Old Emerald Hill enters a new construction spurt
The heart of South Melbourne is seeing increased development activity as a swag of projects look to use the turn of 2016 as an important construction marker. Emerald Hill as it was once known serves as the heart of the suburb and has traditionally been been subject to limited low and medium-rise developments relative to its loftier neighbours in Southbank.
Developers and apartment buyers alike have been seeking out the stretch of South Melbourne west of Clarendon Street, with no less than six apartment project builds on the go which will in time add 430 new apartments to the area.
Market Street is front and centre for the moment with ITUM's The Walker most advanced in its construction. While it is approaching structural completion the adjoining site which is subject to Teri Apartments is at bulk excavation. Combined these two projects will add approximately 260 apartments to 'old' South Melbourne.
Directly opposite the two above yet technically in Southbank, 80 Market Street will also shortly receive a Maben-badged tower crane for the purpose of delivering a new commercial building designed by Billard Leece Partnership.
Push further into South Melbourne and Trio Construct have begun preliminary works on Lt. York while Figurehead will also begin works on the adjoining site at 274 Coventry Street for the purpose of a seven level mixed-use development which includes 37 apartments.
Dorcas Street holds three upcoming projects at varying stages of delivery. Evolve Development's Jewel apartment project is as basement level with LU Simon undertaking the build while the adjoining 240-242 Dorcas Street is also poised to begin construction at the hand of builder Trimont.
Waiting in the wings is Piccolo Developments' 228 Dorcas Street which gained approval via VCAT during November, and is expected to advance to sales this year.
The spike in apartment activity within Emerald Hill may raise questions about the erosion of sorts of the area's unique character, with the current number of builds the highest recorded in the area. It does bare mentioning that 228 Dorcas Street aside, there are no other projects within the old Emerald Hill within the Urban.com.au project database.
That's not to say that the remainder of South Melbourne is static, with a mass of projects encircling Emerald Hill.
Sections of South Melbourne that fall within Fishermand Bend are beginning to see signs of construction with Hamilton Marino's Gravity Tower leading the way. While it will begin to appear in the skyline over the course of 2016, two additional projects will also add to the overall South Melbourne apartment mix.
BPM Built are poised to begin construction of Night Fall on Gladstone Street while Crowbuild will also undertake a $9 million apartment development a matter of doors down in the coming months.