Green light for Jam Factory redevelopment

The development will add four apartment towers and two office buildings.

The City of Stonnington has approved a major redevelopment of South Yarra’s Jam Factory.

As part of the plan, announced last September, four residential towers, two rising 25 floors, the others of 17 and 12 storeys, and with a total of 400 dwellings, will be developed on the eastern side of the site, abutting the train line.

The proposed hotel entrance.

Two 10 level commercial buildings with an overall c20,000 sqm of (likely Prime grade) area will be constructed on airspace fronting Chapel Street.

A five-star hotel with between 180 and 200 suites will be contained in the residential structures.

A refurbishment of the 4600 sqm cinema is planned as well.

Existing retail area will be upgraded too – and there will be more of it, c18,500 sqm upon completion.

Estimated to have an end value of about $1.5 billion, the design contains 1195 basement car parks.

Own a piece of the Jam Factory

Penned by Bates Smart, the Jam Factory redevelopment will be delivered by Newmark Capital, which paid $165m for the asset in 2015, with Gurner and Qualitas, which bought into the property last March.

Upon completion, Newmark will hold the office and retail components.

Gurner and Qualitas will sell down the apartments and retain the hotel, which could be branded Club Maison (a Gurner hospitality brand which is also set to open in Prahran and St Kilda).

“The Jam Factory has been part of the social fabric of Melbourne since the mid-1970s thanks to the inspired work by Peter McIntyre, which transformed it from the IXL factory into a vibrant and engaging retail and hospitality hub – though the combined efforts of Newmark, Qualitas ad Gurner, the Jam Factory precinct will once again become the focal point of Chapel St and South Yarra,” Bates Smart managing director Simon Swaney, said.

“All remnant heritage fabric will be retained and restored – streets and lanes will connect the site to the surrounding street network and context,” he added (story continues below).

“An active ground plane centred around a large north facing village square will provide retail experiences, a new easily accessible supermarket and other essentials,” according to the executive.

“Sustainability remains at the forefront of its design, with a net-zero target for the project.

The proposed new rooftops – all up about 5000 sqm – will be activated with gardens and public spaces.

Residents will also have access to about 2700 sqm of common amenity.

“Our vision revitalises the Jam Factory, celebrating its rich character and history,” Newmark Capital managing director, Chris Langford, said.

“The heritage façade on Chapel St will be refurbished, bringing back the detail and original character,” he added.

“The laneways will draw people through the precinct, seamlessly integrating with Chapel St and the surrounding areas,” according to the executive.

“It will be a thriving, integrated, shopping, working, living and entertainment precinct, the perfect place to live, work, play and stay.

“The offices will offer every amenity within an ideally located and connected community”.

Gurner chief executive officer Tim Gurner said the project “will take everything we have learnt from projects like Hawksburn Place Residences and Saint Moritz and elevate it to a whole new level – this is something that will truly put South Yarra at the upper echelon of world luxury property”.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.