10 November 2021

Construction to start on new Goodwin retirement village in Downer next year

| James Coleman
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Render of Goodwin Downer

Construction on Goodwin Downer starts in early 2022. Image: Goodwin Villages.

Goodwin Village Downer will be the aged-care organisation’s fifth retirement village in the ACT when construction starts next year.

The village is said to fill the brief for those seniors looking to downsize to a central location with a variety of accommodation options and facilities on-site.

Located around the corner from the Dickson shops on the corner of Melba Street and Bradfield Avenue, Goodwin Village Downer comprises 109 two- and three-bedroom independent living apartments and 20 single-bedroom assisted living apartments.

With units built to adaptable housing standards, and with numerous on-site supports, Goodwin Village Downer aims to allow residents to age in place and remain active for longer.

The village allows for plenty of opportunities for socialisation, offering a range of shared spaces, including a clubhouse, gym, library, landscaped gardens, and alfresco dining areas, as well as an on-staff lifestyle officer.

Render of Goodwin Downer

Goodwin Downer will comprise 109 two- and three-bedroom independent living apartments and 20 single-bedroom assisted living apartments. Image: Goodwin Villages.

Erik Boddeus, Goodwin Executive Manager Retirement Living, Property and Development, says there is a growing need for accommodation solutions in Canberra and the surrounding region that maintain people’s independence while providing a safe and social environment.

“People often have misconceptions of what retirement living is, thinking it’s not for them. But what we hear again and again is people saying, ‘we should have done this sooner'”, said Mr Boddeus.

“Retirement living takes a lot of the chores and stress out of life. There’s a maintenance officer on site to help with any odd jobs, a village manager and concierge, and a lifestyle officer who facilitates events which people can choose to participate in.”

Mr Boddeus says Downer was selected because it is one of the oldest suburbs in the inner north with an aging population.

“We know that once people want to downsize, they want to remain in their existing community and continue to maintain the networks they have established over so many years.”

Living area

A render of what to expect inside. Image: Goodwin Villages.

Goodwin has been on the local aged-care scene for 67 years, something that Mr Boddeus said has put them in good stead to know exactly what senior citizens want and need.

“We’ve taken the learnings from our existing villages and have designed a retirement village that we know is going to offer an outstanding lifestyle, balancing luxury, privacy and connectivity.”

Canberra-based firm CK Architecture was chosen to design the village for their previous experience in retirement living, multi-residential and community developments.

Principal of CK Architecture Cassandra Keller says that emphasis has been placed on ensuring the village is environmentally conscious.

READ ALSO Goodwin unveils plans for 130 units in final stage of Downer development

“Goodwin Village Downer has been designed with the environment front and centre. Features include water and waste management, solar power and energy efficiency,” Ms Keller said.

“The focus on sustainability is not only great for the environment and surrounding landscapes, but it also enhances the year-round comfort and wellbeing of residents.”

“Of course, a great deal of consideration has been placed on the overall quality and style. The apartments are spacious and intuitive, and the building is stylistically timeless with terracotta and dark grey coloured facades, a nod to the deep red brick of Canberra’s timeless early residential buildings,” Ms Keller said.

Goodwin Village Downer is currently pending development approval (DA) with construction expected to commence early 2022.

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downercommunityassociation8:24 pm 12 Nov 21

The Downer Community Association has made a considered submission in relation to the Goodwin Development Application. There are important considerations that the development application fails to adequately address. Read the full submission here: http://www.downercommunityassociation.org/uploads/1/2/4/3/12436620/goodwin_da_-_dca_submission.pdf

Only problem with these new developments along Bradfield Street is the insistence of the Heritage Council that a green wall of pines run along the northern boundary blocking out the sun. Surely the need for a windbreak in Downer has passed? Things have changed since 1940, including views on the appropriate trees in urban areas. And heritage didn’t start with the CSIR really, perhaps the indigenous community could have input?

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