This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Tyas family’s real estate development arm, Cadre has snapped up 3.42 hectares of gateway land in the NSW Northern Rivers town of Grafton where it will develop a $70 million sustainable large-format retail (LFR) precinct.
Cadre has already secured pre-commitments across 50% of the space from national tenants Total Tools and Carl’s Jr. Neighbouring centres are occupied by the likes of Bunnings, Supercheap Auto, Autobarn, Anytime Fitness, BCF, BP, McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s and Subway.
The group is in “advanced” conversations with businesses spanning lifestyle products, sporting goods, medical, childcare and food and beverage including food trucks.
It says the plans it has submitted would become the region’s largest regional town centre.
“We have been working with senior members at council who have been instrumental in the design rationale, assisting us in pushing the traditional ways of thinking about user experience, urban design, landscaping and impact-driven initiatives. Creating something beyond a big box retail building you may find in areas like Coffs Harbour, Ballina or Tweed Heads,” said Cadre co-director Nicholas Tyas.
“Being a gateway site we knew we had to work with a team we know and trust, who could see our vision through.” Planners North, Bruce Henderson Architects and local landscape architect LARC will work on the project and use “local flora and fauna to soften the design and complement the local heritage and urban context”.
“The result is an out-of-the-box LFR design which shuns bright bold colours, dominant signage and bare concrete walls in favour of steel members which give a nod to the old Grafton Bridge, public art and dense local planting and vertical gardens.”
Together with Grafton Regional Gallery, Cadre will run a local public art competition for the central spine mural which will be located at the outdoor arcade where the food trucks will be positioned.
Cadre will aim for a low carbon footprint at the centre, using recycled materials where possible, increasing Jacaranda trees to reduce heat island effect on the car park, and including solar and EV charging, according to Cadre co-director, Christopher Tyas.
Cadre has retail centres, commercial offices, residential and land communities across Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. The family’s building arm, Tycorp Construction builds the bulk of the group’s investments.
At its Mattone by Cadre in Melbourne’s Richmond, it future-proofing the project as a fossil fuel-free development, adoption of passive house principles targeting a NATHERS rating of 7.0, with 2.5kW solar PV systems located on the roof of each townhouse and provisions for electric vehicle charging.
