Wollongong's inner-city living in the next three years is likely to change dramatically with a push to create a hub for students.
The official announcement to ramp up the numbers of new affordable units geared towards students is months away but players in the property and business market are optimistic the plan will work.
‘‘It’s a terrific idea to have more students in town because they will liven up the scene, particularly in the evenings,’’ said consultant urban planner David Winterbottom.
Two projects are in the pipeline with a plan at this stage to target the growing demand for student housing, particularly among those from overseas, said real estate agent Simon Kersten of Colliers International.
‘‘The second of the two new residential towers targeting this market will, subject to DA approval, be a massive inner-city project with a student-specific component of between 50 to 100 units,’’ he said.
‘‘As far as I know it’s the first time private developers have taken an interest in student-specific design features.’’
Mr Kersten said he was able to give only sketchy details until the projects were officially announced later this year, around June.
‘‘I can say we will be marketing them to either parents of overseas students and students themselves, many of whom are post-graduates with an income.’’
Both projects, he said, would be on land already occupied in the CBD.
A start on the first and smaller of the two projects is expected in around 2014.
The project follows on from Marketview, the former Ibis Hotel in Market St, which was converted last year to student accommodation.
The hotel was bought by the University of Wollongong in December and is already booked to capacity, with 144 domestic and international students expected to move in before the start of semester one on February 28.
In addition, Evolution, a $20million commercial/residential block in Crown Lane, will target more than half of its 18 units to students.
Illawarra Business Chamber president Les Dion said inner-city living for students would inject life back into the CBD.
‘‘Transport links are established, and we’ve got the new GPT project happening so the timing is perfect,’’ he said.
‘‘This makes it even more important that Wollongong City Council does the economic analysis we’ve been on about for some time now to ensure the modernised mall takes into account the changes that are happening in the city.’’
Mr Winterbottom said an influx of students would create an interesting mix of inner-city dwellers.
‘‘At the moment many of the units in and around the city tend to be occupied by elderly and retired people so the student population would provide a balance,’’ Mr Winterbottom said.
He added it was also beneficial to the students.
‘‘They are going to be out and about so it will give them more chance to interact with the broader community.’’
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