The Brisbane developer attempting to 're-gentrify' Paddington

James Lilley lives in Paddington and he and his partners at Brisbane Prestige Developments have one hard and fast rule: they don’t build anything they wouldn’t want to see in their backyard.

He calls it “re-gentrifying”: preserving Paddington’s period charm by using traditional styles and features in his new builds and renovations.

“It’s got to pass the test of being a sustainable project and it must pass the test of being something that fits the community,” Mr Lilley said.

Mr Lilley got into the property development game because he had a passion for real estate and where he lived — so far it’s been a lucrative business. A build he did for himself and then sold in Given Terrace broke a street record when it sold for $2 million three years ago.

Where Mr Lilley goes, he doesn’t leave trail of unhappy residents and complaints in his path. Brisbane Prestige Development instead actively includes neighbours in the planning, and building process even when it doesn’t have to.

“In general we make code assessable applications to council,” he said. “We don’t have an obligation to consult with neighbours but it’s within our appetite to do so.”

“I’m not going to say that it works smoothly every time, because it doesn’t.

“A recent example would be we almost finished a development in Paddington and we will do landscaping and yard work at our cost, for the neighbours.”

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Mr Lilley wanted to shake the poor reputation that can come with being a developer. He said his business was born from a desire to do the right thing by communities like Paddington, and not making a quick buck by knocking up apartments where character homes once stood.

“We go into a street where we build or renovate existing homes and we believe that raises the value of the area and reflects the history,” Mr Lilley said.

West End Councillor Jonathan Sri has frequently protested and spoken out about developments in his ward, and he said one of his issues with some developments was a lack of community consultation and respect for the local area.

“[It’s good for] developers to recognise that gentrification is changing the character of these suburbs,” he said. “I do genuinely think it’s good they’re trying to consult.”

Cr Sri believed that Mr Lilley’s model should be a standard for all developers. “It’s actually in a developer’s best interest to work with the community and consult,” he said. “It means they have better relations and reputations and with the community they’re impacting.”

“If they don’t do that they get push back that can delay construction and can cost developers money.”