Canberra developer Doma Group has purchased a 1.1 hectare block in the Woden Town Centre for $12.5 million from the ACT government.
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The site at on Melrose Drive, Block 2 Section 180, is earmarked for 480 dwellings. It is currently a vacant block. It was previously a car park but was decommissioned after a multi-storey Sky Park was built adjacent to the site.
The block was auctioned by the Suburban Land Agency in March but was passed in. It was then marketed for an over-the-counter sale with a $12.5 million price tag.
Doma managing director Jure Domazet said the developer wanted to continue a revitalisation of the Woden Town Centre. The developer is about to complete a refurbishment of the former public service offices, the Alexander and Albemarle buildings that are adjacent to the Melrose Drive site.
"We have a strong connection with the Woden Town Centre, having developed a significant amount of office at Aviation House, the Department of Health building and now A&A, along with apartments and retail," he said.
"Greater residential development in this area adds people and activity, enlivening the area seven days a week and consolidating Woden as a must-visit destination."
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There are four buildings planned for the site and would include an office building targeted at a government office.
"With only 480 apartments proposed on such a large site, our master plan enables deep-rooted landscaping to a central open space as well as generous and considered separation of buildings providing all apartments with great light, outlook and privacy," Doma general manager of development Gavin Edgar said.
"Doma has a long-held desire to help attract more employment to Woden, so we have also made provision for a large Property Council of Australia A-grade office building suited to government to be developed on the site."
Doma's planned build will join a long list of proposed residential apartments proposed for the Woden Town Centre.
Hindmarsh had plans to build a 25-storey and 26-storey building, Zapari has proposed a development of about 600 apartments and Geocon has received approval for a 24-storey, 800-unit building.
It would also join developments under construction such as Geocon and Zapari's Grand Central Towers. As well as Amalgamated Property Group's two high-rises, Trilogy and Ivy Apartments, and its third planned development on the former site of the Yamba Sports Club.