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Construction has recommenced at the One City Hill development site in Civic, more than six months after it was halted due to the impact of COVID-19. However, uncertainty still surrounds the project, with it not known whether the 1200 apartments that were originally slated for the site will still be built. The work that has resumed will be for a five-storey underground car park that can hold up to 750 vehicles. Construction director of Morris Property Group, James Morris, said a determination had not been made on what would go on top of the underground car park, whether it would be residential and retail space or whether the building would be filled by government office space. “There is no further indication on what the future use of the site will be as the company continues to reposition itself following the effects of COVID-19,” Mr Morris said. “The car park works are expected to be completed in September 2021.” The first of two cranes were installed on the site, bounded by London Circuit, Edinburgh Avenue and Vernon Circle, this week. The first major concrete pour for the new car park is expected to be carried out some time in early February. The works on the car park have begun in order for Morris Property Group to meet its obligations that were laid out as part of the development application with the ACT government. Other obligations as part of the agreement included construction work to parts of Edinburgh Avenue, which was completed in December 2020. The impact of the pandemic had forced the property group to halt work on the One City Hill development in June. In a written statement made at the time, the group’s director Barry Morris said COVID-19 had created uncertainty for going ahead with a large development. “We know the property space inside out, but nobody could have predicted the coronavirus and the economic impact it had,” he said in the statement. “We have not been able to reach the sales targets we wanted for this site, which has a residential focus aimed at the international student market.” IN OTHER NEWS: Construction had already commenced on the first stage of the project, which had been dubbed The Barracks, which would have included 345 residential apartments and 600 square metres of retail space. Work had been under way since November 2019, before the decision was made to stop due to the pandemic. There had been 120 buyers for the development, but far below sales targets. Buyers had been offered to transfer their deposits to other property developments carried out by Morris Property Group. At the time of the halt in construction, Mr Morris said other commercial opportunities would be explored at a future date. The property group had purchased the 2.6 hectare site, which had been a former car park, in 2018 for $85 million. The delay in construction due to COVID-19 was the latest chapter of failed attempts to get property developed at City Hill. The site was purchased by developers Mirvac in 2007 from the ACT government for $93 million. A $755 million development, which included four 13-storey buildings and a potential hotel, were scrapped in 2008 following the fallout of the global financial crisis. For faster access to the latest Canberra news, download The Canberra Times app for iOS and Android.
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However, uncertainty still surrounds the project, with it not known whether the 1200 apartments that were originally slated for the site will still be built.
The work that has resumed will be for a five-storey underground car park that can hold up to 750 vehicles.
Construction director of Morris Property Group, James Morris, said a determination had not been made on what would go on top of the underground car park, whether it would be residential and retail space or whether the building would be filled by government office space.
“There is no further indication on what the future use of the site will be as the company continues to reposition itself following the effects of COVID-19,” Mr Morris said.
“The car park works are expected to be completed in September 2021.”
The first of two cranes were installed on the site, bounded by London Circuit, Edinburgh Avenue and Vernon Circle, this week.
Work has begun on a 750 space underground car park. Picture: Karleen Minney
The first major concrete pour for the new car park is expected to be carried out some time in early February.
The works on the car park have begun in order for Morris Property Group to meet its obligations that were laid out as part of the development application with the ACT government.
Other obligations as part of the agreement included construction work to parts of Edinburgh Avenue, which was completed in December 2020. The impact of the pandemic had forced the property group to halt work on the One City Hill development in June.
In a written statement made at the time, the group’s director Barry Morris said COVID-19 had created uncertainty for going ahead with a large development.
“We know the property space inside out, but nobody could have predicted the coronavirus and the economic impact it had,” he said in the statement.
“We have not been able to reach the sales targets we wanted for this site, which has a residential focus aimed at the international student market.”
Construction had already commenced on the first stage of the project, which had been dubbed The Barracks, which would have included 345 residential apartments and 600 square metres of retail space.
Work had been under way since November 2019, before the decision was made to stop due to the pandemic.
There had been 120 buyers for the development, but far below sales targets.
Buyers had been offered to transfer their deposits to other property developments carried out by Morris Property Group.
At the time of the halt in construction, Mr Morris said other commercial opportunities would be explored at a future date.
The property group had purchased the 2.6 hectare site, which had been a former car park, in 2018 for $85 million.
The delay in construction due to COVID-19 was the latest chapter of failed attempts to get property developed at City Hill.
The site was purchased by developers Mirvac in 2007 from the ACT government for $93 million.
A $755 million development, which included four 13-storey buildings and a potential hotel, were scrapped in 2008 following the fallout of the global financial crisis.
