Public housing to make up 60 per cent of Gronn Place redevelopment

Once home to hundreds of people, this Brunswick West public housing complex is almost completely abandoned. Soon almost 200 new homes will fill the site. Take a look at how at the planned changes will differ from what’s there.

An artist render of the redeveloped Gronn Place in Brunswick West.

A neglected social housing village in Brunswick West will be replaced with almost 200 new units — 119 of which will be public housing.

The 82-unit Gronn Place will soon be demolished by the State Government to make way for 198 homes, with 60 per cent to be earmarked for social housing.

The remaining 79 homes will be private.

A view of an abandoned building in the estate. Picture: Josh Barnes

AV Jennings will develop the site, with housing provider Women’s Housing to manage the public dwellings.

A community garden will be retained on the site as part of 3200sq m of open space.

The redevelopment was first touted to be replaced in 2016 and residents have been steadily removed since.

Former residents of Gronn Place will be offered the chance to return.

Women will then be favoured as tenants off the state housing priority list.

An artist render of one of the buildings in the complex.

The land was initially gifted to Brunswick City Council under the proviso it would only be used for private interests, before the current buildings were erected in the 1960s.

The State Government has since taken control.

Greens state Brunswick MP Tim Read said it was a step in the right direction that most homes would be public.

But he said given the amount of people on the public housing waiting list it was unacceptable to give any public land to private developers.

The estate is now almost completely abandoned. Picture: Josh Barnes

“While this is promising, it still sees public land going to private developers,” he said.

State housing minister Richard Wynne said the mix of housing would help form a stronger community.

“Population growth means we need more social housing — this redevelopment creates 37 extra public and community housing homes while replacing outdated buildings with modern energy-efficient homes,” he said.

MORE NEWS: SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF A RISING PAINTER

FUTURE OF 91-YEAR-OLD SIGNAL BOX IN DOUBT

INSIDE THE VILLAGE THAT IS SET TO RESHAPE A SUBURB

The Leader visited the complex this week and found windows boarded up and the site mostly abandoned.

It is believed only two residents remain at the once busy estate.

A public rally to defend public housing in Victoria will be held in the estate at 1pm tomorrow.

It is unknown when construction works will begin but it is set to finish in 2022.

.