CHEUNG LOOKS TO $112M REMODEL OF COOGEE BAY HOTEL

Chris Cheung has revealed his plans for the iconic Coogee Bay Hotel, heralding a $112 million facelift for the beachside property.

C!nc has submitted an extensive development application at its site at Arden Street, Vicar Street and Coogee Bay Road, with proposed demolition of some existing aspects and expansion of retail, residential and accommodation, estimated to cost $111.7 million.

Famed live music room Selina’s will go, as well as a boutique hotel and apartment building on Vicar Street. Construction will include a six-storey development with 60 units above commercial premises and a supermarket, accommodation increased from 10 rooms to 29, three levels of basement parking and an “eat street” laneway with new cafés and restaurants.

The DA calls for variations to FSR and height limits, seeking a peak just over 23 metres, with an existing 12-metre limit.

Other buildings already exceed the height limit, but this will be the tallest in the precinct. Cheung believes they can justify the height on a needs basis for the community.

The heritage-listed aspects of the existing Coogee Bay Hotel and its famous beer garden will remain, actually becoming more accessible with removal of the streetside barrier wall.

It’s been suggested the week-old plan already faces opposition from locals, echoing stakeholder opposition that proclaimed overdevelopment nearly 12 years ago, in response to plans for a nine-storey development at the site.

The CBH has at times been criticised for its role in alcohol-fuelled issues in the bustling precinct, and the DA should please critics, continuing what has been a steady downsizing of the large-format pub over the past two decades.

Cheung believes this is a good proposal and “quite balanced”, and says it continues what he considers to be his 20-year vision for the CBH.

“We’ve listened to the community, and at many times been part of that community. I think the timing is right for re-establishing and reinvigorating that vision.”

The extensive plans are a product of architects Fender Katsalidis, which boasts major works in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“I think they’ve done a fantastic design, in terms of beautification of the site, but also reflecting the precinct and locality,” adds Cheung.

Feeling positive on the plans, now awaiting decision, the C!nc boss says he understands both sides of the story and has faith in the democratic process.

“There’s a lot of people who will be very favourable but staying silent.

“The design takes a lot of things into consideration; community stakeholders, and also in terms of what’s happening at Coogee. But then again, I’m biased.

“At the end of the day I just know that whatever DA goes in, it will be controversial.”