Food Star Knox: Community housing plan for old buffet restaurant

The “eyesore” site of a former smorgasbord restaurant opposite Westfield Knox is set to be transformed into community housing.

The trashed former Food Star Knox restaurant is set to become a community housing project.

A former buffet restaurant site in Wantirna South is set to be transformed into an eight-storey community housing project.

Knox Cr Nicole Seymour has revealed on Facebook Community Housing (Victoria) Limited (CHVL) is proposing to turn the site of the former “derelict and sad” Food Star restaurant at 500 Burwood Highway into an apartment complex.

Cr Seymour said residents living nearby had recently been notified about the proposal, with a mix of quality one and two bedroom apartments set to be offered at less than market rental rates to people on low to moderate incomes, who otherwise may struggle to find secure long term housing at rates they can afford.

An existing permit for an eight story building is already in place for the site, and CHVL is proposing to adapt the approved project.

“The proposed eight storey development is now sought to accommodate 118 dwellings with a communal outdoor area, associated landscaping and basement carparking,” the organisation posted online.

“It has been designed to create high-quality accommodation having regard to space, light and privacy for tenants and immediate neighbours.

Food Star Knox site: Artist's impression of new community housing development.

“The project will provide accommodation for low income households with accessibility provisions for the less mobile and will represent an important opportunity for CHVL to work with the local community to make a meaningful contribution to the provision of more diverse and affordable accommodation in the area.”

The accommodation and its residents will be managed and supported by CHVL.

The site is opposite Westfield Knox and near the Knox Village retirement complex and St Andrews Christian College.

The project is part of the state government’s Big Housing Build program, meaning Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio will have the final say on approving the project, instead of Knox Council.

The all-you-can-eat Food Star Knox City closed in 2017 after Food Star Knox City Holding Pty Ltd was convicted and fined $60,000 for scores of breaches of the Food Act.

Cr Seymour said residents could have their say on the proposed development here.