Help for older women
Proposal for social housing
A proposed five-storey social housing complex in North Hobart could help older women who are struggling to find a home, provide them with a support network and revitalise city living, its proponents say.
The development at 210-218 Argyle St is a partnership between St Vincent de Paul Tasmania and Amelie Housing and involves a five-storey building with 38 new studio apartments across four levels.
A development application for partial demolition, alterations and communal residence is with the Hobart City Council.
The site is currently home to a St Vincent de Paul store, which would remain on the bottom floor in the development and there would be offices and emergency relief support on the upper floor.
“212 Argyle St will create a community of support with social benefit for residents who are anticipated to be initially women over 55,” the planning report for the project said.
“(St Vincent de Paul Tasmania) identified the potential for this Argyle St site to respond to the growing call for social and affordable housing, complementing its existing Bethlehem House concept, which was first established over 50 years ago.”
Each apartment would be 21 sqm and have one single bed. Apartments would also each have a balcony, accessible from the living space.
The plans include shared indoor and outdoor spaces on the top level, including a common room, a meeting room, a garden and outdoor play space.
“A light well/vertical garden extends through the centre of the building introducing natural light, ventilation and vegetation views to all floors,” the plan said.
Planners said the development would be close to essential services.
“The development is well located, atop (St Vincent) services, within walking distance of the CBD, close to services and amenity,” the report said.
“The new development will assist in revitalising city life and aid liveability through effectively designed inner-city housing, purposefully created to offer flexible usage by a range of cohorts over its extensive lifespan,” the report says.
Planners said the development might be too high.
“Some elements of the top level of the development exceeds the permitted building envelope and maximum height of 15m,” the report said.
“When compared to a building that is fully within the permitted building envelope, these minor protrusions are not considered to have a significant impact on the surrounding area.”
The DA will be available for public viewing on the council website until April 19.