Leighton to develop Uniting Church site

Leighton to develop Uniting Church siteThe Uniting Church has nominated Leighton Properties as its preferred developer for the restoration and development of its iconic Wesley Upper Lonsdale Street site in inner-city Melbourne.Included in the proposed development of the site will be a 5 Star Green Star, Grade-A commercial office tower with its own rainwater collection system, a dynamic Town Square, and several courtyards and garden spaces that will encourage interaction, dining, rest and contemplation.The Neo-Gothic Wesley church located centrally on the site will be retained and restored, as will its supporting historical buildings. The Manse will become a café with a proposed interpretive centre/gallery; the School House will become a childcare centre; and the Caretaker’s Cottage will also house a café.The Project Control Group made it clear during the tender process that the new site would need to balance mission and commercial outcomes. Any development, it said, must place an emphasis on building relationships between people while restoring the historical buildings, to foster community relationships and respect the original custodians.Leighton Properties says it will abide by the Church’s vision for the site and will endeavour to revitalise the precinct while retaining its history and cultural significance. At the same time, it says the project is in line with the company’s strategic focus.The Wesley Upper Lonsdale site is located in the most tightly held precinct in Melbourne’s CBD; it has a vacancy rate of 3.3 per cent compared with the CBD average of 10.5 per cent.Leighton Properties says the development offers an opportunity to address the underlying demand for space in Melbourne’s CBD. It says its aim is to create a green, active, connected and welcoming urban environment that retains the best aspects of a calm sanctuary in the urban realm.The project is now undergoing a process of documentation and approval. Final execution is expected in September 2014.