[PRO] 237 Grote Street | 95m | 27 Levels x 5 | Hotel and Apartments

[AG]

Massive redevelopment of the former Aus Post site on Grote Street is coming!

Gurner, Kennards Launch $1.25bn Adelaide Precinct

Multi-billion dollar developer Gurner is moving into the Adelaide market with a partnership with Kennards Self Storage for a $1.25-billion mixed-use CBD precinct.

Kennards owns the 1.7ha former Australia Post site at 237 Grote Street in Adelaide and will team with Gurner to redevelop into a mixed-use precinct.

A design competition is under way to build out plans for more than 750 apartments across four towers, a five-star hotel, 15,000sq m of commercial space, an entertainment and recreation public plaza, as well as a self storage component.

Gurner founder Tim Gurner said the carbon-neutral development would offer something unique to the Adelaide market.

“This is an incredible site and we could not be happier to be partnering with such iconic Australian success stories in Kennards and Sam to bring a shared vision for the development to life—we’ll be creating something very ambitious, something that hasn’t been done before in this sector,” Gurner said.

“The main focus of this city-changing site will be a transformative public realm that will become a key attraction for Adelaide CBD.

“As we do with all our projects, we’ll be prioritising leading amenities for residents—they’ll have access to entertainment, retail and co-working spaces, as well as our signature Private Club offering, in a destination that puts them on the doorstep of everything Australia’s most liveable city has to offer.”

The site includes a 24,000sq m six-level building originally constructed for Australia Post for mail distribution, but the building eventually became obsolete.

Kennards will repurpose the Australia Post building, with three street frontages, into a next-generation storage facility, which will be integrated into the masterplan for the expansive site.

Adelaide is a hive of development activity as more big-name developers move into the South Australian market. The city was named the third-most liveable city in the world recently.

“We certainly see Adelaide as one of Australia’s cultural epicentres—it’s an amazing city and we are looking forward to delivering something special there, and continuing to push the boundaries in not just the residential space but across service, amenity, hospitality and lifestyle,” Gurner said.

“This is a very significant transaction in terms of scale and value for the Adelaide market, which reflects the confidence we have in the market and its fundamentals—we have been waiting for the right time to enter South Australia, and we think that time is now.”

Kennards Self Storage chief executive Sam Kennard said the site was purchased in 2020 following a protracted search for the “right CBD location”.

“Originally we had identified an opportunity to re-purpose the existing building into self-storage and planned to subdivide and sell the surplus land, but Covid allowed us the time to take pause and reflect, and we soon realised the site had the potential to become a city-shaping project,” Kennard said.

“We approached Gurner as part of a small EOI process and their vision for the site absolutely blew us away—there is no doubt their bold proposal will create a new landmark for Adelaide’s CBD.

“We are delighted to be partnering with such a forward-thinking developer with whom we can collaborate and create a unique precinct for Adelaide and a first for our industry at the same time.”

While there are no approvals in place, existing zoning would allow the development of a mixed-use precinct on the site.

[Nathan]

A mega self-storage facility in the middle of an apartment/5-star hotel/public plaza seems... unusual.

[SBD]

A mega self-storage facility in the middle of an apartment/5-star hotel/public plaza seems... unusual.

People who want to live in a city apartment but still pack the caravan or boat for the weekend?

[Will]

Drove past today. Looks like the old Freedom Furniture showroom is undergoing demolition.

[Mpol02]

Some height here would be amazing

[HeapsGood]

demolish everything on the block (the hair supply, the tacky HJs and overpriced petrol, gold world) and build it all.

[AG]

demolish everything on the block (the hair supply, the tacky HJs and overpriced petrol, gold world) and build it all.

The HJs and petrol station, Golf World and other buildings fronting West Terrace are not part of the site, unfortunately.

[Vasco]

Drove past today. Looks like the old Freedom Furniture showroom is undergoing demolition.

That site is being re-purposed as a building ideas centre and is undergoing renovations.


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[VinyTapestry849]

This area is in need of some good damn height, hope this gets up

[Algernon]

West Franklin is marketed as 560 apartments over 4 towers and this one is apparently 750 over 4 towers. It's not clear how the hotel component fits into the 4 towers, nor do we know the size. The mail centre will be retained as a self storage facility, so that squeezes down the footprint for the towers quite a bit. If all 4 towers are the same size, we may be looking at something a bit taller than West Franklin. IMO the only chance for some "god damn height" would be if there's significant height variation between the towers, but I think this is unlikely - no need. Fun to speculate on though.

I wouldn't look too much into the "city shaping" bluster btw. A development here would be city shaping... it's a fucking dump.

[A-Town]

West Franklin is marketed as 560 apartments over 4 towers and this one is apparently 750 over 4 towers. It's not clear how the hotel component fits into the 4 towers, nor do we know the size. The mail centre will be retained as a self storage facility, so that squeezes down the footprint for the towers quite a bit. If all 4 towers are the same size, we may be looking at something a bit taller than West Franklin. IMO the only chance for some "god damn height" would be if there's significant height variation between the towers, but I think this is unlikely - no need. Fun to speculate on though.

I wouldn't look too much into the "city shaping" bluster btw. A development here would be city shaping... it's a fucking dump.

Is West Franklin dead now? The remaining land has been sitting there vacant for the best part of a decade

[gnrc_louis]

West Franklin is marketed as 560 apartments over 4 towers and this one is apparently 750 over 4 towers. It's not clear how the hotel component fits into the 4 towers, nor do we know the size. The mail centre will be retained as a self storage facility, so that squeezes down the footprint for the towers quite a bit. If all 4 towers are the same size, we may be looking at something a bit taller than West Franklin. IMO the only chance for some "god damn height" would be if there's significant height variation between the towers, but I think this is unlikely - no need. Fun to speculate on though.

I wouldn't look too much into the "city shaping" bluster btw. A development here would be city shaping... it's a fucking dump.

Is West Franklin dead now? The remaining land has been sitting there vacant for the best part of a decade

No - thread here: viewtopic.php?t=7176&start=15

[Prodical]

There is work going on to clear out the old equipment and air conditioning from the mail exchange building. Probably to establish the self storage compartments - I don't hold much hope that this will ever be a decent residential / commercial development.

[Nort]

There is work going on to clear out the old equipment and air conditioning from the mail exchange building. Probably to establish the self storage compartments - I don't hold much hope that this will ever be a decent residential / commercial development.

It will be one day, but it seems quite likely that the owner just plans to hold onto it in the hopes the land value will increase.

[abc]

I don't see the value in retaining the existing building for self storage. Self storage facilities need car & trailer access to be able to deposit and access furniture etc.
This is not a warehouse.