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Lucent’s new Brunswick East project granted DA.

Melbourne-based property developer, Lucent, has received development approval from the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for its 269 Stewart Street multi-residential development in Brunswick East. The developer has been given the ‘go-ahead’ to build 69 new apartments across six levels, comprising 6,178 square metres of residential space, in addition to 104 square metres for an office and a 315 square metre retail tenancy. The development, to be known as The Stewart Collective, has been architecturally designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke with interiors by Austin Maynard Architects.

The sun shines on Brunswick East's new solar multi-residential project

Apartment living should not limit residents from accessing the benefits of solar energy, says Lucent. The first of its kind available in the area, the project - The Stewart Collective - has seen Lucent partner with Allume Energy to provide selected residences in Brunswick East a connection to a shared solar system. Approximately 20 per cent of residences will have access to Allume Energy’s SOLSHARE system which allows users to share a single solar system on their common roof. Lucent is the first boutique developer to offer the world-first technology. At a glance: - Approximately 20 per cent of residences will have access to the...

Solar energy comes to new multi-residential project in Brunswick East

Apartment dwellers in Melbourne’s inner-north will soon be able to access the benefits of solar energy in a new Brunswick East development by Lucent. The first of its kind available in the area, the project, named The Stewart Collective, has seen Lucent partner with Allume Energy to offer selected residences a connection to a shared solar system. Approximately 20 per cent of residences will have access to Allume Energy’s SOLSHARE system which allows users to share a single solar system on their common roof. Lucent is the first boutique developer to offer the world-first technology

South Yarra dream home: stylish pad lies behind unassuming facade

A design by acclaimed architecture firm Jackson Clements Burrows that’s both beautiful and liveable is set to draw buyers to this inner-city pad.

Why summer is the best time to buy a spot in Victoria’s snowfields

In the sweltering summer, skiing is the last thing on anyone’s mind. But it’s the best time to snap up a cool deal in Victoria’s high country. Serious investors who search the alps at the beginning of summer are likely to find a bargain. Not only are they competing with fewer buyers, but they stand to benefit from sellers keen to offload their properties before Christmas.

Melbourne Developer Launches Sustainable Apartments in Brunswick

Melbourne-based boutique developer Antipodean Land have launched a sustainable medium-density project in Brunswick, after winning approval earlier this year.

Balfe Park Lane presents a sustainable lifestyle

With 60 metres of park frontage, a new development in Brunswick East offers its residents access to a ‘big backyard’ lifestyle in the heart of the inner-city.

Development offers a ‘big backyard’ lifestyle in the heart of Melbourne

Balfe Park Lane, a brand new sustainable multi-residential development in Brunswick East, is set to offer future residents a chance at an elusive ‘big backyard’ lifestyle in the heart of the city.

Don’t treat developers as enemy: New York park expert

The overseer of New York’s burgeoning parklands has a message for Australian urban planners in the context of the intensifying debate about population growth and urban density: don’t treat property developers as the enemy.

Brunswick East Apartments Designed For Sustainable Living

Congratulations to Antipodean Land Developments and Kerstin Thompson Architects for this exceptionally designed six-storey mixed-use development, which was recently issued a planning permit directly by Moreland City Council in Victoria.

Balfe Park Lane Adds to KTA's Growing Housing Portfolio

Boutique developer Antipodean Land Developments is pushing ahead with its Balfe Park Lane project in Brunswick East. First covered on Urban.com.au in late June, Balfe Park Lane comprises an ensemble of four interconnected apartment buildings designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), located between Nicholson Street and Balfe Park.

St James delivers the best of prestigious Glen Iris

St James in Glen Iris has already had a highly successful run in a very competitive market. Local developer Werden Property Group has ensured larger apartments by creating only 22 residences within the project — an attribute that is highly attractive to anyone who appreciates privacy and a sense of open spaces. So far, the interest has come from 100% local buyers, all of whom are owner occupiers.

Antipodean Style: Another Design Sensitive Apartment Project for Brunswick East

The string of apartment-based planning applications with 'design excellence' at their core continues within Moreland City Council's boundaries. Already the heartland for the Nightingale series of apartment projects, other developers too have joined the push to realise sustainable, community-driven apartment developments in the municipality. Urban.com.au has in recent weeks covered Milieu's Brunswick development in waiting, in addition to Excelon's recent Sydney Road application.

House of the Week: Inside a hidden inner-city pad that’s like being in an urbane cocoon

For those of you playing along at home, you might have noticed that Richmond has been flavour of the month here of late. To be specific, Cremorne has been pinging on our property radar; to hone it even further, this little block, bordered by mighty Punt Road, Swan Street and the Yarra, has thrown up a couple of ripper pads recently.

7 questions for leading interior design studio Mim Design

You may have noticed that some of the most well-crafted apartments to launch to market lately boast interiors by renowned interior design studio Mim Design – we certainly have. So who better to shed light on the secrets to creating beautiful, modern apartments than Senior Interior Designer of Mim Design, Charlotte McGill?

Nightingale Seeks Scale, Licenses First Housing Project to Commercial Developer

Nightingale housing, which cuts out traditional developers and limits investor profit margin to 15 per cent, has licensed its first development to a commercial developer as it tries to work out how to expand the scale to its affordable housing model.

Ireland Brown named builder of Geelong 1 Apartments

Work is starting on an almost sold out $50 million-plus private residential development in the heart of Geelong. Ireland Brown Constructions has been named as the builder for Sinclair Brook’s urban development Geelong 1 Apartments. Preliminary work will start before Christmas with construction to be in full swing in the new year.

Mortgagee Auction

An 80 per cent complete, 21 apartment residential development in eastern Melbourne's Donvale will be auctioned next month in a mortgagee auction. Lender ASL is selling the project by Erfanian Developments at 148-150 Mitcham Road with a settlement time of 120 days, which sales agent John Castran said would give a buyer time to complete the project and settle apartment sales. He declined to give a firm price guide, but said a mortgagee sale in Doncaster in July sold for $330,000 per apartment and he hoped to beat that.

Nightingale Licenses Collaborative Model to Private Developer

Two separate development projects in Melbourne’s East Brunswick have combined in order to collectively adopt the Nightingale model.

Only 22 premium homes at St James in Glen Iris

St James is comprised of just 22 contemporary residences located in the premium, tree-lined suburb of Glen Iris.

John Castran

John Castran, 60, is widely respected as an authority on Australian alpine property values and development. His Castran Pty Ltd agency, founded almost 35 years ago, also specialises in the marketing of inner-Melbourne developments under the direction of his son Lachlan, but regularly features in major sales in the alpine areas.

Snow Storm

Seventeen of Australia's highest blocks of land at Mount Hotham - Dinner Plain have been auctioned. Another two are expected to go under contract. Agent John Castran confirmed 11 freehold blocks and six of 10 leasehold blocks sold from between $170,000 and $255,000. Bidders included developers the Grollo family. The land was sold by Merlin Entertainment Group, which owns the Hotham Alpine Resort.

Piste de Resistance

There might have been good early cover at Australian ski resorts this winter but recent chalet sales activity has been little more than a snow flurry. There is, however, keen interest in any luxury off the plan offering. Whitehorse Village at Mount Buller, a development by snow veterans the Grollo Group, ranks as the most exciting property project in the Australian Alps. Lorenzo Grollo, son of Rino and Diana Grollo, has been planning the $35 million development for the past decade. Whitehorse Village sits next to the Bourke St ski run in the area known as the Toorak of Mt Buller. And Castran Real Estate agent John Castran reckons the project...

Luxury Bay Retreat

Located on the shores of Victoria’s Gippsland Lakes, Bay House at Metung has sold for a record $2.8 million. The charming three-bedroom residence is on an 1888sq m block on Bancroft Bay, at the upper end of the town’s market. The Metung Road retreat, now with a makeover by Brownlow Interior Design, had been traded for $2.55 million in 2007, setting a record only bettered last year when another house on what’s known as Shaving Point sold for $2.62 million.

Mountain Scales New Heights

MELBOURNE’S booming property market has reached new heights this year, with the results flowing up to Mt Buller. Affectionately known as Melbourne’s mountain, the face of Mt Buller is changing with high sale prices and new developments. John Castran, of Melbourne-based estate agency Castran, said the mountain’s property market had been exciting this year, with high-income earners buying up big at the top end. Mr Castran said there had been $47 million worth of property sales on the mountain in the past 12 months, with some sales topping $3 million. “It is a direct reflection of the capital city prices as a result of the last 10 years of...

Alpine Chic

Set in “the most exclusive drive-in, ski-out village in Australia’s alps”, this metal-clad chalet overlooks the Bourke St ski slope. It features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area with a gas fireplace, which flows out to a terrace offering panoramic views of the valley.

Vast majority of G1 Apartment buyers are from Geelong with only 20 apartments left to sell

Geelong locals have jumped at the chance to buy luxury apartments in an inner-city $50 million private residential development. More than 80 per cent of the 110 apartment development, on the site of the old St Mary's school, has sold since the grand opening in September last year. G1 Apartments, a Sinclair Brook development, is the only one of its type in Geelong and the demand for that type of living is evident from the sales success.

Family dream - Persistence aplenty as couple nabs unfinished reno

Castran director John Castran said three sold, and negotiations were continuing with three parties for the fourth - an 8778sqm land holding at 21 Kalimna Jetty Rd, containing the Kalimna Hotel, which passed in at $1.9 million. A Chinese buyer snapped up a vacant 2050sqm site suitable for up to 12 dwellings at 47-51 The Esplanade in Paynesville for $405,000. Two Melbourne developers also bought two separate properties at 595 and 601 The Esplanade, Lakes Entrance, which offered 1579sqm of land between them. The former fetched $310,000 and the latter, $365,000. "More developers are moving into this area because sites are so expensive in Melbourne,"...

Tender won for alpine landmark

The state government has selected Richmond developer Ben Genser from a shortlist, which also included Rino Grollo, to develop what was marketed as “the most significant site ever offered in the Australian alps”. The Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board office occupies a 1905-square-metre plot acknowledged by the government in its tender last year as “universally regarded as the best location in Mount Hotham”. Elevated and abutting the Corall car park on its eastern boundary, the block at 28 Great Alpine Road is opposite Hotham Central, White Crystal Apartments and a short distance to the helipad and Road Runner chairlift.

Wellness centre / cancer clinic for Dinner Plain day spa

Meanwhile in nearby Dinner Plain, a Singaporean group has paid $4.8 million for a prestigious day spa at 125 Big Muster Drive. Upon lease expiry, the new owner plans to convert the alpine retreat on a 2040-square-metre block near the Mount Hotham airport into a high-end wellness centre/cancer clinic. The leasee, Merlin Entertainment, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, pays annual rent of nearly $830,000 on a lease expiring in 2022, with extension options.

Development next to CERES in Brunswick East has green cred

A Brunswick East project with fossil-fuel-free living at its heart has sold more than 20 per cent of its apartments in less than a week. Lucent Group managing director Panos Miltiadou said the Stewart Collective project would have an embedded energy network supplied with hydro electricity from Tasmania and no gas connections.