Melbourne CBD’s busiest street corner, located opposite Flinders Street Station, is up for grabs an advertising site  for the first time.

The contract for what is being billed as Melbourne’s answer to Times Square is now up for grabs.

The site is visited by around 80,000 pedestrians and 22,000 vehicles every day week day, according to Cardno Group.

The process is being managed by Jones Lang LaSalle. The company’s leasing director James Palmer, said: “This site is without a doubt the busiest, and most significant street corner in the Melbourne CBD. The billboard will become the major look-to feature as people exit the Flinders Street train station via the Elizabeth Street pedestrian subway, and for all pedestrians in general. Exclusive rights in such a prominent and busy location means big brands will be sizing up the opportunity. It’s an extremely valuable piece of real estate.”

Fivex Commercial Property GM Lesli Berger said: “Finally Melbourne is set to join the ranks of the world’s great cities like New York, London, Paris and Berlin; cities that embrace billboards as part of the theatre of their very streetscapes, cities that work with billboard owners and advertisers to ensure the messages on these sites are entertaining, relevant and dynamic, and add to the character of the city. We are very pleased to be moving forward.”

“As soon as the site is leased – to either a media buying organisation or directly to a big-brand user – the LED signage is fabricated and installed in a matter of weeks and Melbourne will light up,” he added.

mumbrella.com

28 October, 2011

Founding director of Aboriginal Art Galleries, Farid Nayer, and his business partner Russell Dawson told the Gazette last week they are prepared to invest up to $2 million to establish and run the gallery. They have come to an agreement with the site’s owner to lease the 800 square metre basement level should their development application lodged on July 14 be approved.

Mr Farid said the investment would cover refurbishment and set-up costs, the purchase of more than 700 art works from Australia’s top and emerging indigenous artists, rent of the gallery and shop space and wages for 20 employees, 80 per cent of whom would likely be of indigenous background.

There will be a gallery entrance fee and visitors would be able to view and purchase top quality indigenous artworks mainly from northern and central Australia but also stroll through a section featuring the work of artists based in the greater Blue Mountains region.

Mr Farid said the proposal had the full backing of key Blue Mountains indigenous organisations and “if the local mobs had said no, I wouldn’t go ahead”.

“We’ve been consulting with local indigenous organisations including the Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre in Katoomba, the Darug people, the Gundungurra Tribal Council and council’s Aboriginal development officer and they are all for it . . . They all want to see employment opportunities [for indigenous people] grow and that is something I’m passionate about.

“A certain percentage of our profit will go towards projects that build infrastructure for Aboriginal communities.”

Mr Dawson, who has a background in the Aboriginal education and entertainment sector, hopes it will become a tourism attraction that will not only benefit all Katoomba businesses but also “put indigenous culture on the map, promote reconciliation and give tourists an insight into indigenous culture”.

“It is important we come here as business partners that we embrace the local indigenous culture,” Mr Dawson said.

“Initially we are calling the gallery Waranga which means to sing, but we’d like the local community to name it, perhaps through a competition.”

A council spokesperson said additional information was being sought from the applicant about a performance component in the application to ensure it was an ancillary use.

“Subject to this issue being resolved satisfactorily, [council] anticipates being able to finalise the application in the next two weeks.”

The spokesperson said the application involves internal works so does not require being placed on public exhibition.

Mr Farid said once approved the gallery would take three to four months to set up and could open by the end of this year.

The Art Gallery has now been approved by Council and is currently opened for business at the Three Sisters Plaza in Echo Point.

By Shane Desiatink

Blue Mountains Gazette 24 August, 2011

To: L. Berger

Sent: Thursday, 22 March 2007 9:07 AM

22 March 2007

Dear Lesli,

Thank you for your note. It was my privilege to be there the other night and I was angry that all those other blowflies were there as well.  They didn’t like it.  That Geoff whatever his name is came up to me.  Actually I taught him once.  Obviously not much.

Let me know how you go with Woollahra Council and Energy Australia.

Keep well, Lesli.  Thank you for your kind note.

With best wishes,

Alan Jones AO

As reported on 24 August 2011:

Investors behind a bold proposal to establish an Aboriginal art gallery at the Echo Point tourist precinct hope it will breathe new life into the  Three Sisters Plaza and boost job opportunities for indigenous local residents.

Founding director of Aboriginal Art Galleries, Farid Nayer, and his business partner Russell Dawson told the Gazette last week they are prepared to invest up to $2 million to establish and run the gallery. They have come to an agreement with Fivex Commercial Property (the owner’s of the shopping centre) to lease the 800 square metre basement level should their development application lodged on July 14 be approved.

Mr Farid said the investment would cover refurbishment and set-up costs, the purchase of more than 700 art works from Australia’s top and emerging indigenous artists, rent of the gallery and shop space and wages for 20 employees, 80 per cent of whom would likely be of indigenous background.

There will be a gallery entrance fee and visitors would be able to view and purchase top quality indigenous artworks mainly from northern and central Australia but also stroll through a section featuring the work of artists based in the greater Blue Mountains region.

Mr Farid said the proposal had the full backing of key Blue Mountains indigenous organisations and “if the local mobs had said no, I wouldn’t go ahead”.

“We’ve been consulting with local indigenous organisations including the Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre in Katoomba, the Darug people, the Gundungurra Tribal Council and council’s Aboriginal development officer and they are all for it . . . They all want to see employment opportunities [for indigenous people] grow and that is something I’m passionate about.

“A certain percentage of our profit will go towards projects that build infrastructure for Aboriginal communities.”

Mr Dawson, who has a background in the Aboriginal education and entertainment sector, hopes it will become a tourism attraction that will not only benefit all Katoomba businesses but also “put indigenous culture on the map, promote reconciliation and give tourists an insight into indigenous culture”.

“It is important we come here as business partners that we embrace the local indigenous culture,” Mr Dawson said.

“Initially we are calling the gallery Waranga which means to sing, but we’d like the local community to name it, perhaps through a competition.”

A council spokesperson said additional information was being sought from the applicant about a performance component in the application to ensure it was an ancillary use.

“Subject to this issue being resolved satisfactorily, [council] anticipates being able to finalise the application in the next two weeks.”

The spokesperson said the application involves internal works so does not require being placed on public exhibition.

Mr Farid said once approved the gallery would take three to four months to set up and could open by the end of this year.

“It is important we come here as business partners that we embrace the local indigenous culture,” Mr Dawson said.

“Initially we are calling the gallery Waranga which means to sing, but we’d like the local community to name it, perhaps through a competition.”

A council spokesperson said additional information was being sought from the applicant about a performance component in the application to ensure it was an ancillary use.

“Subject to this issue being resolved satisfactorily, [council] anticipates being able to finalise the application in the next two weeks.”

The spokesperson said the application involves internal works so does not require being placed on public exhibition.

Mr Farid said once approved the gallery would take three to four months to set up and could open by the end of this year.

By Shane Desiatnik

24 August, 2011

Blue Mountains Gazette

Architect’s Design Statement
2-26 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Second Tower, Apartments and Display Signs

Constructed in the late 1960’s, the building on corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets was originally known as the home of the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) in Melbourne. The original design by architects Godfrey & Spowers has its roots in the modern movement, conceived as a horizontal podium form with two precast concrete and glass towers rising from its northern and southern ends.

Although the building was designed for the two towers, and with sufficient structural capacity built-in, the second (northern) tower was never built.

The bank has occupied the majority of the ground floor, and the 3 podium/12 office floors for most of the ensuing years. A small ribbon of retail skirted the bank at ground floor level, with basements for cars, safety deposits, and building services.

In the late 1990’s following construction of its new Melbourne headquarters at 385 Bourke Street, the CBA relocated many of it’s departments, and reduced the size of the ground floor branch. This allowed for the introduction of a new Coles City Supermarket, which has greatly enhanced the retail performance of the building and significantly changed the character of the pedestrian environment.

In 2001 Fivex Property Group purchased 2-26 Elizabeth Street, re-naming the building “Riverview”, and proceeded to undertake major building improvements to redress several design shortfalls, including:

- The office tower’s concrete façade had been decaying, and was subject to a Council Notice requiring rectification works
- Ground floor retail areas were substandard and not properly catering to the large volume of pedestrian traffic, and
- The building had not seen any interior upgrade of note in its life.

These projects have been tackled progressively over the past 8 years, and the building now provides a high quality, retail and office presence in the lower end of the CBD.

However three important potential enhancements still remain:

- The failure to construct the second tower has left a large “gap-tooth” in Elizabeth St. The fulfilment of this original design intent would significantly improve the streetscape.
- The building extends over 65 metres, making it one of the most distinctive on the city skyline, but the top two floors only accommodate plant rooms, making it dark and poorly capped.
- The corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets is in the top three pedestrian intersections in Melbourne, a significant un-realised opportunity for display of information to the community.

1. A Second Tower
The second tower is a distinctive office building. It’s design attains a contemporary resolution of the numerous physical and environmental influences which are outlined as follows:
- The planning scheme’s 40 metre limit on height of new structures, and load limits defined through analysis of inherent structural capacity, have resulted in a seven storey – 1,030 square metre floor plate potential building envelope.
- These seven storeys are located at the northern end of the existing podium, and extend just past grid line 5 (refer drawings), which is where the structural capacity exists. This results in a distinct building superstructure with no connection possible to the existing tower.
- A separate building entry is therefore required, which has created a unique 26 Elizabeth Street address without the need for significant sacrifice of retail space. A new metal and glass canopy is proposed for emphasis.
- The new building is primarily oriented west, and is shielded on the north by the adjacent ANA House for its full height. Solar angles are problematic from the west, so rather than limiting façade glazing, a series of fixed vertical blades and horizontal louvres is proposed. Computer modelling has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach in eliminating direct solar penetration.
- To accommodate this band of solar-control measures and allow access for cleaning, an non-habitable extension beyond the usable floor area (and the property boundary) is proposed.
- User-friendliness is key a strategy in the design of the building, and the ability to open windows and move external screens is seen a major part of this approach.
- The building is conceived as a three dimensional form. West façade treatments are transposed around to the south and east facades, providing further environmental benefit as well as performing a privacy function in relation to adjacent buildings.
- Internally, the floor plates are divided into office suites, accessed off a central corridor. The core is located against the north wall against ANA House – the only elevation with no external aspect – providing good accessibility from the ground floor and amenity to each of the office levels. The core provides central facilities including an accessible toilet and shower at each level.
- No additional carparking is proposed. A bicycle parking facility will be provided in the building’s basement, and proximity to all forms of public transport will allow a high level of accessibility.
- A suite of environmental measures in proposed. A separate report has been prepared to cover these, but in summary:
• High efficiency mechanical and lighting systems with individual tenant metering and control.
• Stripped-out building interiors with exposed heat-retaining surfaces and minimal finishes.
• Openable windows with performance glass, and sliding solar control screens
• Water collection and storage for landscaping and toilet flushing
• Roof garden for reduced heat-absorption and improved user-amenity
• Materials’ specifications based on recycled content and reusability/recyclability
• Showering and parking facilities to encourage bicycle use.
The result is a distinctive new building which sits well between the two adjacent structures.
Its projection beyond the property allows a subtle glimpse from Elizabeth Street without impacting views of the Flinders Street Station tower beyond.
The façade design with its geometric façade composition provides variety to the streetscape and a strong visual link between the historic ANA House and the 1960’s modern Riverview Tower.

2. Riverview Apartments
2-26 Elizabeth Street still contains most of its original mechanical plant and equipment, which was designed in the 1960’s, an era of cheap and plentiful energy.
This equipment is located throughout the building, with much of it spread over the top floor (level 16) and rooftop (level 17). An analysis of existing plant areas has been carried out by the owner to identify equipment which may be redundant or should otherwise be replaced to improve the environmental performance of the building.
As a result of this exercise, a significant amount of space was “found’. Attention was therefore drawn to the question: how to use this space to enhance the performance and presentation of this building.
The building extends over approximately 65 metres fro m the street. Its physical size in comparison to surrounding buildings, and its unusual coloured precast concrete façade make it one of the most distinctive on the city skyline, particularly when viewed from south of the river.
The top of the building however is dark and utilised, detracting from its visual presentation, particularly at night-time. The addition of quality residential accommodation provides an opportunity to significantly improve the building top, without adding to its height.
The apartments are conceived as simple geometric glass elements inter-woven with the existing concrete façade. This provides a high level of transparency (in the day) and a “lantern” effect at night.
Care has been taken to avoid increasing the mass of the building by setting back the new superstructure, which in turn minimises any increased over-shadowing.
The result is two residential apartments, one over two levels (16 & 17) at the south, and the other over one level (17/roof) oriented to the north. A new shuttle lift is proposed internally to provide access.

3. Corner Signage
The building is well positioned at one of the top 3 pedestrian intersections (by volume) in Melbourne, and with significant vehicular movements along Flinders Street.
There is currently no significant building identification or advertising signage on the building.
New advertising and consumer information signage is therefore proposed taking into account the following issues:
- Integration of signage design with the existing building facade
- Preservation of views both to and from the existing building
- Concealment of any signage from south of the river
- Exposure to the significant pedestrian traffic volumes

The new signage panel is proposed to wrap around the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets, providing a three-dimensional articulation of the corner. The sign itself forms part of a larger translucent screen element with its frame design generated from the existing façade geometry.
The sign is conceived in two parts – a larger static LED electronic sign with changing displays of advertising material and consumer information, and a smaller ribbon “news feed” as the base which provides continuous updates in s scrolling text format.
Care has been taken to position the sign to preserve vision from the internal office areas.

Baldasso Cortese

Murray Brassington
Partner

12:00pm registration for  12:30pm – 2:00pm

Westin Hotel, Grand Ballroom

No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney

‘Green’ is the new property fundamental.

And the race is on to create cutting edge

new buildings and upgrade old buildings.

Come and hear industry leaders share

their experiences and insights for the

future green building revolution.

Speakers

Craig Roussac, General Manager Sustainability, Investa Property Management

Lesli Berger, General Manager, Fivex Commercial Property

Caroline Pidcock, Caroline Pidcock Architects, ESD Consultant on Workplace6

Moderator

Ken Morrison, NSW Executive Director, Property Council of Australia

Proudly Sponsored by INCOLL

Lesli Berger, General Manager of Fivex Commercial Property

Vehicle turnover has improved since parking meters were in-stalled by Woollahra Council, but they have not increased retail trade in Double Bay. Meters have caused more harm than good as Council has not installed meters in other retail strips such as Rose Bay, Five Ways Paddington and Queen Street, Woollahra. In the absence of an equitable municipal-wide parking meter policy, Council should modify parking meter policy in Double Bay

Council must review hours of operation of meters in Double Bay, further optimise the duration time limited parking restrictions (in consultation with local business) and set up differential meter rates so that it is cheaper to park on street in Double Bay during quiet periods. Increase free Council parking two hours.
Latte Life Issue 5 March 2011, Double Bay

The council is preparing to do its own markdowns: reducing the charge for each parking space from $38,496 to $27,325.

At the same time it is planning to scrap the requirement for a car-parking contribution in relation to c change of use in the commercial area – unless there is to be a net increase in gross floor area.

In the past, a change of use from one type of business to another could leave the prospective business owner seriously out of pocket.

The council hopes that making amendments to the contributions plan and car-parking development control plan will help to promote business in the centre.

The change has come about after a study of the retail area and a Land and Environment Court case challenge by the developer, Fivex Commercial Property, who was unable to put car-parking on its site, on the corner of Knox Street and New South Head Road.

The council’s director of planning and development, Allan Coker, said provision of car-parking in the Bay could be achieved at a much lower cost than previously thought.

“Lowering the rate to $27,325 per space is on the basis of the true costs of the construction,” Mr Coker said.

The court-appointed quantity surveyor did the calculations, leading the council to reconsider its charge.

Cr Keri Huxley was concerned that the council was not preparing for a time when there might not be enough parking for the commercial centre.

“Can we not as a council determine what is the best outcome for parking?  Why don’t we have a capacity to estimate the maximum demand for parking in double Bayso we can plan for that now?” Cr Huxley said.

Mr Coker said there was evidence that there was an ample supply of parking in the Bay.

“This proposed change will improve the life and vitality of the centre,” he said.

By Kim O’Connor

Wentworth Courier – 23 January, 2008

The old ditty went I’m a trendy and I’m ok, the sheaf by night, Tamarama by day. The Golden Sheaf that is. The Double Bay institution, owned by Bruce Solomon’s pub company, Solitel, is about to grow with Solomon’s $4.8 million purchase of the adjacent George’s restaurant from Leo Varvaritis, proprietor since the late 1960s. Solomon plans to extent the Sheaf beer garden and kitchens into the George’s space.

Over the road, the old Westpac building is making way for an office/retail block developed by Fivex Commercial property. Fivex Commercial Property bought the the bank building and the camera shop next door. In a new effort to breathe life into Double Bay- still reeling from the Westfield juggernaut at Bondi Junction- the chamber of commerce has announced a “fresh, new look” executive committee. It will be headed by Graeme Goldberg, a new owner of Dee Bees restaurant and former business partner of Benny Elias.

Sydney Morning Herald

25 March, 2006

With the wisdom of hindsight, the Plan as drafted is deficient in several obvious areas (of course this list is not exhaustive):

1. The Plan does not call on the Council to review its town planning controls that inhibit future Commercial and Residential Development within Double Bay Centre;
2. The Plan does not call on the Council to review its s94 contributions plan (development levies) in full given the very high costs Council wish to charge for new development in Double Bay;
3. The Plan did not call on the Council to set up a central body like the Double Bay Partnership to co-ordinate business activities in the Double Bay Centre; and
4. The Plan did not properly consider alternative sites for Cinemas in Double Bay.

DOUBLE BAY ACTION PLAN (as drafted in 2008)

As preamble to start of Double Bay action plan

(i)                Very concerned about commercial deterioration of Double Bay.

(ii)              Double Bay needs to remain competitive with surrounding centres and Council must change its policies that impact on the commercial competitiveness of Double Bay.

(iii)            Something fundamentally wrong with system when council wants to charge a dentist $76,992 to set up their business (409-411 New South Head Rd, Double Bay)

“We the residents, businesses and property owners of Double Bay call on Woollahra Council to implement the following tasks as a matter of priority”.

PARKING

1.     Turn off parking meters for a 6 month period. Starting immediately. Council must send a strong message to the community that Double Bay is open for business. Remove parking meters from along New South Head Rd, so that retailers along New South head Rd cam compete with Rose Bay Shopping centre.

2.     After the 6 month period has expired, ensure all parking meters allow payment by use of credit card, so as to ensure a convenient alternative to paying by coins.

3.     Increase free parking in the Cross Street car park to 2 hours. So as to ensure the Double Bay centre is as competitive as possible with Bondi Junction Westfield. Council should match or better the hourly parking rates at Bondi Junction Westfield in all public and private car parks that are council owns. Control or regulates.

4.     Review the Woollahra s94 Contribution plan 2002 as per note 3 of clause 2.2, taking into consideration the failure of the Kiaora Lands Project. In particular, Council must ensure the contribution plan as it applies to Double Bay Commercial Centre does not.

A.    Unnecessarily encourage developers to build basement car parking that will impact on the water table of surrounding residents; and

B.     Inhibit the economic viability of new development and intensification of uses within Double Bay centre.

Maintenance

1.     Continue to beautify the Double Bay Centre in consultation with the Double Bay chamber of commerce.

2.     Upgrade lighting in the Cross Street car park so as to improve people’s sense of safety in that car park, especially women.

3.     Repaint the Cross Street car park to improve its presentation and organise regular inspections to ensure graffiti is removed in a timely manner

Events and Community

. Organise regular upmarket events in the Double Bay centre in order to enliven the centre. Options include;

A.    Organise a professional operator to run specialist markets in the centre

B.     Organise a Knox Street film festival; and/or

C.     In summer months organising an outdoor cinema in Double Bay park.

Double Bay Cinema Site

“Organise a professional public relations consultant to shame Greater Union into reopening Double Bay cinema.”

Lesli Berger

General Manager

Fivex Commercial Property