14 August 2017

Dame Pattie Menzies office buildings sell for $15m

| Ian Bushnell
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building entrance

The ACT Government’s Dame Pattie Menzies office buildings in Dickson have been sold by tender for $15 million to Merrylin Lindland Pty Ltd.

The City Renewal Authority said the sale was another step in the group centre’s ongoing renewal as a vibrant residential, commercial and retail centre.

The ACT Government had a three-year lease on the two buildings – which house the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate – with two additional one-year options, to allow for construction of a new government office building on the nearby motor registry site.

City Renewal Authority interim chief executive Gary Rake said the 3.5 hectare site would be a fantastic urban renewal opportunity after the ACT Government lease ends.

“This site has great potential to complement the ongoing renewal in and around the Dickson group centre,” Mr Rake said.

“The location of this site makes it a really wonderful opportunity for future urban renewal that can really add to the ability for people to live, explore and enjoy the area.”

He said the site was situated conveniently next to the new Dickson bus interchange, adjacent to the Wooley Street dining precinct and a short stroll from the Dickson light rail stop.

“The area surrounding the site is already home to significant renewal activity, with new high-density residential developments under construction a stones thrown in both directions and a new development set for the old motor registry site across the road expected to begin soon,” he said.

“With its central Canberra location, proximity to the new light rail line and a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, Dickson is a booming area in the city renewal precinct and the sale of this site provides a great opportunity for further renewal.”

The site is zoned CZ2, which allows for a variety of uses including commercial, residential and retail.

The Dickson precinct code allows for buildings up to six storeys high.

The sale is part of the Commonwealth Government’s Asset Recycling Initiative, which provides a 15 per cent bonus to the ACT Government on the sale of ageing public infrastructure.

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