Designated guest apartments in new residential blocks: He Said/She Said
Construction on the former Yorkshire Brewery heritage site in Collingwood has begun with a six-storey complex with a mix of one and two and three bedroom apartments along with townhouses.
It is a 358 apartment development in Melbourne’s inner northeast where the one bedders start at $455,000, the two bedrooms from $595,000, and townhouses from $700,000. The site was bought for $9.79 million in 2010.
The heritage site on Robert Street and Waterloo Road includes an 1887 six-storey brew tower - the tallest building in Melbourne for a decade on its construction in the late 19th century.
There will be a series of laneways that connecting into the nearby streets, with the tower forecourt acting as a piazza-like setting.
Working closely with Lovell Chen heritage architects, Hayball architects viewed the development as on the scale of a small village, with its own piazza and shops.
Interestingly two of the apartments – a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom – are being held back to be retained by the developer for the sole use of visitors of permanent block residents. The share apartments are billed as a worthy step up from share parking spots or cars which other developers have embraced.
A concierge will manage reservations for the guest apartments.
Costs have been suggested as likely between $90 to $150 per night, including cleaning and utility services.
Stays will be capped at several nights for each visitor to stop long-term occupancies.
Martin Strode from SMA Projects conceived the novel idea which Victoria’s Urban Development Institute of Australia boss, Tony de Domenico reckons will work especially as Melbourne gets more international visitors.
Early buying interest has been from local empty nesters, second-home buyers and investors, visiting the display suite at 84 Wellington Street, Collingwood.
HE SAID:
It is a great idea especially given so many residents have one bedders and would like friends close, but not on their apartment floor or couch.
Visitors too will have their own privacy and space, but in close proximity.
The developer has to commit long term to ownership and then operating the arrangement otherwise it will become quite fly by night hazard.
It's not for all, so it is important that usage charges would not be added to everyone's body corporate fees.
SHE SAID:
It's a great idea... a bit like airbnb for the lazy. And of course a better return for the landlord developer.
Owner buyers will save money as they won’t need to spend more for that extra bedroom.
Getting a booking could be a challenge especially during the football season finals apparently and even over Christmas time in the heat of Melbourne summer.
I'd imagine the rates might need to get a bit more commercial, especially with the cleaning thrown in.