What better way to spend a lovely autumn afternoon than showing Commonwealth Treasury three excellent community housing developments in inner Sydney.
First stop was Bridge Housing Limited’s Elger Street social housing development in Glebe, a partnership with what is now Homes NSW. It comprises 492 mixed tenure properties – social (158 units), affordable (99) and market housing (235 units). There are two community rooms and two rooftop gardens for residents to enjoy. 70% of the residents have a disability, 25% have a first language other than English and 8% are Aboriginal households. Bridge used a combination of federal funding via NRAS, State Government land and cash grants and its own equity.
We then moved on to City West Housing’s Platform Apartments with 88 affordable housing apartments built in 2015. The development was funded by all levels of government – NRAS funding, NSW’s Housing Accelerator Fund, contribution from NSW Govt Redfern Waterloo Affordable Housing contributions scheme, land contribution, and equity from CWH funded through Affordable Housing developer levies in the City of Sydney.
The apartments are occupied by a diverse cohort of tenants including families, older women and victim/survivors of domestic and family violence.
And last but not least SGCH’s Gibbons Street in Redfern, built on the site of a former City of Sydney depot in the heart of Redfern. Completed in June 2021, the 162-unit, 18-storey building provides 40 social and 120 affordable housing units. Of those, 27 units are adaptable for residents with disabilities and 45% of the units are allocated to Aboriginal households, recognising Redfern’s cultural significance. The development includes a ground floor commercial space, community recreation spaces, a new SGCH office and playground. The building meets an average 8-star rating under the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS).
High quality design, really affordable rents, great community areas, high energy performance, and, very pet friendly. Shows what can be done when governments at all levels invest in the sector.
