Today is the last day to submit feedback to Homes Vic on the proposed development.

We’ve tried to make it easier by preparing a consultation guide, available below and at chnc.info.

The CHNC has been given an extension to submit our collective submission by 14 March. We will share that with you for your input in due course.

But the more feedback they get the better. So please make sure you submit feedback by midnight tonight.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

 

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Our key asks

1. Mid-rise neighbourhood

Our ask: Align the height of the development with that of the two tallest buildings in east Clifton Hill to reflect the character of our neighbourhood. The tallest buildings in this area are 6 storeys high.

We welcome expanded social housing capacity. But an 8-storey building will dominate the neighborhood and does not respect the low-rise character of east Clifton Hill.
Social housing projects built under Victoria’s Big Build scheme have not exceeded the originally zoned height limits to this extent to date. In fact, if this build goes ahead, it will be three times higher than the City of Yarra’s 9 metre limit and will stand at 26.5 metres.
The planning report provided by Homes Vic cites the three tallest buildings in Clifton Hill as evidence of ‘emerging medium-rise in-fill character’. The tallest of these cited buildings is 6 storeys.

2. Family friendly community

Our ask: Add shared outdoor spaces to the development so everyone, both social housing and other local residents, can continue to interact and feel a sense of community. 

East Clifton Hill is a wonderful place to raise families and fur-families alike. We were disappointed to see next to no contributions in the design to community spaces where social housing residents and other neighbours can continue to interact and get to know each other. In fact, once the existing playground is removed this site will be the least accessible area in all of Clifton Hill for residents to reach a playground or greenspace under the council’s own Yarra Open Space Strategy.
Homes Vic should consider building closer to the rail line – as has been shown to work in Brunswick’s award-winning Nightingale Village project – to  provide more open greenspace on the site’s eastern boundary.

3. Parking access for all

Our ask: Increase proposed parking for social housing residents, ensure existing residents have exclusive access to any future parking permits, and move the social housing carpark entrance to Noone Street.

Providing only 35 parking spaces for 114 new apartments – 0.3 spaces per residence – leaves future residents with insufficient parking and puts pressure on our already crowded streets.
The planned carpark access to the south of the building – via Alexandra Parade East – forces cars directly through the neighbourhood’s main pedestrian and cyclist route. Moving the carpark access to Noone Street offers a safer and simpler point of access.