RMIT BTR gets approval – and a warning
Image credit: RMIT
Earlier this month, the City of Melbourne approved the demolition of the RMIT Village in North Melbourne to make way for a 19-storey, student build-to-rent development.
But the approval came with a stern word from Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, who wasn’t impressed that a 5-year-old building would be demolished. In his words, ‘Taking a wrecking ball to a five-year-old building is wasteful and creates waste. We cannot let Melbourne become a city of disposable buildings.’
Planning representatives for site owner Centurion Australia Investment argued that a knockdown and rebuild was preferable to a retrofit, given the existing underutilisation of space, which Council accepted.
Centurion Australia Investments engaged Architectus and Metier3 to design the new building, comprising 644 apartments, 242 car parks, and 344 bicycle spaces. There will also be retail and medical facilities onsite.
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