Extra apartments planned for multimillion-dollar mixed-use precinct in Amaroo

Extra apartments are slated for a multi-million-dollar mixed-use precinct planned for Amaroo.

Another 37 units will be added to the proposed Marquee complex, bringing the total number of apartments to 107, if a development application lodged with the ACT Planning and Land Authority is approved.

Developer and Empire Global chief executive officer Claudio Alarcon said the $23-million project, which encompasses 3000 square metres of ground-floor commercial space, would elevate the vibrancy of the Amaroo group centre.

“It’s going to create density at that vibrant precinct and help establish it. It will also diversify the range of unit types on offer,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be quite a popular development, given its close proximity to Coles and future commercial tenancies.”

One-bedroom apartments will dominate the dwellings on offer with 95 one-bedroom, nine two-bedroom and three three-bedroom units planned, according to the latest plans.

The mix of units also aims to “support equitable housing access to a broad sector of the population”. Ten per cent of the dwellings will be adaptable for people with a disability.

Mr Alarcon said construction of the precinct was due to begin in the first half of 2017, subject to the latest changes being approved.

He expected construction to take 14 months to complete.

Childcare, parkland and residential terrace housing is also slated for the precinct, according to the original development application which has already been approved.

Aside from the extra apartments, other changes to the original design include adding an extra three-storey residential component to the existing building, the relocation of parking spaces in the three-level basement car park and changes to the ground-floor commercial space to boost the provision of services.

Laing and Simmons commercial managing director Alex Smith previously said Marquee’s offerings would complement the Coles supermarket slated for a block directly opposite the site.