Plan to ‘transform’ Brisbane suburb with new homes and shops revealed

Plans to “transform” a Brisbane suburb with new housing and a refreshed business hub have been unveiled.

Mount Gravatt is earmarked by Brisbane City Council for more homes and a mix of new businesses including cafes, restaurants and retail outlets.

The “Suburban Renewal Precinct” takes in the Logan Road corridor from Glindemann Park in Holland Park to the Mount Gravatt Showgrounds.

The Mount Gravatt Plaza and a strip of industrial sites – including at least one abandoned car dealership – fall within the zone.

A full plan for the suburb renewal is yet to be released, with the draft promised for community consultation “in the coming months.”

Chairman of the Better Suburbs Initiative Ross Elliott told Brisbane Times a range of options are being explored, including changing regulations to allow higher-density private development and new public works to improve shared spaces.

“It’s early days,” he said.

“Some areas haven’t been actively championed or reinvested by private capital in particular for some time for whatever reason … we’re trying to breathe new life in.

“For so long we’ve been distracted by the Emerald City – the big shiny new CBD lights and all the rest of it – and we haven’t really devoted a lot of attention to opportunities in the suburbs.”

Located in the city’s south, the suburb has been selected for increased development due to its existing infrastructure and public transport network.

The Brisbane City Council announcement suggests development regulation changes to allow conversion of commercial and industrial areas into “mixed-use” areas with housing will be considered.

About 1500 properties fall within the precinct area. About 40 per cent of residents are renters.

“We’re unlocking opportunities for more homes in areas well-serviced by public transport and employment opportunities while protecting Brisbane’s incredible lifestyle,” councillor Adam Allan said in a statement announcing the proposal.

“Brisbane is a fast-growing city and kickstarting the construction of new homes is the right thing to do with the limited levers we have to help solve the housing crisis.”

It is one of multiple suburbs that had been flagged for development by Brisbane City Council.

Stones Corner has been earmarked for a similar transformation, with council proposing a redesign of a stretch of Logan Road and allowing development of 20-storey apartment buildings on some blocks.

Under the plan, the suburb’s population is expected to climb from about 800 to 2000 by 2046.

Urban planning think tank Suburban Futures has also drafted a concept to make Chermside an “alternative CBD” for Brisbane, with a tree-lined boulevard and dedicated mass transit lanes along Gympie Road.

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