First look: New apartments planned for Byron Bay's Jonson Street
The rejuvenation of Byron Bay's main thoroughfare, Jonson Street, is set to continue.
New plans have been lodged by local developer Jason Dunn, whose JD Property Group is proposing a mixed-use development at 119-123 Jonson Street. Earlier this month JD Property Group won two major awards at the 2023 NSW Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Awards for their mixed-use project Jonson Lane, down the road from the new proposal.
The latest project will be just 22 apartments above an activated ground plane.
The 2,727 sqm site, 750 metres from Main Beach and on the corner of Jonson and Kingsley Street, will home six retail spaces and a food and beverage tenancy, set around a central courtyard.
There will be 85 parking spaces created, 44 retail and 41 residential, across the two basement levels.
The two levels above the 1,073 sqm of retail will comprise 22 two, three and four-bedroom apartments. The nine apartments on the top level have their own private rooftop terraces. They share the roof with a communal pool for all of the residents.
Architecture firm BayleyWard refined their designs after working with the Byron Bay Department of Environmental Planning for the most desired outcome.
A pre-lodgement community engagement program was undertaken late last year, with only one property making contact regarding the proposal despite a letterbox drop to every property within a 500m radius of the site, an ad in the Byron Shire Echo, and a site notice. The Community Engagement Report suggested it could be because the comprehensive project website provided sufficient information and answers.
"Whilst there were questions and there was feedback (almost all of it was positive and none of it was negative), there were no requests for changes to the draft proposal," the report noted.
BayleyWard noted in their Design Statement that the client and design team has developed an architectural response that addresses key issues discussed during the consultation process with the Byron Bay Design Excellence Panel.
"In considering the urban design response to Jonson Street, it was recommended that there is a two-storey expression on Jonson Street with a recessed in alignment with the objectives of the Byron Shire DCP to support the desired street character," the report read.
"This two storey expression has been incorporated into the proposal with an accentuated ground floor retail storey with a masonry balcony element articulating the second storey above. The upper levels are set back and expressed as a darker recessive masonry materiality to minimise visual impact when viewed from the streetscape."
Apartment entry spaces have been designed with generous areas adjacent to front doors to accomodate bike or surfboard storage, planting, or a place to sit and interact with neighbours.
"These spaces extend private amenity into the semi public walkways promoting a sense of ownership, connectivity and community among residents."
Larc Landscape Architecture said the vision seeks to aligns with the aspirations of the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan to “connect the Centre of Byron Bay with the spirit of its community.”
"The project strives to create new diverse social hub to encourage locals and visitors to come together - centred around a new public courtyard activated with retail, lifestyle and well-being to create a unique and authentic place in Byron Bay."
The half of the site, 119-121 Jonson Street, is currently home to function and event venue Secret Garden, while 123 Jonson is occupied by a holiday accomodation block.
JD are also planning Jonson Lane, 28 apartments above a commercial precinct at 139 Jonson Street.
Jonson Lane won the Excellence in Boutique Development Category at the UDIA Awards. They also took home Silver in the Retail Development Category, bringing home the Commendation Award. They were the only Northern Rivers development to win an award or be nominated as a finalist in the 2023 Awards.
“Whilst we are proud of the awards, we are learning as we are progressing” Dunn said.
“As well as our collaboration with Architects Bayley Ward, we are working closely with sustainable development consultants HIP V. HYPE on 119-123 Jonson Street. They are responsible for some of the greenest developments in Australia and I really love what they bring to the table.
"Our intention is that this will be one of NSW’s most sustainable developments”.
Elsewhere on Jonson Street, Sydney developer Podia is working with local hotelier on The Bonobo by Raes. The Bonobo by Raes, at 116-118 Jonson Street, is offering a collection of 44 hotel-managed apartments, pitched as an alternative to Airbnb.
Luxcon have their Bohemian project of 44 apartments above a 1,750 sqm retail shopping and international food plaza at 90-96 Jonson Street.
Fast Facts
- Address: 119-123 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
- Developer: JD Property Group
- Site size: 2,727 sqm
- Retail space: 1,073 sqm
- Dwellings: 22 apartments
- 6 x two-bedroom apartments
- 11 x three-bedroom apartments
- 5 x four-bedroom apartments