Blacktown Council looks at futuristic nine-storey building in Mt Druitt
A FUTURISTIC nine-storey retail and residential building will change the face of Mt Druitt if given the green light.
Blacktown
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A FUTURISTIC nine-storey retail and residential building will change the face of Mt Druitt if given the green light.
What is now an abandoned and graffiti-covered former imaging centre at 7 Luxford Rd, will be transformed into a modern building filled with apartments and shops.
A development application has been submitted to Blacktown Council.
Tony Owen Partners has submitted a daring glass-facade design for a shop-top residential apartment building in a bid to improve the look and feel of Mt Druitt.
“There is no reason why buildings in Mt Druitt shouldn’t be as exciting as the buildings in Melbourne and the city,” Tony Owen said. “The design of this building is compliant; it doesn’t break any rules.”
Mr Owen said his priority when finalising the design was to make sure the buildings were as cost-effective as they were beautiful.
“We always ask ourselves: how do you something really exciting that doesn’t cost too much because at the end of the day, you’re in Mt Druitt and developers are not going to want to pay a lot,” he said. “I hate boxes and grids and squares. When the market is booming, people will buy anything, but when it isn’t, they want to buy the nice apartments.”
The nine-storey mixed-use complex features 156 residences with a mix of one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments as well as 11 commercial tenancies.
The site sits on 4046 sqm footprint which was rezoned in 2015 for mixed use.
The current building on the land has been abandoned and left to decay. It caught the attention of Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali, who suggested it be used as a refuge for the area’s vulnerable people.
However, if approved, with two levels of basement parking, a podium level with shop fronts and a landscaped communal terrace area with the residential apartments above, the new building will change the skyline.
Councillor Tony Bleasdale said the proposal was being assessed by the council before going to the Blacktown Independent Planning Panel.
“There is a need for a lot more one-bedroom accommodation in Blacktown city,” Cr Bleasdale said. “If there are any problems with waste and parking ... that will be under consideration.
“A lot of basement parking will be part of this development.”
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