Developer advances proposal for mid-city ‘vertical retirement village’
LONDON: A developer has advanced a proposal for a downtown ‘vertical retirement village’ in a regional city.
Central Geelong will boast a 12-storey, 85-apartment “vertical retirement village” that provides in-home care and an array of important services within walking distance if plans lodged with the state government are given the all clear.
Amid a growing list of planning applications for apartment towers in the CBD, the project proposed by Lineal Developments Pty Ltd for 23-35 Bellerine St would be the first exclusively for retirees.
The 2355sqm site, with 75m of frontage on Bellerine St and 30m on Little Malop St, comprises nine parcels of land that are mostly vacant buildings or unkempt land currently.
In addition to the purchase price of the apartment, residents would pay an entry and exit fee, as well as a monthly service fee, in return for in-home care and services.
The building would also offer an allied health facility, day spa, cafe, and a 586sqm “farmers’ market” located on the corner on south-west corner of the site.
“The farmers’ market’s co-location with the retirement living dwellings will provide benefits to residents as they age and experience mobility issues,” the application states.
“It is optimally placed to also service a broader resident, worker and visitor catchment in central Geelong.”
Geelong hospital is situated less than 200m from the site and in a sign of the changing CBD landscape, three other high-rise developments are within the same distance.
Directly opposite is Veriu Group’s 15-storey Punthill Geelong apartment project, the 10-storey R Hotel at 10 Bellerine St, and the 12-storey Promenade Tower at 120 Brougham St.
On offer to retirees are apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms, all with “a generous provision of private open space and substantial, functional internal living areas”.
“The proposed housing typology promotes independence and social connection for older people, while also freeing up conventional housing stock for younger families at different life stages,” the application states.
“Communal facilities provide opportunities for connection and the avoidance of social isolation to encourage healthy ageing outcomes for both mental and physical health.”
These facilities include an arts and craft workshop, bar and billiards room, gym, lounge, and a 232sqm communal terrace on level 11.
There would be 109 carparking spaces allocated to residents, spread across the basement, mezzanine, and levels one and two, which would be accessed via Board Place.
A sticking point for the developer in getting the project approved could be that the building’s height of 41m is 13m above the “preferred maximum building height” for the area, as outlined in the state government’s Central Geelong Framework Plan.
While the planning minister can approve projects above this height, a compelling case would have to be made.
“The site comprises an amalgamation of smaller parcels to create a prominent development site which is suitable to accommodate a taller built form than contemplated under the preferred maximum height controls,” the application argues.
“The proposal will contribute to housing diversity objectives in the municipality by providing a unique retirement living typology in a well-connected location.”
