A $55 million accommodation tower described as “student housing on steroids” was approved unanimously by a state development panel last night, clearing the way for one of Fremantle’s most unique housing models yet.
The six-storey building on Queen Victoria Street, set to replace a long-standing open-air car yard, was given the green light at the Metro Inner Joint Development Assessment Panel meeting on Thursday night.
The building is on the corner of Queen Victoria and James Street.Credit: Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel
The new-age development, by real estate investor Marprop Pty Ltd, includes 119 “co-living” apartments, 83 hotel rooms, and shared amenities such as a pool, cinema, gym, sauna and restaurant.
Marprop representative James Theodore told the meeting the project was designed to provide flexible, medium-term housing.
“Australia is in a housing crisis. There’s a desperate need for dwellings,” he told the panel.
“We’re able to offer three months to three years of living… in everything from studios to three-bedroom units.”
The panel backed the plan despite almost 40 community submissions, many warning the transient living model would attract party-goers and fuel noise and crime concerns.
Other nearby residents raised women’s-safety fears in shared spaces, arguing strong security and on-site management would be essential.
Theodore said more than half of the accommodation was expected to be taken up by AUKUS staff who would spend part of their time living on a ship or submarine.
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