Lower Density Design to Replace Site Abutting Melbourne’s Tower of Power

SOME of Melbourne’s most influential businessmen, including active Liberal Party supporters, have defeated a developer’s plan to build a 29-level skyscraper which would have blocked Port Phillip Bay views enjoyed from apartments they own or occupy in a prestigious complex next-door.

New images affecting a site at 35 Albert Road, and to be marketed as The Emerald, Melbourne, show a 19-level, 282 unit residential project (pictured, above), which will rise no higher than 60 metres.

The proposal replaces a higher density, 420-unit application (pictured, above, right) which was the subject of a high profile development dispute in 2010.

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Lend Lease Expecting $120 Million From Sale of Docklands Office

PROPERTY giant Lend Lease is expecting about $120 million from the sale of an as-yet-incomplete office in Melbourne’s Docklands – a near new city, effectively, on disused industrial land abutting the western edge of the CBD.

The 17,000 square metre office recently secured engineering firm Aurecon as an anchor tenant for 9500 square metres. Aurecom was formerly known as Connell Wagner

The building is due for completion in the second half of 2012.

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Hamton Dodges High Rise Development Dispute

AND so all eyes turn to 50 Albert Road, in South Melbourne, after the decision this week by new planning minister Matthew Guy to reject a 29-level, 88-metre proposal across the road at #35, based on height.

Hamton Property Group is planning to build a 28-level, 89-metre tower on its site at 42 – 50 Albert Road, having marketed the project, Fifty Albert, since the middle of last year.

Both the Asia-based owner of 35 Albert Road, and Hamton, paid about $15.5 million for their respective South Melbourne sites last April.

Hamton’s site was purchased with a permit for a 220-dwelling apartment complex. However it shrunk the size of the units so that 294 flats could fit within the approved building’s shell.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved that major amendment last August.

By comparison the owner of 35 Albert Road proposed 420 apartments within an 88 metre tower. Another tower of similar height is proposed at 60 Albert Road, too.

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Skyscrapers to Sprout From Two Sites Around Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of RemembranceTWO major development sites around the Shrine of Remembrance have sold, in deals expected to see low rise office buildings replaced with skyscraper apartment towers, with a potential end value of around $250 million.

In the biggest deal, an Asia-based developer is believed to have paid about $15.5 million for a 2274 square metre site at 35 Albert Road.

A 3096 square metre office building at the address is expected to be replaced with an apartment tower, which some speculate could soar higher than 30 levels and have an end value of about $130 million.

Meanwhile across the road, boutique developer Hamton has made one of its biggest forays into the high-density residential sector.

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