East End Ringwood: Apartment sales paused as COVID-19 forces project redesign
Sales for a $145 million landmark residential and hotel development in Ringwood have been put on hold. Here’s why.
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A landmark development featuring what would be Ringwood’s tallest building is on ice, with the coronavirus outbreak forcing design changes and delaying construction.
But buyers who have already secured apartments at the $145 million East End complex have been assured the project will go ahead.
Sales have been paused for the three-tower project at 28-30 Maroondah Highway, opposite The Coach pub and next to EastLink.
East End’s official website has been taken down, while a sales office at Eastland shopping centre also closed late last year.
The development, co-ordinated by developers Marshall White and Sunstone, was set to include 354 apartments and penthouses valued at up to $4 million in two towers.
One of the towers would reach a record-breaking 19 storeys.
A third tower was set to boast the stylish AC Hotel by the Marriott Group, with more than 200 rooms across eight storeys.
East End was also going to include a community plaza with co-working and green spaces, a gym, restaurants, cafes and retail stores.
Marshall White director Leonard Teplin said the virus outbreak meant changes had to be made to the co-working spaces and hotel.
“Until people can land on what post-COVID looks like, you can’t build and move forward,” he said.
“We’ve been advised because of changes with COVID, the offices and hotel configuration might need to change, and until those changes are confirmed we can't progress with construction.”
More than $17 million in sales had been completed in March when the virus outbreak hit.
Mr Teplin said none of the existing buyers had expressed concerns over the delays or asked for refunds.
An update posted on Marshall White’s website last month said the project was “in the sales and marketing phase” and the development team was “in discussions with builders and banks to bring East End Ringwood to life”.
Marriott International’s head of development, Richard Crawford, said the group was awaiting further advice from East End’s developers for its planned hotel.
Ms Aimo said Marriott was “committed to continuing the growth of our portfolio in Australia”.
Meanwhile, construction is also yet to begin on another major hotel and apartment complex planned for Ringwood.
The 16-storey Ringwood Residences tower, revealed in mid-2018, is to be built at 301 Maroondah Hwy, near Ringwood Lake Park.
It will boast a Holiday Inn hotel with 164 rooms on the first six storeys and 76 apartments on levels seven to 15.
The project’s official website states builder Hamilton Marino had been appointed to begin construction in Autumn 2020.
Ringwood Residences’ sales office at Midway Arcade near Eastland has also closed.
Sunstone Projects was contacted for comment.
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