6 Davey Street: Frankston's tallest tower approved

6 Davey Street: Frankston's tallest tower approved
Mark BaljakNovember 11, 2014

Frankston City Council this week approved what will become the city's tallest building. At 17 levels and 52.5 metres in height the residential tower is located directly behind popular venue The Deck and will hold a prime position over the bayside suburb.

Championed by Peninsula Blue Development, the Finnis Architects-designed tower features a curved facade which the architect believes reflects the waves and nearby beach. With only two and three bedroom apartments included, 6 Davey Street as it's known for now will incorporate 240 degree aspects with balconies facing north, east and west.

With no objectors and full Council support, 6 Davey Street it's hoped will spearhead heightened high-rise residential activity in the area.

Planning Consultants Taylors submitted the Davey Street apartment complex for approval. It was processed in less than 60 days, under Council’s Priority Planning procedure for developments in the Frankston City Centre.

Frankston City CEO Dennis Hovenden says that Council’s Priority Planning process sends a strong message to the development industry that the City is taking development applications seriously.

“The Priority Planning process can also apply to applications outside Frankston city centre, if they demonstrate significant economic benefit”, said Mr Hovenden.

6 Davey Street, Frankston summary

  • Existing structure: former Place of Assembly (church and hall)
  • 17 level residential tower at 52.5 metres
  • 919.88sqm site with frontage to Davey Street
  • 63 apartments: 53/2BR + 10/3BR
  • Ground floor offices and private function room included
  • 89 car parking spaces and 24 bicycle bays with four basement levels
6 Davey Street: Frankston's tallest tower approved
A new Frnakston focal point. Image © Finnis Architects

What they say

The proposed development will result in a land mark building on a prominent site on the edge of the Frankston MAC (Major Activity Centre). The proposal is consistent with policy directions at State and local level and will increase housing densities and choice for the wider community of Frankston.

Issues relating to access arrangements and traffic movement can be addressed through the provision of widening and upgrading of Bay Lane. Approval can only be recommended on this basis.

Council officers assessment

Frankston is now less than an hour’s commute from Melbourne CBD and the entire Mornington Peninsula, and has become a viable option for buyers and investors seeking bay views and an attractive lifestyle

Residential development boosts Frankston’s economy by increasing demand for local goods and services. It also assists with perceptions of safety by increasing levels of activity outside of business hours.

Frankston City CEO, Dennis Hovenden

This will be a landmark development for Port Phillip Bay, introducing high quality apartments to the Frankston CBD, potentially stimulating further investment into the area

Rodney Goullet, Peninsula Blue Development

Frankston gets going

Word has it 6 Davey Street has a healthy number of apartments precommitted, increasing the likelihood that it will proceed to construction. The immediate site adjoining 6 Davey Street is though testament to the difficulty in realising a substantial apartment project in Frankston with Airio failing to materialise in recent years.

Having said that a number of large-scale residential and/or commercial proposals have lined up the bayside suburb. Approved are 446-450 Nepean Highway and 16 Clyde Street while South East Water's new office accommodation is midway through construction.

Future projects are likely to include 444 Nepean Highway with multiple towers and Riverlee's 453-455 Nepean Highway which is subject to a 16 level residential tower concept devised by K2LD as seen below.

6 Davey Street: Frankston's tallest tower approved
In the making? Image © K2LD

Mark Baljak

Mark Baljak was a co-founder of Urban.com.au. He passed away on Thursday 8th of November 2018 after a battle with cancer. He was 37. Mark was a keen traveller, having visited all six permanently-inhabited continents and had a love of craft beer. One of his biggest passions was observing the change that has occurred in Melbourne over the past two decades. In that time he built an enormous library of photos, all taken by him, which tracked the progress of construction on building sites from across metropolitan Melbourne.

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