First look exclusive: Citinova plot multi-tower development in Fishermans Bend
Melbourne developer Ross Pelligra is set to take on one of his largest projects to date, lodging plans for a huge multi-stage precinct in Melbourne's growing Fishermans Bend precinct.
Having worked extensively with the Fishermans Bend Precinct and the City of Melbourne over the last 18 months, development manager Citinova has proposed a four-tower development that will bring over 1000 apartments to the chronically undersupplied Melbourne market.
One of the towers will be dedicated build-to-sell, while there will be more build-to-sell apartments in tower two that will also home 200 hotel rooms and extensive amenity.
Tower three will be a commercial office tower, that may be suit a co-working provider, and tower four will be build-to-rent apartments. All the towers will be linked by a podium that will feature vibrant laneways with an arts and culture hub, retail tenancies and an urban grocer.
The five-stage project will also include an unencumbered 3,075 sqm public open space.
The 1.77-hectare site at 99-109 Lorimer Street, Australia's flagship Subaru dealership at the gateway to Fishermans Bend, was secured in 2021.
Since then the stakeholders have been in planning mode, commissioning Architectus to put the designs together for the towers which will be connected by a raised podium. The main residential tower will have 452 apartments and tower two, shared with the hotel, will have 244.
Citinova Director Nathan Minicozzi said since the proposal was submitted, they've received positive feedback from the council.
"There are considerably more stakeholders for precincts of this size and scale," Minicozzi says.
"You're not just going to council and submitting plans for a new development. Before you get to that stage you've spent 12 months working with the Fishermans Bend Taskforce, the DELWP, and the City of Melbourne Council, as well as their design team, to work out best practices and what will be the best project for the site."
Minicozzi says there's a lot of front-end work with these types of developments, but that allows designs to evolve and consistent feedback to be given throughout the process.
"It's almost like a pre-lodgement meeting where you're squaring off any concerns before submission, which should translate into a better proposal, a higher quality project, and a speedier approval process."
Landscape architect Mala Studio has been part of the design, as have planning consultants Tract.
The development will connect to the Yarra River and expand on Melbourne’s “Green Spine” with landscaped pedestrian and cycling links, creating a new neighbourhood green hub for Lorimer Street.
Architectus says the project has been designed as a "cohesive 'family' of towers."
"Each building will still have a unique identity and scale-shaped by its use and siting," they said.
"Materials and textures will take inspiration from the precinct’s industrial and maritime origins.
"Staggered and oriented toward the site’s southern boundary, the towers will integrate seamlessly with the evolving Fishermans Bend skyline while minimising overshadowing to adjacent green spaces."