By Benjamin Millar
Conversion of the abandoned Club Edgewater project in Maribyrnong into residential apartments could begin within weeks after developer Ninety Four Feet revealed its plans to transform the site.
The residential development at 31 Edgewater Boulevard Maribyrnong, dubbed Esen Apartments, will feature 94 one, two and three-bedroom apartments built above a childcare centre, medical suites and other retail space.
The 5100 square-metre site has remained in limbo since 2015, when the Western Bulldogs walked away from their half-built $30 million pokies and entertainment venue after a falling out with the site’s owner.
Nearby residents labelled the concrete shell left at the site an eyesore and safety risk, raising concerns about illegal activities and rubbish dumping.
Later plans for a 10-storey hotel and apartment complex fell through and the property was sold for a reported $9.5 million to Hamilton Marino Builders and Ninety Four Feet, the developer behind the recently completed Frankie apartment project in Yarraville.
The Esen project will retain and retrofit the existing four-level shell as a podium, adding a further two residential levels.
Ninety Four Feet sales manager Lucas Giannotti said people would soon see renewed construction activity at the site, with an anticipated completion date of early 2021.
“We’re excited about the site, we’re looking to get confidence back into it again,” he said. “The site is an island site, it’s got a podium and there will be amazing setbacks for the top apartments and terraces all the way around.”
Mr Giannotti said there had been strong early interest from locals in the area looking to downsize.
“At the opening weekend in our showroom, it was all owner-occupiers,” he said.
“We have just finished Frankie in Yarraville and we are looking forward to getting into building on this site.”
