Cinemas to return to Double Bay in Cross Street Car Park redevelopment
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Published: 18 April 2019
Woollahra Council has released details of its proposal to redevelop Cross Street Car Park in Double Bay into a cinema complex, incorporating a new public car park, retail and community space and residential apartments.
The project represents a unique opportunity to replace the outdated public car park with a building that will provide significant long-term benefits to the community, and will be delivered at no cost to ratepayers.
A preliminary design has been developed in response to long-held community demand to bring a cinema back to Double Bay, continuing Council’s long-term investment in the revitalisation of the area.
The project involves demolition of the existing 380-space car park and replacement by a new structure including:
A 5-level basement car park, providing 372 public parking spacesA boutique cinema complex comprising 10 screens and 644 seats, owned by Council and managed by Palace CinemasGround floor retail and/or community space covering 668sqm86 residential apartments across 8700 sqm and 90 residential car spaces.The project is a partnership between Council, Built Development Group and Axiom Properties. Under the plans, Council will retain ownership of the entire site, while the Built/Axiom consortium will be granted a 99 year lease over the residential apartments and associated private parking.
“The community has been crying out for a cinema since the closure of the old Double Bay cinema complex in 2004. This project will continue the successful revitalisation of Double Bay and significantly enhance the area’s social, cultural and commercial life,” Woollahra Mayor Peter M Cavanagh said.
“Council has a strong record of using its property assets to provide valuable community facilities at minimal cost to our community."
“Our recent Kiaora Place project in Double Bay is a great example of this approach. It delivered a state of the art library at no net cost to ratepayers and importantly, also provides a significant ongoing revenue stream which we have used to provide community facilities throughout our municipality.”
The planning process will involve extensive public exhibition and consultation at both Planning Proposal and DA stage. Post planning proposal and DA approval, current estimates for the construction phase of the project are from August 2021 to December 2023.
The project also provides an opportunity to undertake a meaningful upgrade of public space adjacent to the site at Cross Street and Jamberoo Lane. Plans for these areas have not yet been prepared but will be informed by a detailed public consultation process.
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