The Sydney developer behind a $1.9 million boarding house complex planned for McLachlan Street has revealed he has two more proposed for Orange.
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Greg Kings said he would be developing a ‘boutique’ 14-room complex at 48 Molong Street and a larger “no more than 24 room” development behind a cottage at 194 March Street.
Mr Kings also moved to allay concerns about the type of developments he was proposing.
“This is a new-generation boarding house,” he said.
“This is not social housing.”
Mr Kings said he was aiming to provide accommodation for at least three months for doctors, nurses, health workers, police and emergency services personnel who transferred to Orange for work.
“They are totally self-contained studio apartments,” he said.
Mr Kings said the rent, or board, to be charged would be competitive.
“It’s going to be market rent, but it will still be affordable,” he said.
While the Molong Street property development has been approved, the McLachlan Street development is currently on public display at the Orange City Council offices.
Mr Kings said the March Street development application [DA] would be forwarded to council early next year.
He said it was planned that this development would offer parking for every room, unlike the development at 122 McLachlan Street.
“We’re being very responsible,” he said.
Mr Kings said the cottage in March Street was for sale while the property at 124 McLachlan Street [in front of the proposed boarding house at 122] was in the process of being sold.
“We had the option to knock down the cottage. It had a lot of structural problems.”
However, he said the new owner had agreed to renovate the 1880s building.
“We have worked with council to keep the heritage,” he said.
“We are retaining the property, we are investing in it.”
The DA for 122 McLachlan Street states there would be four double-storey buildings to house 42 lodgers and a manager’s accommodation.
“The site’s proximity to the Orange business centre, the hospital and other medical facilities will make it attractivbe to employees of the healthcare sector seeking affordable, flexible accommodation,” it said.