A new $20 million, 14-screen cinema project in Prospect, north of Adelaide’s CBD, is expected to be an entertainment complex of the highest standard in design and finish, incorporating many classic architectural elements including a distinctive 1930s Art Deco theme.

According to managing director and CEO of Maras Group, Steve Maras, the cinemas will be boutique in nature and unlike anything else seen in South Australia, with some of the smaller cinemas catering for just 25-30 people.

“We are developing a strong mix of retail and food operators on the ground level to complement the cinemas and hope to deliver a product that will provide a vibrant, entertainment-based centre operating seven-days a week,” Maras said.

The building is designed to achieve an outstanding energy efficiency rating and will be absolutely ground-breaking as an inner-suburban, main road development, including:
– Up to six retail shops, cafes & restaurants on the ground floor of around 600 square metres;
– 14 exclusive boutique cinemas over two levels to be operated by Palace Nova Cinemas;
– 1,100 square metres of A-grade commercial office space on the top floor, with balconies and stunning views in all directions;
– two levels of undercover on-site car parking for 54 vehicles plus bikes and motorcycles at the rear.

Construction and tenant fit-out costs are likely to exceed $20m, while it is envisaged that the development will generate in excess of 300 jobs; a welcome boost for employment in the state.

With the demolition of existing buildings starting this week, construction is expected to commence in June or July, with a 12-month building program timeline.

“We spent several years designing a building that was going to be a perfect fit for this site and that would accommodate a range of complementary mixed uses,” says Maras.

In 2008, South Australian-based commercial and retail property development outfit the Maras Group purchased the row of old retail shop and factory buildings in the Village Heart of Prospect Road to redevelop into a mixed-use cinema complex.

The group has had a successful 20-year relationship with the Palace Nova Cinema group from Melbourne, having brought Nova Cinemas to Adelaide back in 1996.

The East End Nova Cinemas were built in Rundle Street East and have thrived in that location ever since. Combined over two sites in the East End of Adelaide, the Palace Nova consortium operates 10 cinema screens.

“Over the last eight years or so while Maras Group tackled a variety of planning and design challenges, we granted short-term leases to a large number of small businesses, including popular urban renewal organisation Renew Adelaide, to keep all the spaces activated, to foster employment, encourage entrepreneurialism, and keep the Village Heart of Prospect Road ticking along,” says Maras.

The state government’s 30-year plan for greater Adelaide allowed the Maras Group to build to four levels – instead of two – under the previous planning regime. Planning consent for the project was obtained in 2014 followed by Building Rules Consent in 2015, after a comprehensive detailed design process.

“We experienced various planning issues earlier on and realised that without a relaxing of the building height restrictions that prevailed at the time, the project would not go ahead.
“With all approvals now in place and the design for both the building and cinemas locked away, we are ready to start this project.
“A project that will bring a new dimension to Prospect Road and the inner-north,” concludes Maras.