Plans to build a nine-storey office tower on a South Yarra site originally slated for a hotel have been filed by Alfasi Group.
The developer had originally planned a 10-storey hotel designed by Carr Architects on the 2143sq m site at 2-10 River Street.
The 155-key hotel would have been operated by the Hyatt Hotel Group as a 4.5 star hotel.
No parking was included other than three spaces at the entrance—the developer planned to lease space as needed from nearby 24-hour car parks nearby.
The original plans were filed in May 2018 with the City of Stonnington Council.
After a consultative meeting in November 2018, the council refused the application based on residents’ objections to overshadowing, the design, and traffic and access issues.
The council also noted concerns that it might be prone to flooding and that sufficient car parking spaces had not been formally secured.
As well, part of the building exceeded height limits.
Alfasi’s 8 River Street Pty Ltd then lodged an appeal with VCAT against the permit refusal and submitted amended plans to resolve some of the issues.
VCAT found that the car parking arrangement being formalised was not necessary and that sufficient changes had been made to prevent overshadowing and to ensure that the basement levels did not flood.
It ruled that exceeding the five-storey height limit was acceptable to create a transition in the streetscape to a neighbouring 20-storey building.
VCAT in January 2020 set aside the council’s refusal on condition the developer follow the amended plans and comply with conditions around flood risk management.
Alfasi filed an appeal to amend the plans for a change of use from a hotel to an office development in October, 2021.
VCAT granted this change, and Alfasi was then required to file amended plans for the office building with the City of Stonnington Council, which it did this month.
The latest plans include the removal of the second basement level and level nine, reducing the building to nine storeys.
The plans include a ground floor with a public plaza, lobby, cafe and retail spaces. The basement level will include end-of-trip facilities.
It will have a net lettable area of 7426sq m across the retail and office spaces and a floor area of 10,192sq m.
Alfasi is targeting a 5-star Green Star rating and a 5-star Nabers Office building rating. The project will be a net carbon zero project with emissions reduced and offset during both development and operation.
The Urban Developer contacted Alfasi for comment for this story.
