Plans have been filed for a retirement and aged-care “vertical village” capped with a rooftop garden and infinity pool on the site of an inner-city Brisbane RSL clubhouse.
Targeting the rapidly rising ranks of ageing baby boomers, it has been designed to meet an urgent need for aged-care stock as well as increasing demand for more contemporary and non-traditional forms of seniors living.
The lodgement of the 18-storey integrated proposal comes two years after Bolton Clarke’s $10-million-plus acquisition of the 2693sq m site at 20 Harries Road, Coorparoo.
It was bought in a leaseback deal from the Coorparoo RSL sub-branch, which had owned the property for 60 years.
With its ageing clubhouse needing extensive work, the prime holding at the junction of Harries Road and Holdsworth Street within Coorparoo’s shopping precinct was put on the block with a view to securing the club’s future.
Bolton Clarke is the not-for-profit residential aged-care banner of RSL Care and the Royal District Nursing Service, which merged in 2015 and have filed the development application.
Under the plans submitted to the Brisbane City Council, the development would comprise 197 accommodation units, including 110 independent living apartments, 27 assisted living units and 60 residential care facility rooms.
As well, it would feature 212 carparking spaces and an activated ground level with a cafe and other retail-commercial spaces for the use of future residents and the public.
The Conrad-Gargett designed scheme incorporates a five-storey podium topped by two 13-storey towers connected via glazed pedestrian hallways embellished with planters that create a green spine.
According to an architectural statement, the development is designed to “appear as a cohesive group of buildings each with their own individual character”.
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The proposal also includes indoor and outdoor communal and recreational spaces throughout the two towers as well as a rooftop garden with infinity pool, sun-lounge deck, kitchen, meeting room an indoor and outdoor dining areas.
“Overall, the proposal provides a one-of-a-kind contemporary, integrated residential aged-care and retirement living community,” a submitted planning assessment report said.
“Proposed redevelopment of the site is in response to an identified community and economic need for greater housing diversity within Brisbane, specifically providing housing to allow ‘ageing in place’.”
It noted the retirement and aged-care initiative launched by Brisbane City Council in 2016 had identified the community and economic need to increase retirement and aged-care housing options in Brisbane by 50 per cent by 2027.
The Coorparoo catchment is forecast to have about 55,533 residents aged 65 and over by 2041, an increase of 76.4 per cent of the current aged population.
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Based on the area’s projected ageing population and supply, a cited needs assessment report by aged-care industry consultants O’Hara Wells indicated the catchment faced a shortfall of at least 3600 retirement dwellings and 983 aged-care beds by 2041.
The report also identified that the baby boomer market had a higher expectation for non-traditional forms of seniors living and care.
“The overwhelming desire of older Australians to remain in their local community and their home was fundamental to Bolton Clarke’s decision to develop a vertical retirement and aged care community,” the DA said.
“Of the existing and proposed residential care offerings, this proposal … is the only development delivering an integrated care choice allowing residents to age in place.
“Without this development the local Coorparoo community will be unable to meet the expectations of its elderly residents.”
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