Melbourne's Moreland City Council has given Neometro the green light to proceed with its comprehensive renewal plan to activate a key urban industrial site.
Located near the intersection of Sydney Road and Brunswick Street, Jewell Station will be remodelled into a high-quality urban village, bringing together commercial uses, community activities and social enterprises.
Designed to provide energy and life to the wider community, Jewell Station will create a benchmark for future urban renewal projects while enhancing the vibrancy of Brunswick.
Neometro was awarded the contract to develop the site by the state’s rail asset owner VicTrack, as part of a push to rejuvenate infrastructure and activate the station precinct. The plan includes demolishing two derelict industrial buildings and reconstructing residential buildings within their footprint while enhancing the public space in between.
The comprehensive $70 million mixed-use project located 5km north of Melbourne’s CBD, incorporates residential apartments, social enterprise, bike paths, community garden space, outdoor art and performance areas.
The redevelopment will improve the connectivity and use of the area, upgrading the public amenities and accessibility to the popular Capital City cycle trail and Jewell Train Station.
Neometro founder and director Jeff Provan says as a medium-density project, Jewell Station will activate a key inner-city area providing essential vibrancy and multi-use community facilities.
“Melbourne’s un-activated industrial areas are a vital asset to this city and are key to addressing housing needs and community requirements within close proximity of the CBD,” Mr Provan says.
“Sensitively-designed projects with high quality and functional community amenities are critical to today’s market that is driven by well-informed buyers with exceptional community awareness. They want to live in beautifully-designed apartments that go far beyond four walls and a roof.
“By converting these spaces into activated areas it’s not just the residents, buyers or investors who benefit, but the entire community.”
The two contemporary residential buildings will include 122 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with interiors by Clare Cousins Architects and be released in stages before June this year.
VicTrack’s General Manager Property, Ben Needham says the development will revitalise the area around the station while providing new public spaces for commuters and the community.
“Working with the private sector, we are bringing station precincts to life and creating more vibrant transport hubs that add value to communities and the transport portfolio,” Mr Needham says.
“Our station precinct developments make the most of land no longer needed for transport, and by placing retail and residential buildings next to stations we are reducing people’s reliance on their cars.”
Image from Victrack.com.au
