Latest news with #CrowsNest
Daily Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Mother and daughter's unplanned neighbouring homes
A crazy coincidence has left this mother and daughter as next-door neighbours, after unknowingly purchasing properties right next to each other. Like mother, like daughter takes on a whole new meaning when Antoinette Chan and her mother discovered they'd purchased two neighbouring homes. 'It wasn't planned at all,' Ms Chan said, who started her property search looking for an investment purchase, not a home to live in. Ms Chan and her husband had been living in Crows Nest for many years and decided to look at Abadeen's new KOYO apartment showrooms for a potential investment opportunity. The couple were drawn in by the tranquil design and 'lock-up-and-go' lifestyle, a stark contrast to their 120 year old house, Ms Chan noted. MORE: Curious find in $45k home's dunny MORE: Secret deal boosted Aussie's home by $7m Iconic postcard factory's epic revamp Sign banks gearing up to deliver rates shock Loving the idea of a new apartment, the family quickly changed their plans and put down a deposit to purchase a three-bedroom apartment off the plan that they would live in once complete. Ms Chan's mother, Janet Khoo, was also on the search for a new home and had planned to live closer to her daughter – yet hadn't planned on it being as close as they would soon discover. '(My mother) had been living on her own in The Rocks and had a few health setbacks,' Ms Chan said. 'I was running back and forth there, so we had been talking up Crows Nest, for her to be closer to us, but at that stage she hadn't actively started looking,' she said. Ms Choo serendipitously ended up finding a two-bedroom apartment off the plan in Crows Nest. 'At my age, I didn't want to be climbing stairs, and the first-floor apartment opens directly to the garden,' Ms Khoo said. Choosing the apartment for the garden and accessibility, she didn't know it would mean sharing a wall with her daughters new home. After choosing the apartment and putting down the deposit, the real estate agent revealed all. 'The real estate agent laughed and said to her 'you know who your neighbour is?' – and she said 'No, who's my neighbour?' and she said 'it's your daughter, Antoinette.'' Both women were totally surprised, but felt like it was meant to be. 'I know, it was really weird, and it was not planned at all, it all just happened,' Ms Chan said. 'We were thinking, is this my Dad looking down on us? It was a total coincidence but really lovely,' she added. 'Everyone who we tell says oh my god, that's the best.' As the two properties are now complete and she is preparing to move in, Ms Chan said she was looking forward to having her mother so close, while both having their independence and own spaces. 'I'm Mum's sole carer so it makes it easier on me that she's so close,' she said. 'But she's also a very independent woman that loves her own space and having people over. 'My husband and daughter are also there so it's not just on me. My daughter is the only grandchild so it's nice for her to spend time with my mum. To top it off Ms Khoo's sister, who was currently living in Singapore, decided to join the family and purchased a property directly above her apartment, meaning the three relatives will be sharing walls, ceilings and floors once she made the move home to Australia. 'We were all drawn to the KOYO apartments individually … It's warm and minimalist, with lovely high ceilings,' Mr Khoo said. 'Location wise you're bang in the middle of so many schools and amenities.' 'It just happened that our homes are now all vertically stacked … It was a coincidence, but also meant to be.' MORE: Man's outrageous home bling has everyone talking Sign banks gearing up to deliver rates shock Breath test mastermind's savvy $130m act
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Mother and daughter's unplanned neighbouring homes
A crazy coincidence has left this mother and daughter as next-door neighbours, after unknowingly purchasing properties right next to each other. Like mother, like daughter takes on a whole new meaning when Antoinette Chan and her mother discovered they'd purchased two neighbouring homes. 'It wasn't planned at all,' Ms Chan said, who started her property search looking for an investment purchase, not a home to live in. Ms Chan and her husband had been living in Crows Nest for many years and decided to look at Abadeen's new KOYO apartment showrooms for a potential investment opportunity. The couple were drawn in by the tranquil design and 'lock-up-and-go' lifestyle, a stark contrast to their 120 year old house, Ms Chan noted. Loving the idea of a new apartment, the family quickly changed their plans and put down a deposit to purchase a three-bedroom apartment off the plan that they would live in once complete. Ms Chan's mother, Janet Khoo, was also on the search for a new home and had planned to live closer to her daughter – yet hadn't planned on it being as close as they would soon discover. '(My mother) had been living on her own in The Rocks and had a few health setbacks,' Ms Chan said. 'I was running back and forth there, so we had been talking up Crows Nest, for her to be closer to us, but at that stage she hadn't actively started looking,' she said. Ms Choo serendipitously ended up finding a two-bedroom apartment off the plan in Crows Nest. 'At my age, I didn't want to be climbing stairs, and the first-floor apartment opens directly to the garden,' Ms Khoo said. Choosing the apartment for the garden and accessibility, she didn't know it would mean sharing a wall with her daughters new home. After choosing the apartment and putting down the deposit, the real estate agent revealed all. 'The real estate agent laughed and said to her 'you know who your neighbour is?' – and she said 'No, who's my neighbour?' and she said 'it's your daughter, Antoinette.'' Both women were totally surprised, but felt like it was meant to be. 'I know, it was really weird, and it was not planned at all, it all just happened,' Ms Chan said. 'We were thinking, is this my Dad looking down on us? It was a total coincidence but really lovely,' she added. 'Everyone who we tell says oh my god, that's the best.' As the two properties are now complete and she is preparing to move in, Ms Chan said she was looking forward to having her mother so close, while both having their independence and own spaces. 'I'm Mum's sole carer so it makes it easier on me that she's so close,' she said. 'But she's also a very independent woman that loves her own space and having people over. 'My husband and daughter are also there so it's not just on me. My daughter is the only grandchild so it's nice for her to spend time with my mum. To top it off Ms Khoo's sister, who was currently living in Singapore, decided to join the family and purchased a property directly above her apartment, meaning the three relatives will be sharing walls, ceilings and floors once she made the move home to Australia. 'We were all drawn to the KOYO apartments individually … It's warm and minimalist, with lovely high ceilings,' Mr Khoo said. 'Location wise you're bang in the middle of so many schools and amenities.' 'It just happened that our homes are now all vertically stacked … It was a coincidence, but also meant to be.'
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘No hogging': Sydney cafe praised after bringing in strict laptop rule
A sign posted in a cafe in Sydney's lower North Shore directed at remote workers has sparked a major debate. The sign, which was seen in a cafe in Crows Nest and shared by 2GB, states customers cannot conduct Zoom meetings or video calls in the cafe, nor can they 'hog tables' with their laptops. 'For other customers, working with laptop is limited (to) 1 hour from 10am,' the sign read. 2GB's Ben Fordham shared the story on air this morning, speaking to business owner Con Damouras for his take on the situation. Mr Damouras, who runs Bar Italia in Leichhardt, said it was 'frustrating' when customers take up tables for hours working on their laptops. 'Once we came out of Covid, everyone just comes and sits in the cafe because most of them are working from home, and they take up tables,' he said. 'We've got a very large restaurant so it really doesn't bother us as much but when it starts to get busy and you have to ask them to move on they give you the dirtiest looks.' Mr Damouras explained people who come into the venue to work also want to sit next to a wall so they can charge their laptop and even move tables around without asking. The restaurant owner said he has no issue if people come in and spend money while they are there, but he has had cases where people have come in to work and not ordered anything. 'We had a guy, he came in the other day, he was on a two-hour Zoom meeting,' the business owner said, noting that he eventually had to ask him to move out the back. 'Is it wrong for me to do that? I don't really want to be rude to him,' Mr Damouras said. Fordham immediately took the business owner's side, saying his venue is 'not an extension of their home'. 'They don't live there. It's your business,' the radio host said. The photo of the sign has also been shared by Fordham on social media, generating a fiery online debate. The majority of commenters were on the cafe's side and even praised the owner for cracking down on this increasingly common behaviour. 'Cafes rely on a rotation of customers when they eat in. I would make it 45 minutes from the time they get their food and or drink. Enough time to eat and drink. You want to study or work, go to a library or a park and sit for as long as you like,' one person said. 'I agree with owner. It is so annoying to be in a cafe and someone is yelling into their phone or laptop. They are taking up space of other paying customers. People have no boundaries these days,' another wrote. One person stated that a cafe was 'not a surrogate office' and people who treat it like one were taking up tables other paying customers could be using. Others claimed if people want to work from home then they should stay home and do just that. One commenter added: 'I've watched 4 people take up 4 seats for a solid 90 with just 2 drinks ordered! No cafe can support that.' However, there were still a few people who didn't agree with the cafe's approach. One person claimed as long as the customer was buying coffee and food, then they should be able to 'stay as long as (they) need'. 'Buying a cup of coffee would cover a days worth of internet,' one person claimed, though others quickly pointed out the issue wasn't about internet usage. Another person said they 'don't see the problem' and claimed they would lose customers over the stance. 'Soon you'll have to make an appointment for the toilet, talk about rules,' another added.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Special feature that makes Koyo penthouse a winner
Created for lovers of outdoor entertaining, the palatial penthouse atop Koyo has more alfresco area than internal living space; a real estate unicorn on the lower north shore. With 495sq m on title, the residence is surrounded by private terrace space. 'There's 195sq m of internal space, but then there's 298sq m of terrace and garden area,' said Abadeen's development director Michael Clark. 'Compared to other penthouses around the area, it's pretty special. The outdoors wraps around the entire top floor on all three sides. You've got a western, an eastern terrace, and a northern terrace so you can pick and choose when you want to follow the sun.' Matthew Smythe, principal of Belle Property Neutral Bay, said the residence is unrivalled in the suburb. $140m in sales at Balmain Leagues Club 'eyesore' 'The penthouse at Koyo is one of the finest on the market. With expansive indoor-outdoor living, sweeping views, and hand-selected finishes, it's a residence that redefines apartment living in Crows Nest.' Now completed, Koyo is one of Abadeen's latest finished products on the lower north shore. Just four units remain in the $85m residential development, including a two-bedroom unit, plus two three-bedroom apartments and the grand whole-floor penthouse. Designed by Japanese-born architect Koichi Takada, Koyo is an apt name for the 27-unit project which translates to 'in celebration of autumn leaves' in Japanese. 'Koichi Takada's work balances form and feeling. His use of warm textures and natural elements creates spaces that feel not just luxurious, but grounded and welcoming,' said executive chairman and founder of Abadeen, Justin Brown. 'From the architectural design to the detailing in each apartment, the finished product has resonated strongly with our buyers. It's been especially rewarding to see interest from local families and downsizers who value quality, space and connection to the lower north shore lifestyle.' Each residence has marble bench tops and splashbacks, brushed platinum tapware, timber laminate panelling, engineered timber floors and wool carpets. Sustainability is embedded in Koyo's design, with LED lighting, solar panels, cross-ventilation, and high-performing glazing. Richard Storey, a director at Koichi Takada Architects, said the integration of greenery at Koyo is about more than just aesthetics. 'It brings a sense of calm and wellbeing, helping residents reconnect with nature and enjoy a peaceful retreat in the middle of the city,' he said. 'We deliberately designed communal areas, like the rooftop barbecue and dining area, to foster a sense of community.'
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
24/7 McDonald's ruffles resident's feathers in Sydney's North Shore
A ritzy suburb is up in arms over a proposed 24/7 McDonald's. Crows Nest residents — on Sydney's North Shore — have hit back at a development application lodged by the fast food giant to convert a former Westpac bank into an around-the-clock operation. Sitting at 31 Willoughby Road, the $2.65 million development would include a complete internal transformation, the iconic golden arch signage, and external reconfigurations, all while becoming the fourth McDonald' s within a 2km radius. Longtime resident Jamie Vachon said it is not the outlet itself that is the concern, but the 24/7 operations, which he claims will bring 'security concerns, noise and trash'. 'My first reaction was that we don't need a McDonalds,' he told 'I've lived in Crows Nest since 2009, and in the North Sydney Council area since 2002. 'We have many locally owned restaurants that serve amazing burgers and such … but then again, we have an Oporto, Ogalo, Subway, and Grill'd so chain restaurants aren't new to the area,' Mr Vachon added. 'We were a bit shocked to learn that it was proposed to open in the previous Westpac branch, but when we learned that the proposal was for 24/7 operation, that's when I got active.' Upon reviewing the development application documents, Mr Vachon discovered North Sydney Council had already shut down the request for around-the-clock operations in pre-planning meetings – ignored by the McDonald's proposal, which reapplied to run 24 hours. 'There is nothing that operates those hours in Crows Nest and all businesses close by midnight, bar one, the Crows Nest Hotel,' he said. 'The location and hours are clearly designed to serve customers from that venue – the drunk and unruly customers.' Mr Vachon said there had been no community consultation from the fast food chain nor the council, having heard about the DA via word of mouth. 'It's not so much that it's a Maccas, it's the location and hours,' he added. 'The Crows Nest Hotel employs many security staff just to operate late and a McDonalds won't be set up to manage in the same way. 'It'll bring security concerns, noise, trash, and other issues to the area at a time when everything else is closed. 'As well, the area around Zig Zag Lane (which has been designated as the delivery and waste collection point) is notorious for rats and this will only make those problems far worse. 'Local businesses will have to deal with the fallout each morning because a large corporation just wants to muscle its way in and serve drunk people throughout the night.' These concerns were echoed by a local restaurant and bar owner, who asked to remain anonymous. He said a McDonald's in Crows Nest, a community he has been a part of for over a decade, is against 'what makes us special'. 'I felt even putting a McDonald's in with local owned businesses is completely against what I love about our community,' he told 'It's a step closer to becoming just like every other train station (suburb) in Sydney. 'I would like to see McDonald's stick to St Leonards and leave Crows Nest to what it does best. We are losing what made us special. 'There are enough McDonald's within a short distance.' The restaurateur said he had been working with other local businesses closely to oppose the development, citing concerns about vandalism and an increase in unruly clientele. 'I don't think it will impact my business financially but think it will increase vandalism and break-ins,' he added. 'Other businesses owners feel the same, the increase in delivery on bikes will cause accidents on footpaths and roads. 'At no time was anyone asked about this proposal and it is opposed by almost all owners in the area. 'The increase in bored teenagers that will gather looking for things to do will be looked at and we are talking about organising security for the first time – the security will be needed and change the friendly atmosphere of the area.' A petition started by Mr Vachon has already racked up close to 500 signatures. Forty-five submissions have been made to Council opposing the move. North Sydney Council said it recognises there are community concerns about the application. 'We will review and consider submissions made during the notification period, in accordance with s4.15 of the EP & A Act 1979,' a spokesperson told McDonald's Australia told it hoped to become a 'welcome member of the community'. 'We are continuing to work through the Development Application process with the North Sydney Council,' it said. 'McDonald's has been a part of North Sydney communities for more than 30 years, providing hundreds of local jobs and supporting local community groups. 'If approved, a Macca's in Crows Nest will create more than 100 new local jobs and create opportunities for community partnerships and sponsorships and involve an investment of approximately $2.6 million.' It refused to comment on North Sydney Council's dismissal of the proposed 24/7 operations. It's not the first time the fast food giant has tried to extend their presence in the area. In 2022, plans by McDonald's to permanently extend the opening hours of the St Leonards' outlet were shut down by disgruntled residents. The company stated the move would provide 'an ongoing essential service to the community', including those working at the nearby Royal North Shore Hospital and train passengers.
