The familiar ‘island’ of shops in Dee Why, currently home to Beach Burrito Co and JB & Sons, will be redeveloped into a four storey luxury apartment block if approved by Northern Beaches Council.
These businesses still have about five years on their leases, however, and may be considered in the new shops to built underneath should the project go ahead.
Last month a development application (DA2025/0024) was lodged with the Council for an $11 million redevelopment of the site by owners Harrington Property. They first purchased the block 154-158 Pacific Parade Dee Why in 2014 for $2.75 million.
The triangular site is just 100 meters from Dee Why beach. It’s zoned for shop top housing (Zone E1) and if approved as is will feature nine apartments on its top three levels; some apartments will offer views of Long Reef.
The ground level will be reserved for cafes and restaurants.
Matthew Davison, Executive Director at Harrington Property, told Manly Observer it was too soon to say who would go into those new business tenancies given the project start is at least five years away. There are still leases in place for the existing restaurants and the approval and construction process won’t be speedy, especially with potential site contamination requiring investigation.
There is concern over potential contamination from the neighbouring United service station. Initial investigations found four groundwater wells located on the footpath which contain elevated levels of ethylbenzene, xylenes and naphthalene.
“A Detailed Site Investigation (DSI) will be required to determine the suitability of the site for the proposed development,” the Environmental Health Referral Response – contaminated lands stated.
“I believe a contamination event occurred several years ago at the United service station, and it’s more about further investigations need to be conducted and if any remediations need to happen, the service station will be responsible, but more something we need to be aware of,” Mr Davison explained.
“The feedback we’ve received is that it’s a beautiful building for the entry into Dee Why, as you’re coming down the hill,” Mr Davison said, who said he is a North Curl Curl local.
“Our aim is to provide options to people who want to downsize, but still remain close to the beach.”
There will be five three-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom apartments, and two one-bedroom apartments.
In accordance with the affordable housing provisions, three apartments will be allocated to low to moderate income earners – these being apartments 3 (2bdrm), 6 (1bdrm) and 9 (1bdrm).
The development will also include two basement levels, which would house 14 resident car spaces and two visitor spaces. No internal car spaces have been allocated for patrons of the two potential restaurants/cafes, with the developer citing on-street parking as the go-to.
Mr Davison pointed out that not only are the developers local, but so are the architects. Platform Architects is a Manly-based company who has worked on several ‘multi-residental’ projects on the lower Northern Beaches.
Down in front
While the development will be within height restrictions, apartments on Pacific Pde with a current view of the beach will have their view compromised.
“We have done a lot of view analysis and the impact is fairly minimal,” Mr Davison claimed.
“We’ve tested it from a number of apartments, and we aren’t building an 18-storey building, just a building that is exactly the same height as the surrounding buildings.”
They will find out whether the neighbours agree or not (likely view impact shown below) once the plans go on public exhibition for comment from this Thursday, 6 February. This will run until 6 March, 2025
On the opposite corner at 155 Pacific Parade, Dommar Dee Why, another four-storey two- and three-bedroom apartment complex will be due for completion mid-2025.
