The school, preschool and baby health centre were demolished in 2015 following a 2014 ACT government announcement on plans for "big changes" to the site and Higgins Oval.

As part of community consultation, development on the 40,425 square-metre site on Fullagar Crescent was restricted to community facilities such as a retirement village, aged care accommodation, supportive housing and/or a childcare facility.

The site was bought by Baitly via tender in 2016.

Director Richard Howarth said the proposal, the Henry, would involve 48 single-storey townhouses, 52 apartments split across two buildings, one four storeys and the other five storeys, over basement parking and a central clubhouse.

The group planned to build and operate the facility. There would be a mix of two-bedroom and three-bedroom dwellings.

The estimated $38.7 million project, designed by Stewart Architecture, was named after the suburb's namesake, justice Henry Bournes Higgins.

Mr Howarth said the community hub would include a cinema, bar, cafe, lounge, billiards room and library, gym, and physiotherapy treatment rooms.

"The clubhouse, the community hub, offers residents the opportunity to meet new people while working on their body balance, yoga or tai chi or having a sunset drink before a salsa class," he said.

The application said the existing street network could accommodate expected traffic.

Some regulated trees would be removed and ground works would be done in the protection zones of others.

"At the pre-application meeting it was established that a number of trees are in poor health and can be removed," the application said.

"Where possible we have modified the proposal to retain trees identified as preferred for retention by the tree protection unit."

New trees would be planted.

"As the lease allows for residential care accommodation, we have purposefully set aside land on which a co-located residential care facility could be situated in the future," Mr Howarth said.

For more details visit: www.thehenry.com.au

Submissions close on the development application on May 18.