An artist’s impression of the Lonsdale Street proposal showing a varied frontage and combination of white concrete and brass-coloured cladding and screening in the facade. Images: DNA Architects.
A prominent single-level site in the Braddon entertainment and hospitality precinct that is home to popular eateries will be transformed into a nine-story mixed-use complex that will include ground and mezzanine floor commercial tenancies and 59 apartments above.
Dubbed The Yard, the $30 million project proposed by ICON and NJL Projects is for 9 Lonsdale Street, currently the address of restaurants Rye Café, Zaab, and Lazy Su, as well as ACT Tyre Brake and Mechanical.
It is also next to the popular Assembly pub.
In an area where building heights are mainly one and two storeys, the proposal will mean a big change to the streetscape, but it fits with the government’s desire for more residents in the city.
The development application says that nine commercial tenancies on the ground, mezzanine and first floors are planned, including a big anchor tenant, ranging in size from 26 sqm to 146 sqm.
A lease variation will be required, and added uses include bars, offices, a supermarket, a takeaway food shop and multi-unit housing.
Outdoor dining is catered for, and the goal is to continue to encourage a vibrant street frontage.
The design includes double-height frontages and an internal atrium.
The DA says the building design includes “evolving the historic roots of the site from the ground floor transitioning into a more modern and fresh aesthetic design as the building rises at each level”.
“This vertical transformation of the built form enhances the skyline for the Braddon area and creates a dynamic visual narrative that portrays the transition of past and future within the suburb of Braddon,” it says.
This view from the street shows the entrance to the laneway to shops and on to Mort Street.
The housing mix across seven levels is for 31 one-bedroom apartments, 23 two-beds and five three-beds dispersed across all floors. The larger homes will be on levels six and seven.
Level six will include a common lounge and terrace, while units on this floor and the one above will have screened outdoor terraces instead of balconies.
A feature of the development is a Little Lonsdale Laneway designed for pedestrians to explore the ground floor shops and provide access through to Mort Street.
“This laneway creates not only a landscape thoroughfare but also provides a convenient connection between the two streets and serves as public space,” the DA says.
The landscaping plan stresses street trees and planters with cascading greenery on the facade.
The development will sit on three basement levels, providing 84 car parking spaces (3 accessible), 10 motorcycle spaces and 20 bicycle parking spaces.
Vehicles will access the basement from Lonsdale Street, at the southeast corner of the site. This driveway will also service waste collection, deliveries and services.
Comment on the DA is open until 12 May.
