BENDIGO civic leaders have approved a bold $3 million development that could transform an inner city building.The corner of Mitchell and Mollison streets will be redeveloped into a retail, office and residential complex that features a perforated metal veil outside the facade.Developer Scott Jackman said the development would maintain the original facade and demolish the rest of the building.He said the veil would ensure the building had a consistent appearance despite having three visually different levels.
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The view from the top of the building. Picture: SUPPLIED
Mr Jackman said medium-density living and retail opportunities should be a priority in the inner city. “The population forecasts show Bendigo will have another 40,000 people in the next 20 to 30 years and it appears that we are very much on track to exceed that,” he said.“I think it is a good idea that we don’t spread out the CBD. It’s critical for vertical development and we have got to have houses that meet the demand of people who want to live close to work and transport.“There are so many historic buildings and if you take out those buildings that can never be developed, we are going to have a growing population but not a lot of opportunities to develop.”Mr Jackman is also behind a proposed retail, office and residential development in Wills Street.
The Mollison Street entrance. Picture: SUPPLIED
That development is still before council.The ground floor of the Mitchell Street development would have four retail spaces. The first floor would have two tenancies for office space.The upper level would have four residential apartments, two with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms. A new entry in Mollison Street will be the access for the apartments. Mr Jackman said it was important developments had multiple uses.“There are purpose-built buildings like First Choice Liquor and Dan Murphy’s. If those businesses decide to pull out, those buildings are not that readily adapted,” he said.“So (our) sort of design can have any number of different possibilities and it is flexible to be adjusted over time.”The development includes six parking spaces for the residential properties and the council endorsed a car park waiver for the retail and office spaces.There was one objection to the development and the objector has 28 days to appeal the council’s decision.Mr Jackman said he hoped the apartments would go on sale off the plan in March if there was no appeal.He said the developers were yet to finalise designs and prices but were accepting expressions of interest through DCK. Councillor James Reade told Wednesday’s council meeting that the development was what Bendigo needed.“I think that if we get caught up on car parking it sends the wrong message to developers,” he said.“It will really embrace and wake the CBD up.”Mr Jackman praised the council and said leaders were sending the right signals about development in Bendigo.“The council, from our point of view, by and large is really good to deal with because they have spent a lot of time and money creating a clear vision that they have articulated to developers,” he said.“Our design is in response to them putting out their vision.”
