[U/C] 399 King William Street | ~52m | 16 Lvls | Mixed

[Nathan]

I saw an ad for it in the paper earlier in the week too. It was mentioning 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, so maybe there's been a change.

[Wayno]

I saw an ad for it in the paper earlier in the week too. It was mentioning 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, so maybe there's been a change.

69 x 2 & 3 bedroom apartments:
homeales.com.au - including floor plan

[Just build it]

Advertising it again today on the sharemarket page. Still looks dreadful with those ridiculous panels.

[ml69]

A quick look at the plans tells you these are still student apartments ... God awful ones at that. They just happen to be shared 2 and 3 bed student apartments.

Bedrooms and Living area are pokey, and in my opinion, barely habitable. You have to walk through the bathroom to get from the bedroom to the living area!

[Reb-L]

Looks alright to me. I've been living in this street for 25 yrs and I can tell all critics that I wish there had been something like this proposal there instead of a dead parking lot for half a dozen cars. Remember LeCornu - that's the result of doing nothing.

[Ben]

Doesn't look like this article has been posted before. Just 47sqm for 3 bedroom apartment and selling at over $300k.... people really need to do more research, but they will sell, because they will easily be rented out to students. Shame as IMO this building contributes nothing to the city in way of design, amenties or living standards.

Chinese developer sees light in row over tiny apartments

Source: The Australian
Author: Natasha Bita
Date: 28 January 2012


Chinese property developer Tang Cheng Holdings -- chaired by Adelaide-based developer Chenghui Xu -- is targeting foreign students with a high-rise tower of three-bedroom apartments with an average floor space of 47.4sq m -- half the size of a typical Australian unit.

Occupants enter each bedroom through an open-plan ensuite bathroom and toilet, while the living area is too small for a couch and dining table, according to plans submitted to Adelaide City Council.

The high-rise building in Adelaide's King William Street will have bicycle parking -- and no car parks.

But Tang Cheng Holdings has scrapped its original plan for nine studio apartments just 20sq m in size, after Adelaide councillor Anne Moran described them as "suicide boxes"
Ms Moran yesterday praised the developer's backdown.

"I think that (studio) accommodation could have had effects on the mental safety of young students living in them," she said.

"We should judge them on whether our children would live in them, not benchmark what they do in China or Japan."

The project's architect, Hames Sharley director David Cooke, yesterday said the revised plans no longer included studio apartments because research had shown "they really wouldn't sell".

A spokeswoman for Tang Cheng, Vanessa Zhang, said the company had been "very upset" by Ms Moran's criticism.

"The size is not really big but the location is really good," she said.

"This is for students, not a normal person, to live in."

Ms Zhang said the units were likely to sell this year for $330,000 to $350,000.

"This is the first project -- after that he will develop more and more in Australia," she said.

Adelaide City Council objected to the 15-storey building last year because of concerns over space, light, ventilation and the placement of toilets in the entry corridor.

The objection was overruled by South Australia's Development Assessment Commission, which approved the project after Tang Cheng agreed to add a sliding glass panel between each bathroom and bedroom.

The Adelaide apartments are half the minimum size required by the Sydney City Council -- which mandates at least 95sq m for a three-bedroom apartment or 40sq m for studio apartments -- while Perth requires 100sq m for a three-bedder and 50sq m for a one-bedroom unit.

The chairman of Melbourne City Council's planning committee, Ken Ong, yesterday said he had seen applications for studio apartments just 25sq m in size, and three-bedders at 75sq m.

"We're getting smaller apartments and taller towers," he said.

"Some developers will try to squeeze as many apartments . . . for a maximum return and if people are willing to pay that amount of money for the living space, that's their choice."

A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said 50sq m was the "industry norm" for studio apartments, although 35sq m units had been approved.

[Waewick]

I think the Council got this one right.

way too small.

I didn't realise Students were not normal people either.

[Will]

"This is for students, not a normal person, to live in."

Although the wank emoticon would be more appropriate, this will do today:

[Thanial]

Ms Zhang said the units were likely to sell this year for $330,000 to $350,000.

No thanks, I'd rather buy a house than a deathtrap for that much

[Wayno]

No thanks, I'd rather buy a house than a deathtrap for that much

yep, and 6-8 abnormal students could live in it...

[monotonehell]

"This is for students, not a normal person, to live in."

Although the wank emoticon would be more appropriate, this will do today:

Well you know, students can live 6 in a sharehouse, that "normal people" would consider comfy for a couple.

[Ben]

Type: Development Application Received
Application Number: DA/1011/2010/A
Lodgement Date: 25/05/2012
Location: 399 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Vary previous authorisation to demolish existing building and construct 15 storey student accommodation building with ground floor restaurant/cafe - VARIATION - change facade and internal configuration.

[Will]

Type: Development Application Received
Application Number: DA/1011/2010/A
Lodgement Date: 25/05/2012
Location: 399 King William Street, ADELAIDE SA 5000
Description: Vary previous authorisation to demolish existing building and construct 15 storey student accommodation building with ground floor restaurant/cafe - VARIATION - change facade and internal configuration.

It would be hard to make this building any more ugly, hence I think this is good news.

[Ben]

Touch wood. They could remove all of the windows?

[thoughtfactory]

There is a need to revive King William St south but a glass and concrete 15 storey tower of student boxes doesn't really do much to revive this part of King William St. The ACC got it right. The DAC didn't require enough changes. Will the recent drop in foreign student numbers kill this development off?