Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin

Hotel project’s fresh design

- LUKE MORTIMER

LONG-RUNNING plans to radically overhaul the site of a popular pub in Kirra have been modified after developers snapped up two neighbouri­ng properties.

The proposal to redevelop Kirra Beach Hotel at the corner of Miles Street and Marine Parade into a “worldclass neighbourh­ood centre” with apartment blocks would cost about $275 million.

Once given the go-ahead, constructi­on would be undertaken in three stages, occurring over 18 months to two years per section, said developmen­t director Jeremy Holmes.

Mr Holmes, of KTQ Developmen­ts, said one major change to the plans would be ditching a chain supermarke­t for boutique retailers.

“We acquired two properties which weren’t in the original design. So we essentiall­y, with the exception of one little apartment building on the Community consultati­on sessions will be held at the hotel from today. Register online at kbhproject.com.au.

• Today: 11am, 1-3pm.

• Tuesday, March 19: 4-6pm.

• Wednesday, March 20: 9-11am.

corner, we now own the whole block,” he said.

“It means the whole design can be less constraine­d. We can design around the building and have the whole Marine Pde frontage to work with now. It made sense to redesign it.”

Mr Holmes said the project would still include a 15storey apartment building, a 10-storey apartment building “and a hotel that connects the two”.

“We’ve still got all of those same pieces, but getting this extra piece of land just enabled us to spread the developmen­t out a bit more,” he said.

“One key difference is we previously had a three-level podium and it was a shopping mall, but we’ve actually taken the whole podium out now, and it’s a laneway and piazza that runs through. It’s got a more casual feel.

“Our vision is to create an approachab­le food and retail neighbourh­ood centre where you can visit a butcher or fruit shop, grab a beer or cocktail after work, or enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the several dining outlets all with spectacula­r views to Surfers Paradise.”

The hotel will be “still at the heart of the site as a twolevel venue”, with a rebuilt pub on the ground and a rooftop bar and dining above.

The new design will make the resort hotel more prominent from the street and the number of rooms proposed has been dropped to 78.

 ??  ?? An artist’s impression of the new Kirra Beach Hotel tower and hospitalit­y laneways (below).
An artist’s impression of the new Kirra Beach Hotel tower and hospitalit­y laneways (below).
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