Franze Greenlit for 13-Storey Cremorne Hotel Scheme

A multi-use hotel plan for a fast-growing inner Melbourne suburb has been approved, despite objections from council. The Franze Developments development at 79-83 Balmain Street and 116-122 Chestnut Street, Cremorne, comprises an 87-room hotel and eight serviced apartments. The suburb is about 3km south-east of the Melbourne CBD. Cremorne is shedding its industrial past, attracting major technology groups including Tesla, the Walt Disney Company and Seek, leading to it being dubbed Australia’s Silicon Valley. Office, and increasingly hotel, development proposals are on the rise in the suburb, and include Zig Inge Group’s 89-room Rothelowman-designed hotel nearby at 49-51 Balmain Street. The now-approved Franze project also has a 661sq m co-working office on the second level. The approval comes despite considerable pushback from the Yarra City Council. Yarra considered the application in January, objecting to the height and lack of upper level setbacks. The council said the built form would cause “unreasonable visual bulk”, and would experience poor wind conditions and a lack of daylight. It also argued that it does not allow for the adaptive commercial reuse of the building. ▲ Hachem designed the approved Cremorne hotel and office development. But the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning said it was appropriate for the site and designed to distribute the built form across the site to minimise visual and amenity impacts. It granted the project a ministerial planning permit. The ground floor incorporates a foyer, lobby and 272sq m all-day dining restaurant. The hotel typology comprises 75 standard rooms, and 3 two and 9 one-bedroom rooms. The serviced apartments will include kitchen, living and private open spaces. A 349sq m gym and wellness centre will be on level 3, as well as a 50sq m communal balcony. More open space is planned for level 12. The site was amalgated from six lots on Balmain Street. Single-storey terrace homes and a garage on the site will make way for the tower. The site is in the Cremorne Enterprise Precinct’s railway precinct, surrounded by a variety of uses in low and medium density, but it is also close to such developments as Alfasi Property's $600-million redevelopment of the former matchstick maker Bryant and May historic industrial site. ▲ A central plaza was proposed for the growing Mill Park site. Meanwhile, a ministerial permit has been granted for a major Mill Park development. The project, at 18 Bush Boulevard, was a significant upscale from previously approved plans for 175 homes . South Morang Delivery plans to build 254 apartments after filing its plans last year with the City of Whittlesea. Directors for the development company are listed in ASIC documents as John Gibson and Gary McMillan. Approved for the site are two eight-storey towers plus a six-storey carpark at the site, 18km from Melbourne CBD. Ewert Leaf Architects designed the project with 1301sq m of shop tenancies, a 2019sq m medical centre and 778sq m food and drink premises. The project at Whittlesea joins such projects in the neighbourhood as Riverlee’s $2-billion New Epping masterplan.

Franze Greenlit for 13-Storey Cremorne Hotel Scheme

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