The Community

 

City Enhancements with Each Development. The Raptis culture and philosophy is that each development must enhance and improve the surrounding environs of that development.

Raptis gives great attention to many elements that spill onto the street area to make for more favourable and pleasant surrounds. Landscaping, street paving and fountains are examples of improvements that often extend beyond the perimeter of a development.

By having a passion and drive to improve the surrounds, Raptis upscales the visual elements thereby bringing an enhancement to lifestyle, not just to the lifestyle of their residents but an enhancement for all city residents who pass by. These enhancements are donations to our Gold Coast community.

Developments such as The Phoenician, Southport Central and Chevron Renaissance are examples of strengthening the street appeal to enhance the citizens’ pleasure of strolling through the city.

 

The Boardwalk

 
The Boardwalk along the Esplanade of Surfers Paradise began as a Jim Raptis initiative. Following on from the development of Raptis Plaza, Jim Raptis was inspired to improve a walk along the Esplanade and to improve the accessibility to the beach. Then, prior to 1988, a walk along the oceanside of the Esplanade was via a narrow concrete path with limited accessibility to the sand beyond Cavill Avenue. 
 
Raptis made a proposal to the Gold Coast City Council for drastic improvements to the Esplanade on both the eastern and western sides of the Esplanade.
 
The plan was adopted and $1million of the $1.3 million required was donated by Raptis. A grand timber boardwalk, angled parking, paving and planting were established. The beach end of Surfers Paradise was upgraded and enhanced equal to other overseas beach locations.
 
Once completed, the Esplanade’s popularity with both locals and tourists was so great that, over the next few years, the City Council extended the walkway to Main Beach and in this way, the Esplanade became the inviting pedestrian vista it is today.
 
Boardwalk