Social Housing redevelopment North Melbourne

16 May 2024

Re: replacing whole housing commission estates, here’s an example in North Melbourne, on Abbotsford Street – a triangular block that was cleared of old housing in the 60s (possibly mainly timber cottages), and replaced with two storey apartment blocks zigzagging across the site with lawn and some trees between. Possibly the idea was to have a lower density. Those 112 flats now being replaced by 294, with 127 social homes managed by Housing First. So not much of an increase, and a denser development of 6 floors. I think pics 1,2 are the for sale blocks facing Abottsford Street, going to look rather massive. Pic 3 is the social housing, which is set back from Haines Street behind for sale townhouses. Both the private and public parts designed by @mcbridecharlesryan, I think. The whole is being built by @mab_residential, the townhouses on Haines Street sold already, nearly complete. I think the model here is the usual low cost to govt, who are only responsible for tenant relocation and demotion, developer funds the rest. Rather oddly couldn’t find any plans or even good images of what’s being built. Planning included a new school, with some implied park area, but apparently there was no coordination, so not only no a circle of grass instead of a park, but the school building itself overshadows some of the the north facing social housing. The school was designed by @armarchitecture, and opened last year. So many developments everywhere of all sorts, though the headlines lately are about a development slowdown.