Landmark housing development brings more people to the city

Affordable home ownership, private rental and public housing are on offer to South Australians in a landmark new city apartment building being officially opened today – which also includes street-level retail outlets.

Premier Jay Weatherill, Federal Housing and Homelessness Minister Mark Butler and South Australian Social Housing Minister Tony Piccolo will open UNO Apartments, an award-winning 17-storey apartment building at 102 Waymouth Street.

“Bringing people into the city to live is critical to making our city a vibrant place that people want to spend time enjoying,” Mr Weatherill said.

“UNO Apartments offers a range of housing that will bring together a diverse mix of people into a community.

“Affordable home-ownership and private rental, public housing and general market housing are available all in the one building.

“On the ground floor are retail outlets, including a caf’e and sushi bar, which add to the popular Waymouth St strip.

“The building also includes central spaces for residents to gather and meet, such as community gardens and balconies.

“Communities thrive when people are able to come together, forging strong relationships and leading active, healthy lives.

“These apartments represent a new approach to creating sustainable mixed communities and they will be a fantastic example of a modern, urban community, where an interesting, diverse mix of people will all feel safe and welcome.”

Mr Butler said the Commonwealth was committed to innovative, affordable housing with an unprecedented $20 billion investment in housing and homelessness services since 2007.

“The Federal Government contributed more than $48 million for the construction of this innovative project which is a first-of its kind in Adelaide,” Mr Butler said.

“This is the first time our city has seen one development which brings together a combination of affordable home ownership, affordable private rental, public housing and a homelessness service.”

“Importantly, thirty apartments are dedicated to the youth homelessness service Youth110 which is run by St John’s Youth Services.”

The Member for Adelaide, Kate Ellis welcomed the investment.

“It is great to see such a high quality, exciting development in the heart of the city which will contribute to our increasingly diverse and vibrant inner city,” Ms Ellis said. “This $48 million investment has also provided a valuable boost to our local economy and support local jobs during construction.”

South Australian Social Housing Minister Tony Piccolo said UNO Apartments would help the Government to continue to provide tangible, long-term solutions to the complex issue of homelessness.

“This development will help to address some of the underlying issues that cause homelessness and reduce the isolation felt by many people previously shut out of the housing market,” Mr Piccolo said.

“A recent Productivity Commission report showed that South Australia leads the country in providing solutions to recurring homelessness.

“Over the 2011/12, period, South Australia had the lowest rate of homeless clients with more than one period of homelessness anywhere in the nation. This was also the case among homeless Indigenous clients.

“These encouraging figures are a result of the Government devoting more money and resources toward addressing this issue than any other state and our commitment to this new integrated urban village is further evidence of this.”

UNO Apartments has won a number of awards including the Best High Density Housing Award and the President’s Award from the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Urban Communities, the property and tenancy manager, provides an on-site place manager who helps to integrate the building’s diverse residents with each other and their local community.