The Cotery: $130m townhouse loft development reinvigorating Northcote’s history

The Cotery, a $130-million, low-rise, is a contemporary development by prestigious home builder Glenvill

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The development, designed by Rothe Lowman Architects, comprises 128 townhouses, 42 apartments and 12 heritage lofts.



Set on the historic Joshua Pitt site, the 1.5-hectare development is located in Melbourne’s Northcote, just six kilometres from the CBD, and encompasses both sides of Gadd Street.

The Cotery combines the past with the present, with Glenvill not only retaining the warehouse for conversion into the 12 two and three-bedroom lofts, that was once a tannery that manufactured the iconic Sherrin football, but also the distinctive chimney.

Northcote is quickly becoming one of Melbourne’s most popular inner city suburbs due to its convenient location and community environment. Set amongst quirky boutiques, cafes and bars, there is a definite urban vibe.

The Cotery’s flexible spaces are set to appeal to young families as much as empty nesters. Many of the development’s townhouses feature an additional room at ground level, which can be used as a bedroom, study or second living area.

Most of the two and three-bedroom townhouses, as well as the one and two-bedroom apartments, feature city views. Top level of many townhouses include roof gardens providing additional outdoor space, as well as spectacular views of the city and of Northcote.

Len Warson, Managing Director of Glenvill, attributes the development’s success to precise attention to detail in every area. Warson’s brief to the architects was to focus on design rather than costs.

“I said to the architects, don’t worry about the costs, make the design the priority and I’ll make it work for the market,” says Warson.

Glenvill’s brief to Rothe Lowman also included the delivery of functional open-plan spaces and the use of natural materials. Natural timber flooring is used for living areas of the townhouses, with textured rendered concrete exteriors, glass, metal and timber cladding to keep with the site’s industrial heritage.








Exposed brickwork and option polished-concrete floors are main design features for the warehouse lofts in the site’s original building.

A combination of traditional streetscapes and architect-designed lanes will be landscaped by inner city CDA Design Group

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Response to The Cotery has been significant with all 70 townhouses on the south of Gadd Street sold and only 16 out of 49 of the northern townhouses still remaining.

The final stages for the sale of apartments and lofts have recently been released, and strong demand for these living spaces has been demonstrated. This includes the 19-apartment Sherrin building on the north side of Gadd Street, following the sell-out of the Tannery building’s 22 apartments this year.






The Sherrin building on the development’s north side includes eight one-bedroom apartments ranging from 40 to 46 square metres with balconies up to 10 square metres. Prices start at $354,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

There are 11 two-bedroom apartments ranging from 58 to 70 square metres, with terraces up to 19 square metres. Two-bedroom apartments are priced from $460,000.

Two-bedroom townhouses range from 97 to 101 square metres, with courtyards up to 13 square metres and first-level terraces up to 10 square metres, are priced from $630,000.

Three-bedroom townhouses of 119 square metres, with terraces up to 10 square metres, are priced from $690,000.

Eight of the 12 lofts are available. A three-bedroom loft offers up to 109 square metres of internal space and 15 square metres of private external living and is priced from $599,000. Two-bedroom lofts are priced from $533,000.





 

Construction is running to schedule and first residents are due to move in July this year.