugly” for the position – which under the town plan has 20-storey height limit. The plans to build the luxury high-rise generated significant public opposition, and Council’s ruling will likely have an effect on not only the APG development in question, but a number of other possible developments in the vicinity.

The ruling also presents a challenge for APG, who were planning to launch the development (likely without development approval) on Boxing Day. The loss of the top 7 storeys of the building will have a massive impact on the project’s bottom line, and at this stage APG’s next move is uncertain.