Magazine Stores’ Owner Plans Mid-Rise at Fitzroy

The owner of a chain of magazine shops has filed plans for a four-storey mixed-use project in Melbourne’s Fitzroy North. 

The planned project by Mag Nation owner Vali Valibhoy for a site at 290 Park Street comprises a cafe, seven homes and six carparking spaces.

Architecture Architects designed the plans for the 596sq m site, which is 3.5km north of the CBD at the corner of Park and Nicholson streets.

It overlooks Linear Park Reserve and Capital City Trail to the north. 

A two-storey red brick building with shops and office space, and a former shop with a cantilevered veranda are now on the site—the latter has a contributory heritage listing. 

Plans for the site include demolishing both buildings to make way for the four-storey block.

One section of the new building would contain a cafe with a one-bedroom apartment over the top. There would also be five four-storey, three-bedroom townhouses and one three-storey, two-bedroom townhouse.

All of the townhouses will have home offices fronting Park Street with carparking spaces on the ground floor accessible from Railway Lane. There will be no parking space provided for the shoptop apartment above the cafe. 

A total of 13 bicycle spaces would be provided.

While the cafe use does not require permission, the proposed residential use does and the City of Yarra Council will make the final determination. 

Valibhoy took over Mag Nation, which operates speciality magazine stores in Melbourne, in early 2014. 

The project is believed to be the first venture into the property development sector for Valibhoy.