Heathmont’s Canterbury Rd former pizza joint to become apartments and medical centre

The charred remains of an outer east pizza joint are finally being demolished and what will take its place could change the area forever.

An artist's impression of the proposed C167 apartment complex in Heathmont. Picture: Supplied

A longstanding eyesore in Melbourne’s outer east could be cleaned up earlier than expected, after the site was sold to become a leafy suburb’s first apartment complex.

An inner city developer has bought the site of the former Original Joes Pizza restaurant at 165-167 Canterbury Rd, Heathmont for $4 million.

The restaurant and its function centre were destroyed by fire in June 2017.

Its former owner, Patrick Lamanna, sold the site despite winning a VCAT hearing in August to progress with a four-storey rebuild.

His plans were originally rejected by Maroondah Council in late 2019 for being “overly intense”, but were later overturned at the tribunal on appeal.

The $7.5 million revamp — dubbed C167 — will include 26 apartments, underground parking, two shops and a medical centre.

Jim’s Real Estate Ringwood East agent Stuart Greig said the new owners wanted to change one of the shop spaces from a restaurant into a ‘super clinic’ to go with a medical centre on the ground floor.

He said Mr Lamanna offloaded site to focus on other development interests.

“He decided he’d had enough on his plate, he sold the site and was happy to do so,” Mr Greig said.

The site has remained largely untouched since the fire and its condition and the lack of action has long infuriated locals.

It was also suspected of housing squatters, which Mr Lamanna denied.

“When you look at other sites that are out there, it (the sale price) was certainly on par with what it was worth,” Mr Greig said.

Mr Greig will also be looking after apartment sales for the C167 complex.

He said a pre-sale campaign was about to launch, with prices to range from $460,000 for a one-bedroom to $790,000 for a three-bedroom apartment.

An artist's impression of a bedroom in the C167 apartment block in Heathmont. Picture: Supplied.

“It will be a landmark project once its done … you’ve got the (railway) station 100m away, Foodworks 20m away, the location for shops and transport makes it a sensational site with some views as well,” Mr Greig said.

“I’d much prefer to live here than down in Nelson St or Bourke St in Ringwood, where you’re further away from amenities and you’ve got apartment after apartment built.”

Mr Greig said depending on buyer interest and approval of the site’s building permit, construction could start in July or August.

Mr Lamanna was ordered to start his project no later than August 2023 when he won his VCAT appeal.