Kinnears and Victoria Square add to Footscray's construction upswing
Standing dormant for years, Kinnears Footscray has finally begun its transformation into a mixed-use precinct.
Builder LU Simon has initiated works on Stage One of the project, which will be known as L.I.V.E. City. Beating out other contractors such as Hutchinson and Hamilton Marino, LU Simon is tasked with delivering 208 apartments across 14 levels at the western most section of the massive 33,393 square metre site which is addressed 124-188 Ballarat Road.
Demolition works are in progress elsewhere across the site, gradually removing the structure that formerly housed the rope manufacturer. Architecture firm Elenberg Fraser are working on the master-planned precinct for developer R&F Property Australia.
Although a display suite onsite is ready, no public release of apartments has taken place as yet.
Meanwhile works across Growland's Victoria Square site have begun following a January approval to amended plans for the development.
Six buildings consisting of 900 plus apartments, offices and extensive retail space can proceed. The $600 million project now has excavators onsite preparing for a construction start.
Amendments to the Kavellaris Urban Design scheme included bumping apartment numbers up to 931, increasing commercial floor space to 6,012 square metres and boosting parking spaces within the development to 1075. Building heights were also marginally increased, with the tallest to stand at 25 storeys.
Stage One of Victoria Square includes the delivery of 161 single bedroom, 265 dual bedroom and 28 triple bedroom apartments across two towers.
With earthworks in progress, construction proper on Stage One of Victoria Square is slated to begin mid this year, with a completion target of 2020.
Either side of Victoria Square, construction is also in motion for two fellow Joseph Road Precinct projects. Blue Earth Group have initiated construction across 2 Hopkins Street, whilst Stage One of Riverina Footscray has recently topped out.
It will temporarily hold the title as Footscray's tallest residential tower until Victoria Square's first stage is completed. Future stages of Riverina will see two 31 level apartment towers also delivered.
