LaSalle Investment Management has submitted plans for a large $500 million redevelopment of the Valley Metro complex in the Fortitude Valley.
The new progressive redevelopment proposes a 30 storey residential tower on Alfred Street, a 24 storey office tower as well as active retail and hotel uses at ground level and new cross block links connecting the central retail common with surrounding streets.
Sitting on top of Fortitude Valley Station, the Valley Metro complex currently houses two vacant commercial buildings, a parking structure as well as retail outlets.
The project has been designed by architecture firm Architectus.
Masterplan
The DA stipulates that this is a ‘progressive redevelopment’ and has proposed a broader masterplan involving several sites skirting the existing Valley Metro complex.
According to the DA, the masterplan for the site seeks to lift the quality of the precinct and create a strong point of difference within the local market.
The design seeks to:
- Establish a powerful urban scale and identity, building on the site character
- Create a major urban attractant
- Build on special qualities of the location and the site, described in the Urban Analysis section of this report
The design therefore seeks to bring to the redevelopment contemporary interpretations of the Valley’s laneways, fine grain activities and frontages, walled architecture and rugged/ gritty quality. The design seeks to build on the centrality of the site as a major magnet, connecting people to trains and creating multiple ways through the site to enhance local and precinct wide pedestrian connectivity.
The masterplan has been developed around the following key themes:
- Enhancing Valley Lanes and Links
- Creating Valley Walls and Views
- Tower Forms as Urban Markers or “Flags”
Residential Tower
The proposed residential tower consists of 207 apartments located above two levels of retail totalling 380 sqm. 23 storeys of residential apartments are located above a 7 storey podium.
Residential Apartment Breakdown:
- x115 – One Bedroom Apartments
- x69 – Two Bedroom Apartments
- x23 – Three Bedroom Apartments
The tower’s level 30 rooftop is planned to be activated with informal gathering spaces, bbq areas and lawned areas. There is no apparent pool currently planned for the building.
Commercial Tower
The commercial office tower is proposed to reach 24 levels high and accomodate approximately 35,067 sqm of gross office floor area and 1,560 sqm of retail, food and drink.
The tower includes a rooftop terrace as part of leased office space.
Ground Plane & Urban Common
The redevelopment proposes to create new links into a revitalised central retail space with the hope of dramatically enhancing pedestrian permeability of the area which has recently seen an sharp rise in residential consolidation around Fortitude Valley Station.
Two new links are planned from Alfred Street into the central retail space as well as two pedestrian links to Alden Street which connects to Wickham Street. An additional internal retail link to the commercial tower is also planned.
Subropicality
In the development application, the architects highlight a few subtropical design elements that have been incorporated into the development including ‘Queenslander’ style partially enclosed balcony spaces for the residential apartments as well as extensive use of vertical greenery.
Landscape architects Lat27 have undertaken the landscape design works of the masterplanned project.
The DA number for this development is A004512158.
I think it needs to be greener. More space for trees and flowers and leafy walkways between the buildings
is this still happening?