Sensational-Adelaide.com

Citify lodges $150m plan to transform Buckingham Arms hotel site into apartment towers reaching 10 storeys high

Three interlinked apartment towers would transform the historic Buckingham Arms hotel site in Gilberton as part of a $150m proposal pitched by local developers.

Citify has lodged a development application for the project, featuring 180 apartments rising up to 10 storeys – including specialist disability accommodation and a small number of serviced apartments – atop retail shops on the ground floor.

Townhouses are earmarked for the northeastern corner of the 6200sq m site, while offices and commercial space are planned for a northern portion of the site off Northcote Tce.

The original heritage-listed hotel building would be revamped for hospitality and retail operators.

Citify managing director Joel Wilkinson said the project, to be called The Buckingham, would cater to a broad range of residents.

“The Buckingham presents a rare opportunity to deliver a vibrant mixed-use project in a prestigious location close to the city, parks, public transport, Walkerville town centre and North Adelaide,” he said.

“The design will include high-end residential properties reflecting the prestige of the location, but we intend on pricing many apartments for the first-home buyer market.

“We are also excited about revitalising the existing Buckingham Arms hotel building and providing a new destination for residents and the community by curating a dynamic hospitality and retail offering.”

The mixed-use project has been designed by architects Forum and Studio Gram, and will feature a central public plaza area.

Designed to be fully electric, the apartment building will offer rooftop solar, electric vehicle charging stations, 305 carparks and more than 100 bicycle bays.

Apartments will range from one-bedroom studios to four-bedroom luxury penthouse suites with views to the Adelaide Hills and the city.

Citify acquired the site from previous hotel operator, Matthews Hospitality, following the pub’s closure in June last year.

The historic pub opened for business around 1846 and was renowned for its smorgasbord introduced by the Matthews family in 1955.

Matthews Hospitality secured a rezoning of the sitelast year, enabling residential and mixed-use development of up to six storeys.

Citify’s development plans are expected to open for public consultation next week.

The project is expected to support up to 200 jobs during construction.

Citify has previously undertaken more than $140m worth of residential development across Adelaide, including subdivisions, townhouses and apartments.

It recently completed the eight-storey Botten & Bowser apartment building on Melbourne St in North Adelaide.

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:40 pm

Unfortunately I don't have high hopes for this one. If Park Royal at Kent Town can't get off the ground, which I argue is probably the prime site of all inner city parklands adjacent sites closest to the city - what hope is there that this one will?

Nathan wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 9:19 pm

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:40 pm

Unfortunately I don't have high hopes for this one. If Park Royal at Kent Town can't get off the ground, which I argue is probably the prime site of all inner city parklands adjacent sites closest to the city - what hope is there that this one will?

You're right. There's a good chance it's just a play to increase the value of the site. Whilst at a glance it seems like a great location, it's wedged within a fairly messy 5-way intersection, and it's quite an ordeal trying to cross from there to the parklands (6 separate crossings over 13 lanes of traffic). And that's to a much less desirable part of the parklands than Park Royal has close access to (NE corner of Lefevre Park vs Rundle Park and Botanic Garden).

Nathan wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 9:19 pm

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:40 pm

Unfortunately I don't have high hopes for this one. If Park Royal at Kent Town can't get off the ground, which I argue is probably the prime site of all inner city parklands adjacent sites closest to the city - what hope is there that this one will?

You're right. There's a good chance it's just a play to increase the value of the site. Whilst at a glance it seems like a great location, it's wedged within a fairly messy 5-way intersection, and it's quite an ordeal trying to cross from there to the parklands (6 separate crossings over 13 lanes of traffic). And that's to a much less desirable part of the parklands than Park Royal has close access to (NE corner of Lefevre Park vs Rundle Park and Botanic Garden).

Waz wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:49 pm

Nathan wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 9:19 pm

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 3:40 pm

Unfortunately I don't have high hopes for this one. If Park Royal at Kent Town can't get off the ground, which I argue is probably the prime site of all inner city parklands adjacent sites closest to the city - what hope is there that this one will?

You're right. There's a good chance it's just a play to increase the value of the site. Whilst at a glance it seems like a great location, it's wedged within a fairly messy 5-way intersection, and it's quite an ordeal trying to cross from there to the parklands (6 separate crossings over 13 lanes of traffic). And that's to a much less desirable part of the parklands than Park Royal has close access to (NE corner of Lefevre Park vs Rundle Park and Botanic Garden).

I lived across the road for three years, and it's actually not that bad. Also, if they put most entry for vehicles over on Walkerville terrac, I'd see it working ok.

As others have mentioned, no way the Walkerville council approves it, as it's still 1890 in Medindie and Gilberton.

SRW wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:54 pm

Under the new planning system, SCAP will assess this proposal not the Town of Walkerville.