‘Affordable’ Tower with Rooftop Pool Greenlit for Adelaide CBD

The project—by Arkadia Adelaide P/L that is directed by Adelaide developer John Makris—would rise on a rectangular 534sq m lot on the corner of Blenheim Street, beside the city’s Early Settler furniture outlet.

A ground-floor car lift would connect to 18 bays on the tower’s second and third floors. Bicycle parks and another two car parks would be on the ground floor.

Designed by D’Andrea Architects, the building would have 20 studio apartments, 23 one-bedroom apartments, 13 two-bedroom apartments and three three-bedroom apartments.

Despite being located in an area where affordable housing is encouraged, the development does not include designated affordable housing. Rather, Arkadia’s development application argued that 33.9 per cent of the apartments are studios expected to sell at an affordable price.

▲ Arkadia Adelaide’s tower approved for Grote Street would have a significant touch of luxury on the top floor.

Before the panel meeting, SA government architect Kirsteen Mackay said she supported the proposed height, as it was largely consistent with the maximum envisaged height envisaged for the site under the relevant planning and design code.

“I also acknowledge the site’s proximity to the recently approved large scale buildings up to 27 storeys on the site immediately to the west of Blenheim Street,” she said.

“In principle, I support the scale of the three storey building base, as it is generally consistent in height with the adjoining commercial building to the east.”

The application was exempt from public notification because the Grote Street site did not adjoin residential land. The tower would replace a two-storey commercial building that would be demolished.