Cutting Edge Toowong Town Centre
Source: Courier Mail | 21 April
A $450 million development that promises to be the 24/7 beating heart of Brisbane’s inner western suburbs will feature a town centre that will become the focal point of the local community.
A Development Application has been lodged with the Brisbane City Council to build Toowong Town Centre on the corner of High St and Sherwood Rd.
The precinct’s design is based on an “open street theme” will have retail, commercial, residential, entertainment, and leisure facilities along with a range of services like childcare, gym and medical centre across the 9000sq m site.
Developed by State Development Corporation and White & Partners Sydney, Toowong Town Centre will have an open air plaza that includes a water feature that converts to a stage area.
The plaza will be used for outdoor dining and food festivals, small concerts, community and special events. The plaza also allows continued easy access to the train station, bus stops and Toowong Village.
State Development Corporation managing director Ross McKinnon said the development will invigorate the precinct with potential for as 24/7 lifestyle where people can live, work and play.
An artist’s impression of the Sherwood Rd entry of the $450 million Toowong Town Centre.
“Inspiration for the design has come from one of the greatest outdoor shopping centres in the world, The Grove Shopping Centre in Los Angeles which incorporates the best characteristics of a high street in the one development,” he said.
“Brisbane has a similar climate to Los Angeles, and we believe the open street theme along with the open-air plaza is the perfect combination to enhance the existing Toowong area.
“Now more than ever, Toowong needs a heart — a civic plaza to give the suburb a focal point the neighbourhood and community can identify with.
“We see the plaza as being an ever-changing meeting area — an iconic location that changes from day to night, week to week, and season to season.”
More than 50 per cent of the site will be dedicated to public space, including open-air plazas and community meeting areas where locals can take advantage of Brisbane’s subtropical climate and lifestyle.
Mr McKinnon said the COVID-19 epidemic will delay the project for about six months.
“But we will probably start our marketing program when we have approval and we feel that the market has recovered enough from the current conditions to make it worthwhile,” he said.
He said the whole area will be demolished and he expects a two-year construction schedule and about 300 workers will be employed.
State Development Corporation and White & Partners purchased the site from Stockland which had plans to build three residential towers. The site was originally one of the first Woolworths supermarkets in Queensland, opening in 1956.
“Most of the 150m frontage to High St has been a blank concrete wall for more than 60 years. We now have the chance to create a whole new image for High St and Sherwood Rd,” Mr McKinnon said.
“Many inner-city locations either have too much residential or too much office space. High residential areas are often quiet during the day when people go to work, and similarly office areas tend to become ghost towns on weekends.
“The mix of retail, office, residential, entertainment and the services we are proposing should provide a strong and active development.”