Future Visions
The Age
Saturday December 8, 2007
Changing lifestyles are reflected in the Montage development, writes Katherine Townsend.
DOCKLANDS The Montage Investigator Drive $385,000 to $1.8 million Private sale Agent Victoria Harbour Display Centre, 8610 4800 Melway 2E G7AS THE new suburb of Docklands takes shape, developers are tweaking their housing mix, designs and fittings to suit buyers' evolving needs and desires.If Lend Lease's newly released Montage building is anything to go by, there is clearly increasing demand for more indoor-outdoor spaces, family-style townhouses and rooftop terraces.The Montage's nine floors will have 73 one and two-bedroom apartments, four two-level penthouses and eight terrace homes and many will have "dual-aspect" views towards Docklands Park to the east and Victoria Green to the west.Lend Lease Development general manager Maurice Cococcia says the Montage's appeal is to have "parks front and back and views over the city and Collins Street and Victoria Harbour".The Montage, along with all of Lend Lease's Victoria Harbour development, will benefit from the completion next May of the Merchant Street retail precinct, which will include a Safeway supermarket and is about 150 metres to the west of the new apartment building.Lend Lease Development's marketing manager, James Curtain, says more than half of the Montage has been sold within three weeks of marketing and there has been strong investor interest although "some of them buy as 'one-day' buys, with a view to moving in one day when the kids have gone".Most interest for the terraces has been from empty nesters, or "suburban visionaries", as Lend Lease dubs them. Mr Curtain says the provision of townhouses for this "visionary" market reflects changing demand from a buying group that wants "house-size" accommodation on the city's doorstep.The one-bedroom apartments are 53 square metres, one-bedroom plus study rise to 72 square metres and the two-bedroom apartments are up to 105 square metres. All have large balconies. The two-bedroom apartments begin at $680,000 for a 96-square metre apartment and all will be fitted out with Miele appliances, glass splashbacks and decorated in warm, earthy tones. There is an emphasis on water and energy conservation: The Montage will use rainwater on public garden areas and grey water for toilet flushing. All apartments and townhouses will have underground car parking and parking for 65 bikes.Penthouses are 154 square metres, with another 100 square metres of roof deck, and begin at $1.8 million. The three-storey terraces are 172 square metres and begin at $1.75 million.
© 2007 The Age
