Plans revealed for nine-storey, 150-home affordable rental tower on Greenhill Rd
Plans have been revealed for a 30m, 150-home apartment tower and complex overlooking the parklands – earmarked for affordable rental units.
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Plans for a 152-home, nine-storey “affordable” rental apartment complex on Greenhill Rd have been released.
Under the project by community housing provider Housing Choices SA, about 30 run-down Housing Trust homes torn down beside the Air Apartments building would be replaced by a 30m apartment tower overlooking the parklands with “build-to rent” homes.
Behind it on what’s currently vacant land would be an open-space community courtyard, and two more buildings of seven and five storeys facing Trust Lane with views of the Adelaide Hills, the plans say.
First announced in 2021, the project at 217-218 Greenhill Rd would offer homes with a minimum of 50sq m in floor area and 8.1sq m of a private balcony. About 80 per cent would be designated as affordable living.
There would be 84 one-bedroom units, 64 with two bedrooms and four with three bedrooms, plus a total of 95 on-site carparks.
An expansive, 972sq m communal open-space area is planned for the interior of the project “at the first-floor level”, consultants Masterplan say.
“Whilst being a single connected building, the communal open space separates the built form into a north tower and south tower element that are set back 19.4 metres from one another,” the plans say.
Masterplan said a mixture of dwellings and tenures would be offered, with 122 rental units to be offered as affordable housing.
“The remaining 30 dwellings will be rented at market rates. The affordable component therefore encompasses 80 per cent of the total dwellings proposed. All dwellings will be owned and operated by Housing Choices South Australia as part of the Build to Rent arrangement,” they said.
“The majority of dwellings are to be one- and two-bedroom, reflecting the living situations of those who predominantly require access to affordable housing.
“The collaboration between the community sector, state and federal governments reflects the urgent need for homes to address a deepening housing crisis. This development will play a significant role in meeting an urgent housing need for affordable rental housing.”
The complex is split into four “wings” each with their own lift and stair core.
Designed by Hill Thalis and JPE Design Studio, builder Hindmarsh has signed on for construction.
Two retail stores such as a cafe are planned for the ground floor plus a community room.
The building is developed by Housing Choices SA in partnership with the SA Housing Authority (SAHA), the owners of the land.
The apartment complex would be named ‘Wirra Mikangka’ meaning “in front of forest or scrub” – a reference to the site’s position opposite Victoria Park.
The design language of the building is inspired by the trees of the adjacent parklands, Masterplan says.
Build-to-rent projects are newer to Australia, but more popular in the US – where it’s often known as multi-family housing – and the UK.
Under the plan, a developer builds apartments purely for rental and not for sale, often for affordable or social housing.
SA’s first build-to-rent project was in Renewal SA’s Bowden precinct, with 240 apartments in a 12-storey tower.
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Originally published as Plans revealed for nine-storey, 150-home affordable rental tower on Greenhill Rd
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