The $600k plan to revamp front of Unley Shopping Centre

THE owners of this shopping centre in Adelaide’s inner south plan to spend $600,000 to revamp its main entrance, including adding new outdoor dining areas. Here is what we know.

Unley Shopping Centre in Adelaide

UNLEY Shopping Centre’s owner plans to spend $600,000 to revamp the centre’s entrance, including creating new outdoor dining areas.

Duke Group last month lodged plans with Unley Council for work on the shopping centre’s Unley Rd entrance.

It would include replacing the centre’s Unley Rd facade – including the mall’s red-brick entrance – with a new, silver-coloured frontage.

The design would be identical to the centre’s Arthur St entrance, which was upgraded in 2010 as part of the complex’s $6 million redevelopment.

Plans show two outdoor dining areas on either side of the mall’s entrance, and new bike racks.

The concrete footpath along the Unley Rd frontage would also be ripped up and replaced with granite pavers.

Duke Group director Con Angelopolous did not respond to calls.

However, Unley Road Association chairman James Morris welcomed the upgrade.

“Any building activity along the road is welcome,” Mr Morris said.

“The upgrade appears largely cosmetic, but the alfresco dining element is interesting.

“It is something a little bit different and maybe it will encourage people to spend more time here.”

Duke Group bought the 2.38ha site for $7.25 million in 1997.

It includes a Coles and Woolworths, two carparks and more than 40 shops.

Last month, former Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood suggested redeveloping Unley Shopping Centre to include apartments was the key to Unley Council’s plans to encourage high-density buildings in the precinct.