A new cinema, supermarket and shops topped by a nursing home and more than 200 apartments will be built in the centre of Footscray under a $70 million plan approved by Maribyrnong council.
An application for 235 apartments in two towers soaring up to 19 storeys for 14 Albert Street, submitted last year, was scaled down in a bid to gain planning approval at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
Banco Group’s revised proposal for the 4776 square metre former Forges department store site reduces the height from 19 storeys to 15 storeys and cuts the number of apartments to 202, including 125 one-bedroom dwellings and 77 two-bedroom dwellings.
It retains plans for a 120-room nursing home, medical centre, six-screen cinema, restaurant, supermarket, bar and specialty shops.
The existing building, carpark and sky bridge over Albert Street would be demolished to make way for construction of a 15 and 12-storey building with two levels of basement carparking.
A total of five objections were received, objecting to the building height and the podium design.
The proposal includes 348 car spaces, the developer seeking a reduction of 14 spaces from the statutory requirements.
The former Forges department store has stood vacant since November 2008. Council officers have recommended the project be approved, provided a number of conditions are met.
The proposal comes as councillors also consider a separate application for the former Binks Ford site at 34 Cowper Street. The $100 million project at the corner of Hopkins and Cowper Street proposes 412 townhouses and apartments across four precincts ranging from three to 10 storeys.
The proposal would provide 208 car spaces, a shortfall of 111 compared to the statutory requirements.
A planning forum held in March heard concerns about parking, open space, impact on heritage and a lack of three-bedroom dwellings. The proposal received unanimous councillor support after officers recommended the project be approved.
