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Thursday October 29, 2026 
29 October 2026
A major development application submitted for 12 Mount Street is set to replace an existing commercial building with a modern co-living facility, reflecting a broader shift across North Sydney CBD from commercial office space to high-density residential living.
The proposal includes the demolition of “College House,” an existing nine-storey commercial building with 8,000 m² of office space and a single level basement with 31 parking spaces. In its place, a 13-storey, 43.2-metre tall dedicated co-living building will be constructed, housing 191 self-contained micro-apartments (182 studio rooms and 9 accessible rooms).
Designed to reduce private square footage in favour of shared facilities, the development features 400 m² of communal living space across the basement, ground floor, and Level 12, along with a 111 m² Level 12 rooftop terrace. Key amenities include co-working spaces, reception, mail room, laundry, prep kitchen, and both communal and private dining areas. The building is situated near the ACU North Sydney Campus, making it highly attractive for university students.
In alignment with modern transit-oriented urban planning, the proposal includes zero private car parking spaces, instead offering 51 bicycle spaces and one loading dock accessed via Wheeler Lane. The existing Mount Street crossover will be removed to restore the public footpath. Proposed operational hours for communal areas will run from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily, with rooftop outdoor access extending to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
The project highlights an ongoing transformation in North Sydney, where legacy commercial towers are increasingly making way for residential developments, supported by the Victoria Cross Metro Station.
The proposed accommodation complex is one of two similar projects planned for the CBD area. The second is planned next to the northern entrance of Victoria Cross Metro station in McLaren Street and would feature 533 rooms.
Other key residential developments transforming North Sydney include a new 51-storey tower at 153–157 Walker Street with 296 apartments and 170 hotel rooms, a 239 apartment tower at 173–179 Walker Street, and a 46-storey 390 apartment development at 146 Arthur Street.
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Down the road there are currently State Significant proposals for a 29-storey tower with 400 dwellings at 5 Blue Street (replacing the Zurich Building) and a 35-storey, 147-apartment tower at 15 Blue Street (replacing the Fujitsu Building).
Moreover, there are also plans for a 39-storey tower with 175 apartments at 275 Alfred Street (replacing the Bayer Building) and a 37-storey tower with 100 apartments at 271–273 Alfred Street.