LOWER RISE APARTMENT HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE
“In any urban area, no matter how dense, keep the majority of buildings to four storeys or less. It is possible that certain buildings should exceed this limit, but they should never be buildings for human habitation. High rise living takes people away from the ground and away from the casual, everyday society that occurs on the sidewalks and streets and on the grounds and porches. It leaves them alone in their apartments. The decision to go out for some public life becomes formal and awkward; and unless there is some specific task which brings people out in the world, the tendency is to stay home, alone”. Pattern Language Christopher Alexander world renowned architect.
Daniel Ilic Place Manager
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Pinnacle Apartments
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The government’s policy to have high rise apartment towers cater for Melbourne’s rapid population growth had not considered the impact of crime and domestic violence associated with the cramped vertical living. The Building Manager of the 160 apartment Pinnacle on Doncaster Hill, Daniel Ilic, says; “Problems are fewer in high rise towers when place management is established but they still remain high compared to low rise buildings. We have closed circuit television monitors
with 34 surveillance cameras located throughout the building which helps to some degree but ideally we need surveillance 24/7. The incidents of crime, violence and drugs that occur across the city are amplified in high density living. Part of the problem could lie in the design of these high rise buildings…too many small apartments and a need for improved access security”.
According to an ex councillor “Manningham Planning Department had been unfairly singled out as the culprit for the creation of Doncaster Hill high rise development when in fact they had originally planned for medium density. The four storey “River of Life” strategy was initially thought to be too high by its councillors but they eventually rejected it, not because of its height, but due to a car parking shortfall. Unfortunately for Manningham residents that was the end of responsible planning in the area because shortly after that came the state government’s 20/30 program, hell bent on high rise activity centres and looking for acceptors and what better place than Manningham that had no height control. This is when the Manningham Planning department lost control because from then on it was all about the wishes of some greedy site owners, politicians and a VCAT controlled by government, that approved Doncaster Hill high rise. All that Manningham could do was to make it as orderly as possible and try to garner public support.
River of Life Transport
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River of Life Medium Density Development
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River of Life Strategy
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10 Comments
Putting up with the poor quality of life in an apartment tower would not be so bad if you could be assured of a fair resale price. The trouble is if you want to sell your Doncaster Hill apartment now you will be lucky to redeem your original outlay, let alone any capital gain, even after four years, which means you could be locked in unless you can provide additional funds. The lack of a proper transportation and employment are the main reasons for the disappointing resale prices. There is no likelihood of a railway and the existing bus service is using dedicated lanes which adds to congestion on main roads. Cyclists can’t ride in the bus lanes because it is unsafe and lead up streets to the centre are too steep for cycling.
High rise apartment living may be the only option for young couples unless they are prepared to live on the outskirts where housing is still affordable, an hour or so travelling time from their place of work. At least there are alternatives unlike like Hong Kong or Singapore for example. We were fortunate that we were able a buy in Doncaster in 1975 and paid only $34,500 for a three bedroom house. The planning authorities could make vertical living more tolerable by ensuring there is open spaces within a short walk of every apartment block otherwise the residents won’t use them.
Based on today’s prices the value of your home has increased at the rate of somewhere between $550 and $600 per week since you bought it! No wonder our children are finding it hard to buy a home of their own.
Little wonder when you look at the spectacular increases in house prices.
Lets say you paid $35,000 for your home 40 years ago in 1975 and assuming your home is worth approximately $1.2 million today, you have received a compound interest rate equal to about 9.25% per year. If this rate was to continue (it won’t of course) your property would be worth $2.918 million in 10 years.
People choose to buy apartments because they like the life style and deserve to have the facilities they were promised. Apart from the shopping centre, they have not been provided. There are no open spaces anywhere near the apartment towers and most full time employment is located in areas outside the City of Manningham where you need a motor car to get there.
The next Council elections are to be held on 22nd of October.
Nominations close on Friday 30th September.
Councillors are required to attend 10 compulsory meetings per year.
Information is provided at VEC Council elections on line.
I would not complain if our Councillors are unemployed but ideally I would prefer to see more recently retired individuals who have held managerial positions stand for election rather than a long term unemployed person. Executives would likely bring with them a higher intellect, greater leadership, communication skills and a ready made ability on how to deal with people. A friend of my wife had met with one Councillor who had suggested that the Ministry of Housing would be taking over if there was a glut of apartments. Another Councillor had told her that if she wanted information on planning she should speak to a planning executive and not to ring that particular Councillor again!
34 surveillance cameras in a building with 160 apartments..you must be joking!
An who is there to monitor them in the early hours of the morning when all the fun and games occur?…..Nobody! Our apartment has been ransacked twice in the four years we have owned it.
Storage cage theft on the rise as apartment towers go up! Article in domain.com.au written by Kirsten Robb portrays what is happening in apartment towers throughout Melbourne even on Doncaster “Hell” “The place to be”. For the slums of tomorrow where 50% are one bedders that are so small you can’t swing a cat. Congratulations to the Manningham Council Planners for creating the traffic gridlock and for taking out the world’s greatest wafflers/bunglers award……Well done!
I cringe at the thought that Doncaster could become known as a lower class area ..even a criminal suburb. People living in these high rise apartment towers are wrongly regarded as socioeconomic disadvantaged and therefore more likely to indulge in crime.