Tower Greenlit for Sunshine Coast Nightlife Strip

Developers behind a 12-storey mixed-use tower have been given the nod to break ground along the Sunshine Coast’s nightlife strip of Ocean Street at Maroochydore.

It is touted to be a first-of-its-kind development for the largely low-rise hub of live-music venues, shops, restaurants and bars.

Earmarked for a 2190sq m holding at 15-17 Ocean Street, the midrise tower will comprise a mix of 53 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across levels 3 to 12.

They will sit above two basement carparking levels, 300sq m of ground-level retail-food and beverage space, and four double-storey office tenancies totalling 689sq m within a three-level podium.

“The impressive contemporary design will stimulate redevelopment of the city centre and contribute to well-designed housing with access to city services and amenity,” town planners Zone Planning Group said.

Property records show the site was acquired in May, 2017 for $4.05 million by an entity linked to Sunshine Coast businessmen Peter Poli and Glenn Ferguson.

It was previously greenlit for a 12-storey mixed-use development with 66 residential units and 44 serviced apartments that also spanned the neighbouring property at 11-13 Ocean Street.

▲ Renders of the mixed-use tower approved for 15-17 Ocean Street, Maroochydore.

To be known as El Parasol, the newly approved proposal includes 655sq m of communal open space on level 3 with a pool, outdoor kitchen, informal dining area, gymnasium, amenities, cabana seating areas, a spa and sauna.

The scheme has been designed by Ferro Chow Architecture and incorporates off-form concrete, timber, and rammed earth to “contribute to a natural, organic aesthetic, further enhanced by hanging planters and perimeter planting, reducing the building’s mass”.

“The building integrates seamlessly into a vibrant entertainment precinct,” a design statement said. “The street-level experience is thoughtfully curated … fostering a strong connection between common areas and the lively street.

“As a nod to its name, El Parasol serves as a metaphorical umbrella, providing shade and shelter in a modern, coastal context.”