Fairfield’s high rise future on the horizon
ICONIC buildings and thousands of units could soon populate Fairfield’s skyline as stakeholders seek to change the face of the CBD.
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ICONIC buildings and thousands of units could soon populate Fairfield’s skyline as stakeholders seek to change the face of the CBD.
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce president Vince Movizio said buildings could soar to 18 storeys in the CBD.
“We came up with concepts with as many as 1300 units,” Mr Movizio said.
“If someone builds an ugly building, it can be small – but if it’s a design excellence building, a landmark signature building, we want to go as high as possible.”
In May 2016 Fairfield Council allocated $120,000 to undertake the Urban Design Study, which identified future development opportunities for Fairfield.
A brief created in November 2016 prioritised an active street frontage, local economy growth and a new town centre identity for Fairfield.
The draft was endorsed for public exhibition at last week’s council meeting.
Fairfield Forum, Neeta City, the Aldi site, McDonald’s, Cambridge Tavern, Fairfield RSL and Bing Lee were targeted as options for redevelopment.
“The idea is to work on buildings with 2500 to 26,000sq m,” Mr Movizio said.
“They are larger sites that don’t need to be amalgamated and when you develop them it paves the way for everyone else to follow.”
Mr Movizio said Fairfield had become “a tired carpark”.
“At the moment people travel to Fairfield, park the car, commute to their jobs and then go home,” he said.
“There’s no-one investing in the local economy.”
Redevelopment could also diversify housing stock.
“We could create another 3000 to 6000 homes by doing this,” Mr Movizio said.
“We want people to know Fairfield as the city with amazing buildings.
“Imagine if you could tell people you lived in the Bing Lee Tower.”
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said it was time to regenerate the city.
“Fairfield was built for generations past,” Cr Carbone said.
“It’s time to transform it for the next generation and create a more liveable city.”
Cr Carbone said developers would have to show they were giving something back to the community before they would be permitted to build skyscrapers.
“We need more open space, we need more parking – we need to provide better housing and better amenities,” Cr Carbone said.
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