Gosford locals know it as the Gossy Good Times site.
Or maybe as Frogys, even though the skaterink has long been demolished.
Or, if you’re really old, the site of the Brisbane Water County Council building, still there but derelict, with the words Gossy Good Times graffitied on the back of the building, easily read by anyone wandering along Baker St.
But drive past the site now and the signs on the new fencing tells you that “Almalfi” by developer Aland is coming.
And now Aland has lodged its development application (DA) for the site with Central Coast Council.
But the plans are not new.
They are a modification of plans approved in December 2015 and modified in May 2017.
The concept proposes three towers rising from a three to four storey podium level.
The L-shaped site takes in 50-70 Mann St and 114 Georgiana Terrace, Gosford.
It’s a mere stroll from where the other Aland development of two towers on the corner of Mann St and Donnison St is nearing completion.
The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) states that fundamentally the proposed development is largely unchanged from the approved DA of 2015.
It generally retains the footprint, height floor space ratio and sets.
“Most changes are largely internal and the form and presentation of the building is largely maintained as approved which is clearly seen on the submitted elevations that demonstrate that the presentation of the building, its key design elements and overall height and massing are largely unchanged from the prior approvals on the site,” the SEE states.
The modifications would yield 507 residential apartments in three towers ranging from 20 storeys to 25 to 28.
The proposal adopts the following mix: 50 x 1 bed units; 304 x 2 bed; 153 x 3/4 bed including 8 x ‘sky homes’.
Eight levels of parking would total 964 car spaces and 42 motorbike parks.
The mixed use development includes future plans for a childcare centre, gym, supermarket and specialty shops.
“It is noted that this proposal nominates uses for the gym, child care and supermarket proposal to enable a suitable assessment of the whole project- particularly as it relates to traffic and parking demand and to incorporate the necessary built form elements for these uses,” the SEE states.
“However the detailed fit-out and formal approvals for use of those tenancies will be carried out under a future application.”
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The heritage of the county council building has been addressed in the SEE.
The SEE lists the original foyer staircase, including terrazzo treads;three timber doors, joinery and entry doors; elements from the front timber window, sandstone facade and foundation stone; a sandstone as relief by local sculptor Leroy Staley; and the clock town as elements that “would be retained, restored or rebuilt/reinstated.”
The development application was lodged with Central Coast Council on April 2 and will go on public exhibition at some stage of the assessment process.
Merilyn Vale
This article by a Merilyn Vale is a spruik, not journalism! It reads like an advertisement, from its very headline: “Gossy good times on the up and up”.
Gossy?
Good times?
The Brisbane Water County Council building was for so long a fine heritage gem of a building, which stood for more than a decade in disgraceful neglect, directly opposite Gosford Council building, even before the Liberals’ dictated abolition of Gosford Council!
Councillors and then the “Administrators” could look just over the street to enjoy the view of it being vandalized and overgrown with weeds – far less pretty than Council’s lovely heritage, history and environmental brochures.
Yes, ye olde developers’ trick of ensuring that a site will be “developed”, by arranging a site is ignored/neglected until it becomes an irreparable eyesore, so that they then get their bulldozers and cranes in.
Citizens of the Central Coast have been hoodwinked by NSW Govts, Councils, and developers’ spruikers and carpetbaggers. As often the case, the tragedy of big money controlling our society more than democracy.
Mick, thank you for your comments.
However, Merilyn’s story is very much journalism in the context of the numerouis other stories she has written on development and council matters. This site has been an eyesore and directly contributing to crime, and the derelict nature of Gosford for over 20 years.
Developers have come and gone and not followed through with their proposals. Aland has a proven commitment to the area, having successfully built another site recently.
They have shown themselves to be exemplary developers in how they deal with the community, how they run their building sites and market their projects.
We are as a local News publication very happy to publish Merilyn’s stories.
Managing Editor
FYI: The reference to ‘Gossy Goodtimes’ is a a direct link to some ironic and popular graffiti that has adorned the old site for years, something the developer intends to salute in there build.