Midrise Mega-Mix Planned for Dormant Alexandria Site

Twelve years ago, plans were approved to knock down and build again on a promising site in Sydney’s inner-south.

But nothing happened on the 1.2ha site at 27-31 Doody Street, Alexandria, between the headquarters of Max Brenner Chocolate and fashion label Hotsprings. 

Home to several building up to four storeys and used to manufacture hospital equipment, pharmaceuticals and products, the site had changed little since the buildings went up in 1986. 

Now, private equity firm GAW Capital Advisors Ltd has filed a development application with the City of Sydney for the long-dormant site.

The site was last sold for $18.15 million in 2007 to Sunway United Holdings.

Plans by Rothelowman Architects show a light clay-coloured, five-storey mixed-use development..

It would comprise five retail tennancies, a four-storey office, four-storey warehouse storage building, five-storey commercial space and basement carparking.

There would also be a through site link, creating a laneway for flexible retail spaces. The link would lead to an existing canal, which would become a feature of the site, with a pedestrian bridge to a rear office space that includes an open rooftop.

The application reflected the changing nature of the surrounding area, according to the report by Sutherland & Associates Planning.

“Alexandria serves a growing role as a mixed-use location with a dynamic mix of employment, recreation, retail and housing uses, and is popular due to its convenient location,” the report said. 

“As a result, the precinct is undergoing significant change from older industrial uses to new residential flat buildings, commercial development, boutique industrial offerings and mixed use developments of substantial density.”

The previously approved plans from 2012 included the demolition of the rear buildings and construction of new buildings that could be used for high-technology industrial use. 

In November, The Urban Developer reported that City West Housing had filed plans with the City of Sydney for a mixed-use affordable housing development in the suburb.

The concept development application comprised plans by Bates Smart for 104 affordable rental apartments at 216-220 Wyndham Street.

And in October,  Astute finalised plans at the site of a steel manufacturing shed in Alexandria to create a boutique apartment block.

The Sydney-based developer had tweaked its approved plans for the 1883sq m site at 59-99 Belmont Street. 

The brick facade of the shed and structural bay would be kept as a garage entrance and a four-storey block with 23 apartments would be built at the back at an estimated cost of $17 million.