Canberra developer Doma Group has almost finished demolishing the Store building and plans to start work on a five-storey car park on the site in March or April.
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Excavators had reduced the heritage-listed building in Hunter Street to a brick shell, facade and piles of twisted metal on Friday.
In its place will rise a 678-place car park above a new bus interchange next to the Wickham train and tram station.
The car park will be open to the public until Doma builds the rest of its $200 million residential, office and shopping development on the site.
Newcastle City Council approved a development application for the car park on Tuesday, despite objections from Greens councillor John Mackenzie that traffic arrangements could lead to queues on Hunter Street and inside the parking station.
Cr Mackenzie also moved unsuccessfully that councillors delay a decision on the car park until they have a chance to review a master plan Doma lodged in October for the overall site.
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
