Sutton Street

Location Redcliffe QLD (Kabi Kabi Country)
Project Type Tourism

The Sutton Street vision transforms this important street in Redcliffe CBD from a secondary service lane into a vibrant pedestrian-focused precinct. The project reimagines the street as an alternative main street character that complements the Esplanade, providing an intimate and sheltered street featuring activated ground-level uses, engaged podium-level residential, and mature fig tree canopy.

The proposed precinct activates ground-level spaces with retail, cafe, and small business tenancies, while ensuring podium-level residential and commercial occupation remains visible from the street rather than presenting blank car parking facades. Visible podium occupation generates "eyes on the street" throughout the day and evening, deterring antisocial behaviour without enforcement infrastructure.

 The use of local materials and retention of the existing mature fig trees provide a shady tree canopy and reinforce the subtropical character of the street, with pedestrian-priority streetscape offering places to sit, dwell, and people-watch.

 The project provides alternative commercial frontage for businesses that don't require premium Esplanade positioning, with lower rental costs enabling business incubation before graduation to larger spaces. Quality streetscape acts as a catalyst for private investment, supporting growing business demand as the peninsula's population increases and diversifies.

 This vision builds on Open Architecture Studio's engagement with the Redcliffe Peninsula community. The project envisions incremental delivery through multiple private developments over 15 years, with council investment in public realm establishing the framework and significant change visible within 5 years.