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Crown Street Mall could be in for a dramatic $45 million makeover, with developers pitching plans for an angular 11-storey office tower at the lower end of the retail strip. If approved, the building would be the most significant new development to be built in Wollongong’s pedestrian mall for decades and will be designed to attract government agencies as tenants. In plans lodged with Wollongong City Council, ADM Architects have proposed the demolition of the 1930s red-brick corner-block known as Langs Corner. In its place, an almost 50-metre tall commercial block with more than 12,000 square metres of space inside would rise well above the other buildings at the eastern end of the mall. Designed to have five “green stars” under an environmental rating system, the building would come with 177 car spaces and 154 bike spaces, as well as recharge stations for electronic cars across three levels of basement parking. Cars will access the building via the Simpson Place, which planners say will “activate” and improve pedestrian access in the laneway. On the ground floor, eight retail premises will front the mall and Kembla Street, while levels 1-10 would have “efficient” office space designed to suit “government agent tenancies”. There would be two “sky garden terraces” on levels four and nine, and the roof would include solar panels. To encourage workers in the building to use “active transport”, one of the basement levels will include a bike repair and pump station, cool drinks vending machines, showers, changerooms and lockers. There would also be “underfloor heating, ironing boards, hairdryers, hair straighteners, first aid kits and emergency makeup and sewing kits”. “The developer will also provide a fresh towel and laundry service for building users,” the plans said. As the capital investment value of the development exceeds $20 million, it will be considered by the state’s Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel before approval. Plans are open for public comment until June 15. History of Langs Corner The corner development was built in the 1930s, replacing an existing building that housed the Illawarra Mercury newspaper office from the mid-1800s. On May 21, 1937 the South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus wrote: “Mr WA Lang this week commenced the preliminary work for the erection of seven two-storey shops on the vacant land opposite the Town Hall Theatre, at the corner of Crown and Kembla streets, the huge pine and other trees which have been landmarks for very many years have been removed in order to make way for the march of progress.” The building was named after its original owner, former Wollongong mayor William Lang who died in 1961.

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