In a significant shift from previous contentious plans, a new development proposal for a prime West End riverfront block promises to reshape the neighbourhood’s landscape with a more measured approach to urban living.
Read: Prime West End Riverfront Site Acquired for $63.5-M
Traders in Purple, the site’s new owners, have unveiled a reimagined blueprint for the 117 Victoria Street property that dramatically scales back the original ambitious development.
Where Crown Group previously sought to erect towers accommodating up to 473 apartments, the new development application presents a more restrained vision: two 12-storey towers housing just 164 apartments, accompanied by a separate two-storey block of luxury terrace homes.
The transformation, designed by architects at Rothelowman, is striking. Having purchased the site for $63.5 million – a substantial profit from the $35 million paid six years earlier – Traders in Purple are positioning themselves as responsive developers attuned to community concerns and site-specific challenges.
Key to the new proposal is a significant emphasis on green space and urban livability. The development promises extensive gardens strategically placed on several corners, a central communal space, and carefully designed laneways that will connect the towers through an integrated podium. This approach represents a notable departure from the previous, more densely packed plans that drew local opposition.
Traffic and environmental considerations have been central to the redesign. By reducing the number of apartments, the developers argue they’ll generate less traffic pressure at the critical Victoria Street and Montague Road intersection. The parking strategy has also been carefully reconsidered, with spaces planned for a partial basement and within the podium to minimise site disturbance.
Interestingly, the new plans emerge at a time when recent council planning amendments would have permitted even taller towers to address housing demand in well-serviced transport areas. Instead, Traders in Purple have opted for a more conservative approach, citing the need to address land contamination constraints and current construction challenges.
The company, an established developer with projects across Australia, appears to be making a calculated bet on quality over quantity. By offering fewer but potentially more premium apartments in a thoughtfully designed environment, they’re signalling a different philosophy of urban development.
Read: Luxury Meets Community: Inside West End’s Latest Multi-Million Dollar Penthouse Sale
For West End residents and urban planners, this proposal represents an intriguing case study in adaptive urban design – one that seeks to balance density, community needs, and environmental considerations.
Published 20-November-2024
