Stackers Replace Carparks in Updated Melbourne Plans

The new owner of a South Melbourne site earmarked for an office tower has wasted no time filing amended plans for the project.

Dimitrios Tzouvelis’ company, Jukes Pty Ltd, has filed the plans for the 351sq m site at 135-137 Market Street.

He bought the site from Vincent and Eustachio Lanza in March this year in a sale managed by Oliver Hay, Daniel Wolman, Tom Isaksson and Leon Ma of Colliers International.

The site had a prior development approval for two basement levels, seven office levels and the use of the site for motor repairs, offices and a caretaker’s house. 

The permit was extended until July 21, 2022, but the Lanzas opted to sell.

Point Architects has designed the amended plans put forward by Jukes. 

The amendments remove the basement levels and the associated carparking spaces and introduce car stackers on the ground floor for 16 vehicles along with end-of-trip facilities. 

There will be eight bicycle spaces for staff and three for visitors on the ground floor.

The building remains at seven floors but balcony locations on floors three to five have been relocated.

The caretaker’s quarters have been removed and replaced with office space from floor six up.

The ground floor will also have office space that has frontage to Market Street while a mezzanine level has been removed. The lift and stairs for levels one to six will be relocated as well.

▲ The previous owners had approval for a motor repair facility, offices and two basement levels for parking on the site.

The site is near the South Melbourne Market, Aldi, Spotlight among other major stores and landmarks in the suburb. 

It is also close to the South Melbourne Light Rail Station and several bus routes. 

While other Melbourne CBD fringe suburbs have recorded investment primarily in office tower developments, South Melbourne has experienced a variety of large projects recently. 

Phillipe Starck’s first Australian Nu by YOO hotel is set to be built in South Melbourne as is a boutique apartment complex on a site Mirvac bought from the Slade knitwear family.

Fortis has also recently won approval for a $50-million office project in South Melbourne.