Cleveland retirement project’s unusual lure for buyers

A new, 199-unit Redlands retirement village comes with one big drawcard for older buyers you don’t see too often.

Artist's impression of the proposed retirement village.

People who buy into a proposed new four-level retirement village in the heart of Cleveland will have dedicated parking bays for their mobility scooters.

The unusual lure is one of many luxury features in the 236-246 Queen Street project, which will have 199 self-contained apartments.

“As the development will cater for seniors, it is reasonable to expect that many of the residents will be reliant on mobility scooters,’’ the development application said.

“Accordingly, provision has been made within the development for access by scooter and for the parking of scooters at various levels of the development.

“The site is well located and in proximity to the main Cleveland CBD and within walking/scooter distance of the nearby commercial facilities located around the junction of Wellington St and Shore St West,’’ the development application said.

“The walk north along Wellington St is relatively flat and could be easily utilised by mobility scooters.

“It is proposed to create a formal pedestrian/scooter access link between the southeast corner of the site, and Wellington St to the east, to ensure that the residents have a safe connection to the regular bus network that operates along Wellington St and to the shops located at the corner of Shore St West and Wellington St.’’

There will also be a bocce garden, pool, barbecue area, exercise garden, roof terrace and club room.

The site is one of the few remaining, undeveloped medium-density residential sites in the Cleveland area suitable for such a development.

Designed by Thomson Adsett, the Bristar Group project would have four levels but as the site is sloping would not be more than three storeys, or 13m, above ground.

The buildings would be radiate around three central gardens close to indoor and outdoor communal areas.

Vehicle access was via Queens St, via an internal driveway that connects to the west of the site.

Another feature that could be very useful for retirees is a minibus parking space for day trips.

“The development will be completely integrated so that all elements can be readily accessed

by the residents by either interconnecting pathways, elevated walkways, ramps and lifts,’’ planners AJS said.

“The design intent is to create a sense of community where the residents can experience a village atmosphere and enjoy a lifestyle in their retirement years”.

The buildings would cover 42 per cent of the 1.3ha site.

The development application said the site would be subdivided to create a “heavily vegetated’’ buffer between the retirement village and existing housing on Duchess St and another retirement village on the eastern side of the site.

For more details search Redland City Council’s online planning portal, pdonline. Search for application: MCU20/0077