Retro Tower Plans Filed for Coolangatta Retail Strip

A “retro” seven-storey mixed-use building with 21 short-term accommodation units is planned for a popular tourist retail strip at the southern end of the Gold Coast.

The proposal is earmarked to replace commercial premises occupied by the Coolangatta branches of the ANZ Bank and Bank of Queensland.

It has been lodged with the Gold Coast City Council by a Melbourne-based entity that acquired the 473sq m site at 24-28 Griffith Street in 2021 for $4.55 million.

Architectural plans submitted as part of the development application have been prepared for KBY Group.

“The proposed development presents as a contemporary architectural design, reflective of its coastal locality,” the planning documents said.

Curved balconies and building corners, patterned breeze block screening, fine and rough render walls of the Plazibat Architects-designed scheme “complement one another, creating a distinct retro building”.

Overall, the proposal would comprise 21 one-bedroom short-term accommodation units across five levels.  

Units on the northern half of the building fronting Griffith Street would feature a dual-key arrangement.

Access to the accommodation would be via a lobby entrance from Griffith Street and an adjoining pedestrian laneway.

As well, three retail-commercial tenancies spanning 180sq m on the ground level would sit above two basement levels with 16 carparking spaces.

The documents noted the proposed 27.1m height of the building would “slightly exceed” the site’s designated height limit of 24m.

Sitting atop the building would be a 410sq m rooftop communal recreation terrace—including a pool, gym, kitchen, landscaped garden and seating—crowned by a horizontal batten, patterned facade feature running down the entire eastern facade and framing the lobby entrance.

“The proposed short-term accommodation component of the proposal will provide a new and highly desired injection of holiday-letting rooms close to the Gold Coast Airport and within what has become somewhat of an aged centre zone,” the application said.