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Pace of Abbotsford - 247 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

The Melbourne property developer Pace Development Group&nbsp;have won&nbsp;the Master Builders Victoria award for Excellence in Construction - Highrise Buildings 2020 for their Abbotsford development Pace of Abbotsford.

The 12 level tower was designed in collaboration with SJB Architects and pays homage to Abbotsford&rsquo;s rich industrial past through a thoughtful and relevant design response.

They restored the landmark 1923 St Crispin House fa&ccedil;ade to its former glory, which forms the street level of the building along with a Woolworths Metro and a Sparrows speciality wine store.

St Crispin House was named after the patron saint of shoemakers &ndash; a nod to its first tenants the Grimson Shoe Machinery Company. The Art Deco building is also a symbol of the wider history of shoemaking and related industrial operations throughout Abbotsford.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3755]

Pace created a contemporary juxtaposition of modern apartments above the historic red-brick building. There are 133 loft-style apartments featuring four metre ceilings.

The rooftop infinity pool is the standout, with sweeping views across Melbourne. There&#39;s also a gym,&nbsp;BBQ and dining area and a resident library. On the fifth level is a garden terrace designed by Jack Merlo.

It&#39;s Pace&#39;s second consecutive win of the award, having won it in 2019 for their Collingwood project Pace of Collingwood, their 100th project.

Pace Development Group latest development is Pace of Blackburn, where the final stage is now on market.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=7211]

Joel Robinson

Pace Development Group win Master Builders Victoria award for Pace of Abbotsford

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Pace Development Group has been busy in recent weeks with the appointment of Georgia Willis as its new Development Manager, while also launching its Pace of Abbotsford apartment development. 

The 133-apartment building designed by SJB Architects at 247 Johnston Street will be anchored by the retained art deco façade of Saint Crispin House, drawing on the architecture of the heritage fabric with light coloured materials employed as a backdrop for operable metal screens that will create a dynamic façade that responds to solar access.

The 11-storey development will comprise a mix of one, two and three bedroom single level apartments and a series of multi-level townhouses with construction of the project scheduled to commence by the end of the year and completion anticipated during mid-2019.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ext_abbotsford_elevated_shot_final_lowres.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pace of Abbotsford with the retained facade of St Crispin House. Image: Pace Development Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="380" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ext_abbotsford_elevated_shot_final_lowres.jpg?itok=VSwqT5dV" title="Pace of Abbotsford with the retained facade of St Crispin House. Image: Pace Development Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Pace of Abbotsford with the retained facade of St Crispin House. Image: Pace Development Group</figcaption></figure>Georgia Willis, Pace's newly appointed development manager, brings 20 years of industry experience working for Government and private developers such as Caydon, Mirvac, Places Victoria and VicTrack. Georgia was awarded the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Women in Leadership award for 2016 recognising her professional contribution to the development industry.

<blockquote>
I am fortunate that through my work on Caydon’s Malt District, I have almost met with every consultant in town! This was of huge benefit to my position in the industry and I’m excited to introduce Pace to those relationships and build valuable connections where Pace has not had a strong presence in the past.

- Georgia Willis, Development Manager
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ext_abbotsford_pool_final_lowres.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The 20m infinity pool as part of Pace of Abbotsford. Image: Pace Development Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="290" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ext_abbotsford_pool_final_lowres.jpg?itok=F9QCXBFL" title="The 20m infinity pool as part of Pace of Abbotsford. Image: Pace Development Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The 20m infinity pool as part of Pace of Abbotsford. Image: Pace Development Group</figcaption></figure>What attracted you to your new position of Development Manager at Pace?

I have always maintained a keen interest in watching other developers and how they each uniquely innovate the marketplace. Pace is a business I have admired and respected for some time, so when I was contacted by Shane about the Development Manager role, I was immediately interested.

Pace’s strategy has always been very clear to me. Their passion for the Melbourne market is a huge credit to them, and their commitment to delivering iconic buildings that will leave a legacy in this city demonstrates enormous integrity. I strongly ascribe to this vision and feel that it aligns perfectly with my own personal brand and career aspirations.

Can you provide an overview of your position at Pace?

Given that Pace has come from a construction background, their level of technical expertise is unrivaled in the industry. My role has been introduced to bring further sophistication to their front-end development function – in particular leveraging my experience across government projects and the associated relationships I have built.

Forging these relationships between Pace and critical government stakeholders at a state and local level will evolve Pace’s pre-development activities, and ultimately the timely approval and delivery of our projects.

What do you hope to achieve in your new role as Development Manager at Pace? 

I’m very excited to pioneer strong female leadership at Pace. There is already great diversity and a powerful level of thinking in the organisation, so I look forward to being a mentor for other great female talent coming through the ranks.

I’m looking forward to driving a more coherent stakeholder management strategy that leverages the value that already exists in the Pace brand, to really put us in the driver's seat on government tenders and commercial partnerships to deliver outcomes we can be truly proud of, that make a broader economic and social contribution.

Where do you see the property market heading?

I think the residential market is as strong as we have seen it. While the property bubble is a constant discussion point, this relates to only concentrated areas of the market.

The reality is that Pace aren’t dealing with a micro market - we are dealing with a macro market, and there’s always going to be a strong demand for quality designed and constructed, affordable housing in areas that people want to live in.

With Pace’s diversification into other development types such as townhouse estates, what will you bring to this new strategy and how will draw on your past experience?

Pace has built a formidable reputation in the boutique area of the market through their existing developments. However, with the move into large-scale precincts, there needs to be a greater emphasis on placemaking and on branding, not just at a developer level, but at a suburb and community level.

This work needs to commence in advance of when a project is scheduled to launch, to build desirability and demand around areas before we even have a product to offer the market.
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Laurence Dragomir

Q+A with Pace's new development manager Georgia Willis

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The long-running bid to redevelop Abbotsford's historic St Crispin House has found a resolution, with Pace Development Group granted the right to deliver 133 apartments over 12 levels.

In conjunction with SJB Architects, Pace Development Group have refined the design for the development to a point where it was considered an acceptable outcome. Well before Pace assumed control of the site during 2015, St Crispin House was subject to development overtones, with an earlier application seeking a 17 storey high-rise outcome.

The newly approved envelope will see a mid-rise apartment building rising from behind the Art Deco-styled facade which will be restored. The site's history dates back to the early 1920's when it was utilised as a boot making factory.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image45_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pace of Abbotsford. Image: PACE Development Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="673" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image45_6.jpg?itok=dWf-cdSp" title="Pace of Abbotsford. Image: PACE Development Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Pace of Abbotsford. Image: Pace Development Group</figcaption></figure>Pace of Abbotsford, as it will be known, is expected to begin construction later this year; sales of the one, two and three bedroom apartments are expected to begin during October, with construction earmarked for November. Completion is expected during mid-2019.

Within the associated media release, Pace's Planning and Design Manager Michael Holah made note of Johnston's Street gradual transformation, as an increased number of higher density projects take their place within Abbotsford.

Urban.com.au's Project Database shows Pace of Abbotsford is joined by five additional projects along the Abbotsford stretch of Johnston Street which have yet to become reality. Combined there is scope to add approximately 250 apartments and 40 serviced apartments to the area which has traditionally been low-rise.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6973.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pace of Collingwood under construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="414" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6973.jpg?itok=8Gr5rcGk" title="Pace of Collingwood under construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Pace of Collingwood under construction</figcaption></figure>Pace of Abbotsford is also another notch in the developer's push into City of Yarra; three of Pace's seven current projects within the municipality.

Nearly, Pace of Collingwood has commenced construction proper, with Pace's in-house construction team set to oversee proceedings. 79 apartments are to be delivered within the predominantly brick snap finished building, which accounts for a 1139sqm corner site on Welington Street and Langridge Street.

Diagonally opposite, Pace is also pursuing a development albeit with a commercial outcome. Last week Urban.com.au highlighted the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/spowers-adds-to-the-collingwood-development-blitz">slim-form, Spowers-designed commercial building</a> which if approved will mark Pace Development Group's first foray into purely commercial development.
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silvermb

Pace of Abbotsford gains approval and eyes a 2017 construction start

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PACE Development Group have pushed further into the suburban apartment market. Adding to their already impressive list of residential apartment projects is news that the firm will be involved in two new developments.

Whilst the wraps are due to come off a significant project in Melbourne's South East in which PACE will be a development partner, there's no mistaking their newest development at 554-558 High Street Road, Mount Waverley.

PACE as developer is seeking approval for 90 dwellings across the Mount Waverley site, replacing two low-rise brick commercial buildings which themselves form part of the Syndal Activity Centre along Blackburn Road. Staggered to a height of 8 levels, 554-558 High Street Road has been designed by Cera Stribley Architects.

Two basement levels and three ground floor tenancies form the balance of the development, with one space earmarked as a medical centre. Above, a mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments are expected, ranging between 50sqm and 129sqm respectively.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image116_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="High Street Road perspective. Planning mage: Cera Stribley"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="294" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image116_1.jpg?itok=U5GeEyUk" title="High Street Road perspective. Planning mage: Cera Stribley" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>High Street Road perspective. Planning mage: Cera Stribley</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
The proposal is broken up into three distinct blocks - The Podium that addresses High Street Road and the rear carpark and recreational reserve, The Sandwich, which creates an immediate layer and The Crown, that floats above.

The primary design element is the grid. A simple yet powerful architectural expression that provides a balanced and subtle design response. This well refined expression ensures the building co-exists within its surroundings without trying to be overly striking, attention seeking or iconic.
<cite>Design Statement: Cera Stribley Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

The site in question covers 2,619sqm and has a 61.5 metre frontage to High Street Road. According to plans advertised with City of Monash, the project's complexion will be a mixture of glazing and metal cladding. Bronze, pale grey charcoal and white elements will define the building's look.

Cera Stribley Architects are also the design force behind another PACE development under construction, namely Pace of Northcote.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_9054.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Making way for Pace of Doncaster East"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_9054.jpg?itok=aHyVHrx1" title="Making way for Pace of Doncaster East" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Making way for Pace of Doncaster East</figcaption></figure>PACE Development Group's stable of current projects has expanded into virgin suburbs in recent times.

Mount Waverley joins Collingwood, Abbotsford, Doncaster East, Brunswick and Northcote as suburbs in which PACE has a current development interest. All six current projects also represent PACE's first foray into the respective suburbs, and a marked departure from the inner South East where PACE effectively served its development and construction apprenticeship.

With the recent commencement of works at Pace of Doncaster East, this brings to four the number of PACE projects under construction. The remaining projects at construction include Pace of Collingwood, Pace of Northcote and 808 Sydney Road.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_9847.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Looming large over Sydney Road"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="395" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_9847.jpg?itok=Y3lIQ-kw" title="Looming large over Sydney Road" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Looming large over Sydney Road</figcaption></figure>
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PACE push further into Melbourne's suburban apartment belt

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There's news for Pace Development Group across a variety of fronts.

Firstly, the prolific developer has taken the 2016 Property Development Award at the Australian Property Industry (API) Excellence in Property Awards. St Kilda's 'The Icon' building was granted the citation as part of the event which recognises innovation and outstanding achievement s across the property industry.

Held last Friday evening, the award results from the deliberations of a group of property leaders which critically assessed all entries in their individual fields. The Icon landed the overall Property Development Award on the evening.

<blockquote>
Like any challenging design statement, The Icon created a sense of apprehension initially within the locally community, however with Pace’s expertise in the area, together with architects Jackson Clements Burrows (JCB) and local artist Matthew Johnson – the final result is truly stunning.
One we should all be proud of.
<cite>Michael Holah, Head of Planning and Design, Pace Development Group</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6177_0_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="St Kilda's 'The Icon'"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6177_0_0.jpg?itok=2B2PXPMz" title="St Kilda's 'The Icon'" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>St Kilda's 'The Icon'</figcaption></figure>Now in its 22nd year of operation, Pace Development Group is powering ahead with its development pipeline.

With George Windsor and St Kilda's 181 Fitzroy Street all but complete, construction has commenced on Pace of Northcote. In excess if 60% of the initial stage has sold, allowing Pace of Northcote to progress from sales release to construction in little more than a few weeks.

The developer's Northcote pursuit is joined by Pace of Doncaster East and 808-818 Sydney Road which are both at sales, while Ode St Kilda is also at construction. This quartet is set to deliver approximately 320 new apartments across four separate suburbs.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image73_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A revised 247-259 Johnston Street. Planning image: SJB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="345" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image73_3.jpg?itok=XZ5pksL1" title="A revised 247-259 Johnston Street. Planning image: SJB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A revised 247-259 Johnston Street. Planning image: SJB Architects</figcaption></figure>In related news, Pace Development Group's intended residential project at 247-259 Johnston Street, Abbotsford has gone back to Council with a revised scheme.

City of Yarra are now displaying the updated plans which carry an estimated development cost of $45 million. Gone is an earlier scheme for an 18 level tower, with a smaller tower installed in order to respond to the official feedback received from Council's independent Urban Designers. Greater setbacks to Johnston Street and Stafford Street have also been included.

At 12 levels, Pace Development Group is pushing to realise 148 apartments across the project, comprising of 66 x 1 bedroom, 7 x 1 bedroom plus study, 69 x 2 bedroom, 1 x 2 bedroom plus study and 5 x 3 bedroom options.

247-259 Johnston Street along with Collingwood's 73-77 Wellington Street form the backbone of Pace Development Group's future projects stock.
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Pace scores a gong, and looks to score with City of Yarra

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Freshly lodged with City of Yarra, Abbotsford's 247-249 Johnston Street is back in the spotlight with Pace Development Group endeavouring to gain approval for a 14 level residential building.

Although shorter than a failed proposal by the previous developer Abbotsford JV Pty Ltd to gain approval for a residential building onsite, the current 247-249 Johnston Street if approved would still stand as one of the suburbs tallest buildings. Pace Development Group secured the development site during early 2015 and had initially <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/a-test-of-wills-looms-over-a-prime-abbotsford-development-site">gone to Council requesting a 19 level residential tower</a>.

With the current application lodged four weeks ago, Yarra City Council will not decide upon the merits of the application until at least the end of March.

<h2>247-249 Johnston Street application summary</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image77_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of the new streetscape. Image by SJB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="339" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image77_0.jpg?itok=Afcft6h9" title="Artist's impression of the new streetscape. Image by SJB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of the new streetscape. Image by SJB Architects</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Application submitted February 2016</li>
	<li>Onsite commercial buildings include St Crispin House, over a site area of 2,300sqm</li>
	<li>Proposed 14 level buildings @ 48.84 metres</li>
	<li>167 apartments: 68 x 1BR, 7 x 1BR+S, 85 x 2BR, 2 x 2BR+S, 5 x 3BR</li>
	<li>3 level basement incorporating 214 parking spaces, 205 bicycles and 193 storage spaces</li>
	<li>2 ground floor retails spaces of 153.7sqm and 450sqm</li>
	<li>Communal amenities include pool, BBQ area, deck, lounge/dining space and landscaped area</li>
	<li>Nominal project cost: $45 million</li>
</ul>
<h2>Height and heritage</h2>

A previous proposal for 247-249 Johnston Street landed at VCAT during 2012, and although unsuccessful the current development team have taken queues from that case in order to aid their planning application.

Rejected for differing reasons at 17 levels, the current proposal calls for 14 levels where council have nominated 8-10 levels as their preferred outcome under the <a href="http://file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/JOHNSTON_STREET_LAP_ADOPTED_2015.pdf">Johnston Street Local Area Plan</a> which was adopted during December 2015. Urbis have noted within the current town planning report that "these are heights and street setbacks as guidelines only, with the primary goal being to achieve the design objectives."

In addition VCAT at the time found that “there would be no unreasonable amenity impacts resulting from a tall building (whether it be 11, 14-16 or 17 storeys)” at 247-249 Johnston Street, perhaps indicating that a building of 14 levels for height purposes alone would be acceptable.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image79_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Expected Stafford Street interface. Image by SJB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="305" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image79_1.jpg?itok=aZG3uaIG" title="Expected Stafford Street interface. Image by SJB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Expected Stafford Street interface. Image by SJB Architects</figcaption></figure>The existing St. Crispin House facade and other heritage elements within the 1923-built building are to be partly retained and incorporated under the new design with between 2.5 to 5.5 metres setbacks in place behind the retained facade.

Designated as having local historical and aesthetic/architectural significance, St. Crispin House falls under Heritage Overlay (HO410) and as such requires that prior to any demolition being green lighted the proposal needs to “demonstrated that the removal of part of the building or works does not negatively affect the significance of the place.”

To the rear of the site and Stafford Street will host a stand-alone five level residential building on what is now a warehouse in a separate structure to the mid-rise building.

<h2>Northern exposure</h2>

247-249 Johnston Street represents a strengthening of Pace Development Group's activities north of the Yarra after reeling off a string of residential projects in bayside Melbourne. Mentone, Windsor and St Kilda have accounted for nine individual projects in recent years with Evo at 107-115 Manningham Street, Parkville their sole project north of Melbourne's CBD.

The Abbotsford proposal joins existing Collingwood and Brunswick projects with the three producing roughly 360 dwellings for the developer.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image80_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fieldwork Projects have created 808 Sydney Road. Image by 4D Studio"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="315" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image80_0.jpg?itok=xCHB0eL7" title="Fieldwork Projects have created 808 Sydney Road. Image by 4D Studio" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>808 Sydney Road. Image by 4D Studio</figcaption></figure>With Pace Development Group's website suggesting 247-249 Johnston Street is expected to launch in the second half of 2016, it joins 808 Sydney Road with that project accounting for 1/3 of available apartments since its launch during February. This follows a successful campaign by CBRE City Sales which saw the 2,023sqm development site sold during 2015.

Pace Development Group have slated demolition for June with excavation/construction to commence on 808 Sydney Road directly thereafter.
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Pace of Abbotsford

Sales Status

Bedrooms

Residences

Year completed

Development information for Pace of Abbotsford

Meet the team behind Pace of Abbotsford

Location of Pace of Abbotsford

News about Pace of Abbotsford

Pace Development Group win Master Builders Victoria award for Pace of Abbotsford

Q+A with Pace's new development manager Georgia Willis

Pace of Abbotsford gains approval and eyes a 2017 construction start

PACE push further into Melbourne's suburban apartment belt

Pace scores a gong, and looks to score with City of Yarra

Pace Development Group ups the ante on Johnston Street

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