Third.i to offer affordable housing to frontline workers at Crows Nest over-station development Hume Place

Australian property developer Third.i and joint venture partner Phoenix Property Investors (PPI), are planning to provide frontline Sydney healthcare workers with a range of new affordable housing at their Crows Nest Metro over-station project, Hume Place.

In an industry-first, Third.i and PPI are partnering with one of Australia’s largest community housing providers, Evolve Housing, and proposing to designate 15 per cent of the mixed-used development to nurses, midwives, health professional and services staff working at nearby Royal North Shore (RNS) Hospital and other local health facilities.

This will allow health workers, who are unable to find affordable rental apartments within the local government area, to live close to their workplaces. A demographic study 1 commissioned by Third.i and PPI shows that local health workers and services staff are being forced to travel between 30-50 kilometres to get to work every day or night. Workers from Royal North Shore Hospital living alone are paying up to 58 per cent of their salary for a studio in the local area.

Health Services Union Secretary, Gerard Hayes, said we have a housing crisis that is becoming a health crisis.

"Essential health workers are already making the tough decision to leave the sector in search of work closer to home. A hospital cleaner, a physiotherapist, a wardsperson, these workers shouldn’t have to travel for hours each day, coming to work already exhausted. We need solutions that mean these workers can afford to live in the communities they serve," Hayes said.

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association General Secretary, Shaye Candish, welcomed the Third.i and Evolve partnership, pointing to a new member survey, which showed the lack of affordable housing was causing stress and anxiety for many healthcare workers.

“Many nurses and midwives in NSW struggle to secure affordable housing. 76% of respondents to our member survey said a lack of affordable housing was a problem, and over half indicated they were insecure in their current accommodation or didn’t have a steady place to live,” Candish said.

“Proximity to work is particularly relevant because of nurses and midwives’ work patterns, including shift work. 90% want to live near their workplace and access to affordable housing influences their employment decisions. 69% of respondents said they were experiencing rental stress.

“With the crippling cost-of-living pressures, the harsh reality is that the overwhelming majority of healthcare workers simply cannot find, let alone afford, to live near RNS, The Mater or other health facilities on the lower north shore.

Evolve CEO Lyall Gorman said demand for affordable housing far out-strips the current supply on to the market.

“That’s why we’re delighted that Evolve’s partnership with Third.i will potentially deliver a pipeline of new affordable housing for healthcare workers, who otherwise would be travelling between 1-2 hours to get to work every day.”

Third.i Director and Co-Founder Robert Huxley said Third.i was excited that the ‘Hume Place’ development could help address the chronic shortage of quality, affordable housing on Sydney’s lower north shore.

“We want to give frontline healthcare workers, like nurses, midwives, paramedics, and health professional and services staff, the chance to finally find quality, affordable housing options, close to Royal North Shore Hospital, The Mater Hospital and other local health facilities,” Mr Huxley said.

“The strategic location of the development, right above the Crows Nest Metro, will allow health care workers to easily access Royal North Shore Hospital, RPA, Sydney and St Vincent’s Hospitals, within just a few minutes. “Our proposed amended design aligns with the Minns Government’s drive to get more housing in connected, urban areas around stations and transport hubs, allowing key workers to live close to their work.”

Third.i and PPI have already been granted Stage 1 approval for the Metro Precinct (Site A and B) development, but due to a decreased demand for office space, the urgent need for additional residential density in the LGA and in line with the Minns Government’s commitment to increasing the low supply of affordable housing, Third.i and PPI are proposing to amend the concept SSD for Site A for mixed-use, which includes a mix of affordable housing, private residential, retail, and commercial floor space.

Huxley said Hume Place will not only address the growing residential needs of the community, but create much-needed economic activity for local businesses.

“Should the project be approved, it will offer frontline workers a new benchmark of affordable and convenient inner city living; close to transport hubs, amenities and major hospitals in the Northern Sydney Local Health District. Frontline health workers, cleaning and catering staff working at local hospitals will all benefit from the affordable housing options, greatly-reduced travel times and improved work-life balance. 3 “These new residents will shop and spend locally which will be an added bonus for the local business community.”

Third.i will hand over the title of the affordable tower to Evolve, should the amended application be approved. The proposed precinct is set to launch to market on 15 October 2023 at the local community event, Crows Nest Fest.

Third.i has partnered with over 40 local businesses to offer attendees the chance to win one of three $10,000 voucher packs, to be used throughout Crows Nest.