Sculptor Peter Vandermark has had a studio on the historic site since 1989, quietly making his art at a place where, until the mid-1970s, the bricks to build Canberra were produced.

Mr Vandermark said over the years he's seen many a re-development proposed for the prime real estate in the heart of the prestigious inner-south suburb.

"I think there have been five eviction notices over the years and every other development has fallen through," he said.

"It had to happen one day. It's Yarralumla."

While details are still to be released, Mr Vandermark said he was hopeful the latest re-development proposal would show the most sympathy to the heritage site and its stunning architecture, from the soaring chimneys to the squat, sturdy kilns.

The preferred tenderer selected to build almost 400 homes on the brickworks site, Canberra developer, the Doma Group, was announced in April.

Doma Group managing director Jure Domazet has indicated an arts and crafts precinct will be part of the proposal.

The site was marketed as one with vacant possession so Mr Vandermark, timber yard Thor's Hammer and public art maker Artillion have all been given notice by the ACT Government to leave by October 31.

Thor's Hammer and Artillion put out a call last month for the public to help them find new homes, with plenty of suggestions but none yet suitable. By contrast, Mr Vandermark said he was hopeful of staying at the brickworks in its new guise.

"I'd like to think there would be an artists' precinct [in the new proposal]," Mr Vandermark said.

"We don't know the details. They seem sympathetic to keeping as much of the brickworks as they can."

Mr Vandermark said the brickworks had a long history of artists using its abandoned buildings as studios, including Gaynor Cardew, Elena Gallegos and, his own wife, Marie Hagerty.

Mr Vandermark maintained a lot of the artists eventually left the brickworks, not because of pressure from potential developers, but simply because they could not work with the noise and dust of a timber yard on the same site.

He agreed there had also been issues with vandalism and intruders getting on to the site at night.

Mr Vandermark, who also works part-time at the National Gallery of Australia, had lasted so long at the brickworks, by working mainly on weekends when the site was quiet or "shutting the door" as much as he could to shut out the noise, despite none of the tin sheds having heating or cooling.

Mr Domazet said this week that contractual negotiations for delivery of the project were continuing with the Land Development Agency. But he was keen to release details as soon as possible.

According to the LDA, Doma's proposal for a "garden city" "meets the requirements of 380 residential dwellings in a mix of stand-alone houses, terraces, and apartments designed to harmonise with the character of the site and existing Yarralumla streetscapes".