Uniting Communities proposes unique six-storey retirement, aged-care development at Felixstow
Hundreds of homes rising to six storeys for families, retirees and the aged would be built on an aged-care home in Adelaide’s east.
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A “one-of-a-kind” integrated residential community reaching to six storeys would be built along a busy Adelaide road in a plan by one of the country’s biggest care providers.
Uniting Communities is seeking to rezone land at its Aldersgate aged-care facility at Felixstow, which includes the stunning heritage Forsyth House, currently home to about 115 people.
The plan for an “intergenerational” series of about 120 homes includes aged care, retirement living and affordable and social housing, along with build-to-rent apartments for families.
It would also bring together Uniting’s existing aged care and specialist dementia care offerings with independent disability living.
The rezoning push would lift maximum height limits on the 2.3ha parcel of land on O.G. Rd and Turner St to six levels, transitioning down to two storeys closer to existing, lower homes.
The area is opposite the Payneham Library and swimming pool.
The plan includes early childhood and educational facilities, community art space, medical consulting rooms, and a huge swarth of open space, Uniting Communities chief executive Simon Schrapel said.
“We aim to really open up the site to a new mixed community, the local neighbourhood and public,” he said.
“At this stage, over 50 per cent of our proposed master plan incorporates open, green community space – creating a place for our neighbours and community members to enjoy.”
The state-heritage listed Forsyth House, one of SA’s first aged-care homes, would be restored and given back to the community as a cultural and arts space.
“From the outset, we’ve been passionate about creating something that extends beyond just another housing, commercial, educational or aged care development,” Mr Schrapel said.
“We want to work with our community to create a place that fosters an inclusive, intergenerational and innovative community.”
Other plans for the site include keeping the chapel and parking and increasing pedestrian access.
The project aims for up to 41 build-to-rent apartments for families, and another 20 slated as affordable or social housing. There would be up to six independent units for adults with disabilities and six specialist disability units and up to 57 independent living units, some specialising for seniors living with dementia.
The public is now being asked for feedback on the rezoning to increase height limits and housing density before Planning Minister Nick Champion makes a decision.
“Investigations will look at whether the area can support an increase in density and if six-storey residential development is appropriate for the area,” Mr Champion said.
Uniting Communities in 2019 opened U City, a 20-storey mixed-use tower in the CBD including retirement and disability living and office space.
Mr Schrapel said the start of consultation allowed Uniting Communities to begin to share their vision.
“We’ve seen what is possible from our groundbreaking, certified whole carbon neutral building, U City, which has been a fantastic, internationally recognised example of mixed-use development and community building,” he said.
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Originally published as Uniting Communities proposes unique six-storey retirement, aged-care development at Felixstow
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