The plan to turn Canberra's tallest commercial tower into accommodation has been reinvigorated under a proposed alteration to an already approved development application.
Originally known as the MLC building, the Lovett Tower was built in 1974 and was, until Geocon built the High Society towers in 2020, the tallest building in the territory.
It was last sold in 2022 to NSW-based businessman Frank Cavasinni, who bought it for $26.75 million according to Cotality data. The sellers, Brite Developments, had already had a development application conditionally approved to turn the tower into build-to-rent apartments at the time of the sale.
The building, which is a landmark on Keltie Street in Woden's town centre has been home to a number of major government departments but suffered from high vacancy rates as demand for large-scale office space in Woden declined, according to the application.
In 2016, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Veterans' Affairs vacated the office, leaving it empty.
The plans to transform the office space into accommodation would seek "to attract new land uses" and support surrounding businesses and communities, the application said.
The original application, which was approved in January 2022, was approved on a number of conditions, including the removal of "residential use" from the intended use of the site.
Under the new application the proposed apartments would be converted to "commercial accommodation", which could include serviced apartments, short-stay rentals or student accommodation.
The application outlines a plan to build commercial accommodation studio apartments on the first to 12th storeys with common areas on each floor. On the 14th to 22nd storeys would be two-bedroom commercial accommodation apartments.
The 13th storey would become a mechanical plant room and recreation space. The change would mean there is no longer a requirement for a residential waste room and associated waste management.
The original approval also required construction to begin within three years of the approval taking effect.
However, plans to turn the first five storeys of the building into a car park - which would be accessed by an external ramp built onto the tower - meant that approval was conditional on the developer buying the adjoining plan from the government.
The car park has been removed in the new application, along with the external ramps, allowing the development to go ahead without the sale.
Only the 12 existing car parks would be available under the new plan, and would not be accessible by the public.
The changes will also allow the external facade of the building to be retained, and for the first floor to remain as a commercial space.
The ground floor and mezzanine level will not be altered under the new application, and will be used for commercial space and amenities for the accommodation.
