Coffs Harbour site sells for $3 million despite heritage push

Coffs Harbour site sells for $3 million despite heritage push
Staff ReporterDecember 7, 2020

A state-owned development site near Coffs Harbour’s marina has sold unconditionally for $3 million despite the local council pushing for a heritage listing. 

The 3,181 sqm corner block in the city’s popular jetty and foreshore precinct houses a three-storey office building along with three smaller office facilities totalling a building footprint of 731 sqm.

The purchaser, a private investor, plans an apartment complex at the site which was home to the NSW Forestry Corporation for more than 70 years. 

It holds a mixed use business zoning which is code assessable for six storeys in height and nearly 9,500 sqm of floor space.

LJ Hooker Commercial’s Troy Mitchell, who secured the deal with Deb Grimley, said the site’s claim for heritage status was in doubt.

“The site has a 1940s building which has been subjected to discriminate works by various contractors over its time, including being re-clad in aluminium.

“The heritage values are questionable. There is a series of artworks in the building which are the property of the Forestry Corporation and once those works are relocated, I think the lack of heritage character in the building will be evident.”

Mitchell said the purchaser was confident of dismissing any heritage application for the site and was currently completing the development application for lodgement in 2017. 

The purchaser and NSW Forestry Corporation have agreed to a 12-month leaseback as part of the negotiation at $75,000 per annum plus GST

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