Frasers launch second land release at The Quarry
Days after being submitted for approval to state planning body DTPLI, the first image of what is believed to be the current design for 97 Franklin Street within Melbourne's northern CBD has surfaced. ML Traffic Engineers have recently added the below render of the mind boggling, almost whimsical mixed-use tower of near 200 metres to their website.
ML Traffic Engineers also anticipate a construction cost of approximately $200 million for the 60 level complex which is slated to hold a mixture of apartments, serviced apartments, retail and office space according to the state planning register.
The site itself was sold by then land holder Banco Group to an unknown purchaser during mid 2013 according an article published online via the Sydney Morning Herald. Subsequently consulting firm Urbis has handled the pre-approval process, submitting an application last Friday on behalf of Artemis Hotel Group (Australia) Pty Ltd.
An online search shows Artemis Hotel Group (Australia) Pty Ltd to be based in Doncaster, with Artemis International Hotel the likely operating name for the serviced apartment component.
Working on the strong likelihood that the above image is in fact the submitted version of 97 Franklin Street, the design is unique to Melbourne and stupendously impressive. Atop the seven level podium sits a perpendicular mid-rise section, only for the high-rise section to once more shift 90 degrees in a fashion that seems to defy engineering common sense and gravity for that matter.
While the architect is unknown at this stage, Urban.com.au will soon enough cover this planning application in detail and I for one hope the incredible design (assuming it is the design submitted for approval) sees the light of day.
See our piece from May 2014: A Point of Difference > 97 Franklin Street.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey