Minister for Public Works, Housing and Racing Robert Schwarten today turned the sod on the Brisbane Housing Company's latest project at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village. Minister Schwarten joined Brisbane Housing Company Chairman, Kevin Seymour, on site to launch the $6 million complex which will see a mixture of one and two-bedroom units, studios and boarding house rooms.
Mr Schwarten said the 42 unit complex in Musk Avenue was one of four Brisbane Housing Company developments at the Urban Village for individuals and families on lower incomes.
"The unit complex has been designed by leading Brisbane architects Arkhefield to blend in with neighbouring buildings and meet the design guidelines for all developments at the Urban Village," he said.
"Construction is expected to be completed by May next year and will complement the 32 unit complex the Brisbane Housing Company already has underway at the Urban Village.
"The Brisbane Housing Company developments at the Urban Village will be spread throughout the 16 hectare site, and deliver around 150 units of affordable accommodation with construction on the final two projects expected to get underway by early next year."
Mr Schwarten said the $800 million Kelvin Grove Urban Village consists of a diverse mix of housing options, and educational, health, retail, recreational, community and business opportunities, in an exciting new precinct.
"This is a great location for the Brisbane Housing Company to invest. Residents will be close to the city, public transport, shops and other essential services," he said.
"In the recently announced State Budget a further $16.85 million was allocated for the Brisbane Housing Company bringing the total state government contribution to more than $83 million."
Brisbane Housing Company Chairman and Director of the Seymour Group of Companies, Kevin Seymour, said the new unit complex would be mixed use with 200m2 of commercial space on the ground floor.
"This serves the dual purpose of generating some additional income for the Brisbane Housing Company to re-invest in affordable housing and ensuring the development blends in with other mixed-use buildings nearby," he said.
"The Kelvin Grove Urban Village design guidelines require high standards of Ecological Sustainable Design, and we addressed these requirements through features including water tanks for rainwater harvesting, centralised gas hot water, cross ventilation to minimise the need for air conditioning, and low wattage light fittings.
"On the outside, the landscaping will feature plants native to south-east Queensland to reduce watering."
Mr Seymour said the two two-bedroom units on the ground floor had been designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities or special physical needs.
"The four-storey complex has a lift, so the 12 boarding house rooms on the top level will also be accessible to people with physical disabilities," he said.
Mr Schwarten said the Urban Village was now well underway with more than 50 percent of the site under construction, sold or planned for sale.
"You can see today that the Village is really taking shape," he said.
"Throughout the next 12 months we will continue a phased land sales program to the private sector."
The Kelvin Grove Urban Village is a joint initiative by the Department of Housing and the Queensland University of Technology to create a dynamic mixed-use development on 16 hectares of land at Kelvin Grove, just two kilometres from Brisbane's Central Business District.
The multi award-winning Village is showing the way for future urban development, with a focus on sustainability, physical and social diversity and excellence in design.
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