Drew Group Plans Rescue from Development Limbo for Surfers Site

Tower plans have been revived for a landmark Surfers Paradise site that has spent more than a decade in development limbo. Drew Group—led by developer Jonathan Drew—has pitched a proposal for a 33-storey apartment tower on the triangular holding at 180-184 Ferny Avenue. The 1055sq m site—with a 97m street frontage wrapping around it—at the northern gateway to Surfers Paradise changed hands last year for $5.25 million, according to property records. Most recently slated for highrise development in 2014, it has remained dormant and unchanged—occupied by a former display suite building. Approval was greenlit for a 25-storey, 98-unit tower with approval extensions carrying it into early 2021 but the project eventually stalled under its previous ownership. “The applicant notes at the outset that this particular site has been subject to a number of development permits over time for mixed use towers of a similar scale to that now proposed, demonstrating that this key parcel has long been contemplated for development of this nature and intensity,” a planning report prepared by Urban Planning Services said. “Overall, the proposed development presents a unique and innovative urban rejuvenation of the subject site, further ensured through the high-quality architectural design that affords a comfortable, luxury living environment located within its central location.” The latest plans filed by Drew Group would deliver a mix of 26 one-bedroom and 104 two-bedroom apartments “catering for smaller households and downsizers who live and work locally”—for residential and short-term accommodation use to provide flexibility in tenure. ▲ Renderings of the 33-storey tower proposed by Drew Group for the site at 180-184 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Designed by Broadbeach-based BDA Architecture, the 106.9m-high scheme features a curved podium with cascading greenery to establish “a memorable gateway presence for the precinct”. “The geometry of the triangular site, combined with the sweeping curvature of its context, informs a slender tower profile with softened, curved corners…[that] draws cues from the iconic Flatiron Building (1902), reinterpreted through a contemporary coastal lens,” a design statement said. The ground floor and podium levels of the tower are to be dedicated entirely to resident arrival, parking, building services, and recreation. Parking across three basement and three podium levels would accommodate 140 spaces for residents and 13 visitor bays. Topping the podium, a 709sq m communal recreation deck is planned for level 5 with a pool, spa, sauna, steam rooms, gym, and yoga area. As well, residents of the tower’s top 10 apartments would have exclusive use of a 496sq m rooftop terrace on Level 32 equipped with work-from-home study spaces, a meeting room, dining area, kitchen/bar with a butler’s pantry, lounge, entertainment spaces, plunge pool, hot tub, an ice/magnesium tub, steam and sauna rooms, a barbecue area and landscaped outdoor lounge spaces. ▲ Designed by Broadbeach-based BDA Architecture, the 106.9m-high scheme features a curved podium with cascading greenery. Speaking last month at Urbanity-26, the flagship annual conference of The Urban Developer, on the Gold Coast, Jonathan Drew said the city had moved beyond its boom-bust stereotype, with better architecture, stronger city design discipline and faster approvals positioning it to deliver more sophisticated, lifestyle-led projects over the next decade. “Over time there have been some significant shifts in what made the Gold Coast grow at the pace that it has,” he said. “And I think it has got a lot to do with the enthusiasm of the ... council and their attitude towards how we’re going to grow the city. “Without that support, that underlying governmental point of view, you see where other cities struggle. Whereas we’ve sort of got a path that if you essentially want to have a crack at something, you want to think big and you want to put that in front of a willing council, you’ve got a real voice to make projects that shift.” Drew said there was also a greater focus on architecture among the collective group of developers who are active in the city. “It has become a much more important factor, not only from a city point of view but from a buyer’s point of view, from a construction point of view. “If you look back on the history of the Gold Coast and its buildings…you don’t have to look very far to see we could have done better. And I think commercial architects are producing much better work than has ever been seen before on the Gold Coast. “There’s not too many buildings that you’re seeing unveiled that you’re not impressed in some way.”

Apartments
Phil Bartsch
Mon 10 Aug 26

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