Exclusive: Daniel Grollo seeks $75 million Chapel St, South Yarra mixed-use tower
The developer Daniel Grollo is back in the development game, trying to get a tower erected on the prime Chapel Street, South Yarra site he recently acquired.
Plans have been filed by GFM Investment Group, whose sole director is Daniel Grollo, of the collapsed building giant Grocon. It's a joint venture with the Melbourne High School, which is located next door to the site.
They are seeking to demolish a two-level warehouse building and create a 22-level tower at 671 Chapel Street, which will comprise a mix of apartments, retail, office and community space on the prime 2,069 sqm site.
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The site was previously subject to an earlier planning permit that sought approval for a 32-level mixed-use development.
Amended plans took saw 10 levels taken off, and the addition of a maternal and child health centre among other changes. But that was knocked by by VCAT in 2019, namely due to an overbearing presence on Melbourne High School due to the height, breadth, and materiality, including the proximity of the proposal to the boundary with MHS.
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The former plans by Architecton. Image credit: Architecton
The plans, filed by the fashion entrepreneur Harry Goles who was behind the collapse and subsequent rebirth of the fashion label Ojay, were given the green light by Stonnington Council in 2020, before VCAT again intervened.
But Grollo is now spearheading the project having acquired the vast 2,069 sqm site for just shy of $40 million, and plans a Bates Smart-designed tower with 160 apartments, a mix of 30 one-bedroom units, 91 two-bedders, 37 three-bedroom apartments, and just two penthouses. There will be a maximum of nine apartments per floor.
There will be three podium levels. Level two will home 1,264 sqm of office space, while the ground will have 272 sqm of retail space. There's a further 352 sqm reserved for education or community space, which is being developed in collaboration with MHS.
Level one will be where the resident amenity is located. That will include an indoor pool, gym, and communal and private lounge and dining spaces.
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The proposed tower second from the left. Image credit: Bates Smart
Contour Town Planning suggested the proposal would provide a new housing opportunity within a higher order activity centre, and at an intensity that contributes to placemaking, rengeration and formation of communities in highly accessible and advantaged locations.
"The proposed building will assist in creating an urban environment in this part of South Yarra that is safe, healthy, functional and enjoyable, and it will contribute to creating a sense of place.
They noted that a key issue for Stonnington is the need to provide for the projected population growth of the City by catering especially for smaller households.
"The proposal specifically addresses the need to provide accomodation and housing choice for these dominant demand groups including young people and smaller households."
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Jack Merlo has handled the landscaping which will create a connection between Chapel Street and the MHS main campus.
The project will be just a few doors down from Gamuda Land's completed 661 Chapel Street tower, and the Royal Como, another mixed use tower at 663 Chapel Street.
Immediately north of the site is a four-level brick building which forms part of the MHS Campus, while immediately south is the new Centre for Higher Education Studies facility, a four-level education building.
Grollo's Grocon, which has developed the likes of Eureka Tower, Rialto Towers and 101 Collins Street in the Victorian capital, collapsed in 2020, reportedly owing creditors over $100 million.
