Empire Square - Residences

Floor plan for Westin Residences - Empire Square - at the top end of Elizabeth Street, Brisbane

New Apartment Prices in Brisbane

1. Trilogy Hotel Rooms (studios & two bedrooms)

• levels 36 to 47
• 16 apartments per floor
• sold fully furnished with 2 year rent guarantee
• hotel managed by Mirvac
• sizes range from 53 sqm to 89 sqm
• no balcony
• 3 elevators
  
• about half will have river views
• most do not have car parking
• completion about 2012
  

Average price per apartment on level 36: $639,000
Average price per square metre on level 36: $9,785

Average price per apartment on level 47: $695,000
Average price per square metre on level 47: $10,630

2. Empire Square (two and three bedrooms)

• levels 47 to 60
• 7 apartments per floor
• sold unfurnished
• hotel managed by Westin
• sizes range from 117 sqm to 150 sqm
• no balcony
• 5 elevators plus service elevator
• about half will have river views
• 1 or 2 car parks per apartment
• completion about 2012
  

Average price per apartment on level 47: $1,502,857
Average price per square metre on level 47: $11,336

3. Aurora Skyhome

• levels 64 to 65
  
• 5 apartments per floor
• sold unfurnished
• managed by Oaks
• 2 and 3 bed apartments
• four with river views
• 2 car parks per apartment
• completed in 2006
• Last year, apartment 643 on level 64 was listed at $1,095,000. 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 cars, 102 sqm internal, 125 sqm total, $8,760 per sqm metre

4. Pinnacle Parklands

• levels 4 to 12
• 5 apartments per floor
• range of sizes
• No river views - views of Roma Street Parklands
• completed 2007
  
• Last year, a 3 bed/2 bath/media room/3 car park display apartment about level 5 was being sold furnished at $1,675,000. 184 sqm internal, 257 sqm total, $6,517 per sqm.
  

5. Tennyson Reach

• five buildings, each around 10 floors
• some floors have 8 apartments, some 2 apartments
• range of sizes
• almost all have river views
• to be completed in about 2010
• about 1 elevator per 3 apartments per floor

Examples

• 2 bed, 2 bath, 111 sqm internal, 141 sqm total, 5th floor, $910,000 ($6,453 per sqm)
• 3 bed, 2 bath, 192 sqm internal, 227 sqm total, 4th floor, $1,320,000 ($5,814 per sqm)
• 3 bed, 2 bath, 189 sqm internal, 235 sqm total, 5th floor, $1,475,000 ($6,276 per sqm)

Brisbane Westin

The Empire Square development is now in pre-sales. It is called The Residences at the Brisbane Westin Empire Square.

"The building area will be approximately 85,000m2. It is designed to be 250 metres high with 68 storeys and 62 habitable floor levels. Currently there are only 2 other buildings in the Brisbane CBD of comparable height.

The building architects Cottee Parker Architects Pty Ltd have designed an iconic structure which will be a signature building in Brisbane, with an ultra-modern tower and timeless qualities adding to the elegance of the city skyline.

Internally, the design aims to create a pleasing and peaceful ambiance in keeping with the elegance of the structure, whilst providing modern and practical solutions.

The development will be located on a land area of almost 2,000m2 at the upper end and southwest side of Elizabeth Street Brisbane.

The building will also feature 23 floors of "A grade" office space from levels 5 to 27. The office section will have a separate foyer and dedicated lift bank.

The building will also incorporate 104 strata titled residential apartments over 16 floors from floor 47 to 62. The current proposal is to integrate the apartments within the ´5 Star Hotel´. Through the integration concept, the apartments will be complementary to the Hotel and benefit from a wide range of premium facilities offered by the Hotel including; swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, steam bath, relaxation lounge, food and beverage, house-keeping and laundry services.

The development will provide a range of accommodation choices from two bedroom apartments (some with study) to three bedroom sky homes and double storey penthouses. Prices start at $1,300,000.

The Hotel will occupy 20 levels of hotel rooms and facilities, which will incorporate 306 luxury hotel rooms and suites, including a presidential suite overlooking South Bank.

Level 30 will feature the hotel´s recreational facilities including pool, his & hers gyms, beauty centre and day spa. Meeting rooms and a business centre will also be available to guests.

Bar and dining facilities will be available on the mezzanine levels."

Festival Towers

I recently visited two apartments in Festival Towers, a Devine development in Albert Street in Brisbane.

Recently, the management rights were sold to the Oaks Group.

The complex is very lively. The common rooms and bbq areas at about 5pm were packed. Mostly foreign students.

The apartments on the South East side (e.g., S, T and U types) have now had their views blocked by M on Mary, a building designed mostly for students. A big loss of privacy for this side of Festival Towers.

The apartments on the North West side (e.g., P and O types) now have a river view in a Western direction, towards South Bank and Milton. That view will be lost when the new Westin Hotel building, Empire Square, is constructed on Elizabeth Street.

Two bedroom apartments in Festival Towers are selling in the $400,000s. They range in size from 85 sqm to much smaller, e.g., less than 75 sqm.