Development firm, Coronation Property, is planning to create a new retail precinct in Sydney’s southwest with the conversion of a heritage-listed warehouse into a food, beverage and curated retail precinct.

The developer’s mixed-use development project, The Paper Mill, will include 1045 apartments across multiple contemporary buildings.

Facing Shephard Street, the new retail precinct will comprise approximately 1400sqm of premium retail space.

The warehouse conversion will highlight its 19th century heritage detail and combine it with modern fixtures and fittings. The building will be surrounded by alfresco dining areas and a community garden featuring numerous bike racks.

According to Coronation, the scheme is designed to attract high quality food and beverage retailers and other service providers offering experiential activities such as pilates or yoga studios seeking a dynamic and integrated retail precinct location.

“Our aim is to emanate the buzzing and vibrant retail and food culture that areas such as the inner-west’s Balmain or the new Harold Park provide,” said Joe Nahas, managing director, Coronation Property.

“It will bring together what people expect in Surry Hills or Erskineville. We will provide the connection between the indoor and outdoor lifestyle that people love and once The Paper Mill community is fully occupied, we will provide our retailers a captive audience of around approximately 3000 residents, as well as surrounding residents.”

“It has been designed to create a relaxing family vibe that will allow customers to take time out and absorb the atmosphere,” he said.

The sawtooth-roofed warehouse was built in 1914 as an extension to the then Challenge Woollen Mill, which produced blankets after the paper mill closed down in 1910.

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.