A property developer and a community housing provider have teamed up on a proposed 11-storey apartment tower in Wickham they say will help address Newcastle's rental crisis.
Gemini Interchange Pty Ltd, owned by Maitland-born Dallas and Kristoffer Harvey, has lodged plans with City of Newcastle for the 59-unit project on the site of the Empire furniture warehouse in Railway Street.
The redevelopment also includes five four-bedroom terrace houses on the site of a former car sales building on Bishopsgate Street.
The developer has entered into a partnership with Hunter and Central Coast community housing provider Pacific Link to offer long-term rentals and affordable housing in the apartment building.
Project spokesperson Ben Young said the "build-to-rent" project was a "rare offering" for Newcastle which would help lower-income residents find accommodation in a tight rental market.
"Unlike most residential developments where apartments are quickly sold, this project will be offered for long-term rental and affordable housing purposes," he said.
"The project is also well located near the Newcastle Interchange, offering residents easy access to a variety of transport options."
The rental vacancy rate across Newcastle is 1.4 per cent.
Pacific Link chief executive Ian Lynch said the agreement with the developer would "provide long-term headlease opportunities to community organisations, not-for-profits, key workers and potentially students".
"Pacific Link Housing is excited to be partnering on this unique opportunity to bring a large-scale build-to-rent project to Newcastle," he said.
The proposed building includes 21 single-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments and the five terraces.
The 35-metre building is significantly taller than the site's 14-metre height limit, but the development application argues it is "generally in accordance with the development standards with the Wickham Masterplan".
The developer had proposed a 45-metre building but modified the plans after a pre-lodgement meeting with council officers.
The Newcastle Herald reported in 2021 that the developer of the nearby Neufort apartment complex proposed to pay the council almost $1 million for public domain works in return for exceeding that site's 24-metre height limit by 19 metres.
The council approved the Neufort project, but the redevelopment has since stalled.
In a separate case, residents fought unsuccessfully against plans to modify height limits in a section of the so-called Wickham "village hub" precinct in Throsby Street.
To see more stories and read today's paper download the Newcastle Herald news app here.
