The stylish co-founder of fitness franchise F45 has won a tender to convert a faded Bondi estate into a towering luxury apartment and shopping complex.
Rob Deutsch acquired 56 Campbell Parade for almost $20.65 million in 2021, and has now been given the green light by the Land and Environment Court to convert it into a three-storey building in a luxury centre.
The court upheld his appeal against Waverley Council’s decision to block the project after Deutsch held a conciliation conference earlier this month which led to an agreement between the parties.
This approval comes despite previous concerns raised by the council, including breaches of the site’s height restrictions and potential overshadowing of neighboring homes.
A report tabled at a council planning meeting also flagged objections from local residents regarding potential impacts on Bondi Beach’s heritage streetscape, construction noise and the extent of excavation required for the redevelopment.
The original building is not heritage-listed, although it was considered a contributing building within the Bondi Beach heritage conservation area, the report notes.
The façade of the existing building facing the beach will be maintained. But substantial demolition to the rear of the building will make way for an eye-catching development, planned by architectural firm Nicholas + Associates.
The $5 million redevelopment project will span five levels and include four apartments, along with commercial space on two levels, according to plans.
Rob and his partner Nicole spent big last year and bought luxury properties in the Emerald City.
The front of the complex will remain largely intact, but the rear will receive a major facelift.
The building will house four apartments and a commercial space on two floors below, according to the plans.
The site currently has four rental units, with Preach Cafe on the ground floor.
Examining the latest development plans, the court found that the changes made to the original proposal addressed previous concerns.
It also allowed a slight height increase of 1.73 meters above the 15 meter limit, which would be acceptable and discreet for the neighbors.
“The scale of the building will be commensurate with the surrounding context and adjacent sites, despite the excess height,” the court concluded.
According to the plans, the new project will offer better amenities than currently available, while the design respects the original building and adds to the architectural variety of the suburb.
The plans also suggest adding high-quality features for the public interest.
Mr Deutsch already owns several multi-million-dollar properties in the port city and last year went on a big spending spree, buying shiny apartments across Sydney.