[APP] 108 Franklin Street | 74m | 23 Levels | Hotel and Apartments

[Mpol02]

The previous design was a lot nicer. More dumbing down for Adelaide

[phenom]

Congrats to indaily for doing their best impression of AdelaideNow trying to stir up the crazies. Including a photo of the 1914 (but not heritage listed and unused) bar and calling it 'the site' isn't designed to be provocative at all. Classic, look at us replacing this cute little pub with a monstrous tower tactic:

As the actual address might suggest, 108-112A isn't one parcel of land - it's clearly 4 from the application. The largest part of the site is crumbling warehouse and this stunning bit of architecture below:

Maybe in an ideal world the frontage of the pub would be retained for some interest but that entire block is atrocious. I live nearby and this is not a very 'active' part of the city despite being in the 'busy' part of the CBD.

[AAA]

This is on the agenda of upcoming SCAP meeting, with design revised to 22 levels apartments and 18 levels hotel

[AAA]

Renders from SCAP reports

[Mpol02]

Eh now that this will be what 70-85 meters, the design and overall appeal is a lot less. More of the same. At least its something...

[Dvious]

It isn't a masterpiece, but certainly miles better than the previous proposal/renders.

[dbl96]

Nothing exceptional, but its a good filler. Put it in context - this whole area of the city is going to see massive change over the next few years, and it’s just going to be one part of that.

It looks like there will be decent street activation too, extending up the side streets, not just Franklin St, which is good.

Auta have done a good job with the Victoria Tower, and there was very little of the dilly-dallying that typically goes on with large developments like these, despite what the naysayers were claiming at the time. Let’s hope that they can carry that through to this project.

[HiTouch]

A solid 7/10

[Smithy84]

Planning approval granted.

[Ben]

From The Advertiser:

Victoria Tower build reaches highest point as developers plan next high-rise project


Giuseppe Tauriello

April 16, 2025 - 4:32PM

Construction of Adelaide’s fourth tallest tower has reached its highest point, as its developer closes in on an international hotel operator to anchor its next high-rise project at the former Publishers Hotel site.

A topping out ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark completion of the top floor of the $200m Victoria Tower apartment project, rising 38 levels and 120m at the former La Boheme site opposite the Market Square development on Grote St.

Developed by Auta Group and built by Synergy Construct, the tower features 289 apartments – including penthouses across the top two levels – and eight levels of commercial office space.

Auta Group managing director James Guo said more than 90 per cent of the apartments had been sold, and the developer was now ready to press ahead with its next project at the former Publishers site on nearby Franklin St.

“Interest in Victoria Tower Adelaide has certainly met our expectations because world-class inner-city living is becoming increasingly attractive to the market and is now realisable in Adelaide,” he said.

“Our next project in Franklin St will be revealed in the second quarter of this year and will be another milestone development in the Adelaide CBD, as it will offer the high quality mix of an international hotel brand new to the Adelaide market, as well as commercial and residential space.”

Auta Group is in talks with international hotel operators to anchor its Franklin St project, and expects to make an announcement about its chosen brand in the second quarter of this year.

The project, which secured planning approval in November, will feature two towers rising above a shared podium, with the 21-level northern tower comprising around 175 apartments and the southern tower to become home to a 246-key hotel across 17 storeys.

Apartments will be launched onto the market later this year, and there will also be a mix of offices and retail spaces.

Mr Guo said the project would be inspired by the ‘Japandi’ interior design style that blends Japanese and Scandinavian design influences, with the hotel catering largely to business travellers and featuring a bar, swimming pool, restaurants and gym.

“Each apartment will be designed with meticulous attention to detail and will balance aesthetics with functionality,” he said.

Victoria Tower – which is now Adelaide’s fourth tallest building behind the Crowne Plaza and Realm Adelaide apartment buildings in the city’s East End, and the RAA Place office tower on King William St – is expected to be completed towards the end of this year.

[Mpol02]

Is that for this site??

[mgb]

There was word around in the past few weeks that an application will be going in to council to remove the existing building next month. From that article I'm guessing that will be dependant on them finding a hotel operator to sign on to the development.