Plans for abandoned New Farm site revealed

An empty corner block in New Farm is set to be converted into apartments, office space and underground parking.

The site at 19 Annie Street, on the corner of Brunswick Street, was earmarked to become a new food outlet, and construction began sometime after 2023. The land was later sold and that project was abandoned.

A new building called “Spice” will include two private three-bedroom apartments with rooftop terraces, rentable office space and underground parking for seven cars.

“The abandoned development has increasingly been regarded as a blight on the Brunswick Street streetscape,” the application says.

“The new owner is committed to rectifying this existing condition and seeks to expedite the proposed changes.”

Artist impressions published with a development application in January showed rounded white walls, large arched windows, and plants draped from the roof and balconies.

“The proposed refinements to the building facade have been introduced to achieve a more cohesive, timeless, and elegant architectural expression,” the development application adds.

“Containerised planting … will soften the built form and enhance visual amenity.”

A concrete base for the new building has been erected on the site.

The block was the former home of Indian restaurant Taj Mahal, which was gutted by fire in 2019, and is directly opposite the New Farm Six Cinemas and within 100 metres of several popular restaurants as well as the cafe Death Before Decaf.

It is also a short walk from a major luxury apartment development at the disused Ozcare aged care facility.

Hal Architects designed the new Annie Street building.

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