South Yarra's fourth hotel in development unveiled
Apartments have seemingly taken a back seat in South Yarra as developers look to cash in on Melbourne's buoyant hotel sector.
Latest to the trend is LK Property Group who are seeking to usurp their already approved residential tower scheme on Claremont Street with a 294-room hotel tower. If successful 35-41 Claremont Street would join three other prospective hotels within South Yarra, which combined could add as many as 711 new hotel suites to the suburb.
LK Property Group's about-face for the 1,446 square metre site follows on from the previous Artisan Architects-designed scheme gaining approval during December 2016. It was to have included 121 apartments.
The developer pulled the trigger on the redesign mid-year, enlisting Rothelowman for the new hotel's design. Submitted during August, the project carries a build value of $65 million.
Expected is a twenty-two storey hotel building above a single basement level encompassing 20,083 square metres of gross floor area. A lounge, meeting rooms, restaurant, gym and rooftop bar are among the design's listed amenities.
In advancing plans for a hotel, LK Property Group will for the first time move away from a residential outcome.
The unveiling of a new 35-41 Claremont Street follows hot on the heels of two new hotels announcing themselves over recent weeks. Most recently Argo Group has listed 230 Toorak Road for sale, complete with approval for 93 hotel suites.
Designed by Woods Bagot, the scheme replaces developer Cranecorp's earlier plans for 25 luxury apartments across the site.
Alfasi Property Development has also entered the fray, planning a 150-room, 4.5-star international hotel at 2-10 River Street. JLL Metropolitan Sales handled the sale of the 2,116 square metre site recently, resulting in Alfasi rolling out their first hotel development.
Carr Design Group have handled the project's architecture, describing the outcome as "consisting of a two-level podium which creates a dramatic contrast. Clad in a dark metallic materiality with a structural form defined by sheer blades and articulated planes, the effect is of solidity, strength and rigorous detailing forming the base from which the suites sit lightly above."
Rounding out South Yarra's quartet of hotels in waiting is Starwood Hotel and Resort's commitment to 402 Chapel Street. Expected to open during 2019 as part of a larger mixed-use development, Starwood will brand the 176-room hotel component under its Aloft banner.
