16 June 2020

Parc provides city living without compromise

| Michelle Rowe
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Parc

Looking to live near the city but hold a connection to the local community? The Parc in Macquarie might be just what you’re after. Photo: Supplied.

Living in a city or town centre certainly has its perks. Being close to a multitude of shops, being close to work and being spoilt for entertainment or food choices come instantly to mind.

But the inner-city is also synonymous with traffic, crowds, noise and lack of living space.

Then there’s the premium price for the postcode.

For those who want the benefits of the inner city without the sacrifice, Macquarie in Canberra’s inner north is worth a look.

Less than 3 km from the in-demand Belconnen Town Centre and an easy seven-minute drive from Civic, Macquarie more than delivers on location, amenity and a strong neighbourhood vibe.

The vibe is obvious at the Parc development in Henshall Way. Despite having only moved into the development since its completion 12 months ago, residents have already formed a strong community network through the Parc Group, a means of connecting with and supporting each other.

The group has established a book-sharing library in the basement, members regularly meet at the local Southern Cross Club and signs posted around the development offer fellow residents help with everything from dog walking and shopping to just a friendly chat.

Things might have been different had the original plans for the Parc site come to fruition. The site was DA approved for 330 units when Morris Property Group bought it from another developer in 2014.

“That sort of density just wasn’t suitable for this location,” Morris Property Group Construction Director James Morris said. “We were conscious of the surrounding community and the existing streetscape and knew the approved plans would have been a poor urban planning outcome for the area.”

Morris Property Group went back to the drawing board and downsized the designs to deliver 74 spacious apartments and 23 townhouses bordered by Henshall Way, Bowman and Redfern Streets.

What could have been a cramped and imposing complex is now a boutique development punctuated by open space and walkways, floor-to-ceiling windows and generous floorplans.

Garages with side-by-side parking (not the tricky tandem configuration so often found in apartment complexes) are perfect for downsizers who haven’t quite got their heads around parting with the contents of their previous four and five-bed homes and need some extra storage.

Mr Morris says the spacious feel of the complex, its location opposite Jamison Plaza shopping centre, and easy access to Lake Ginninderra, cafes and restaurants and Belconnen Markets are just some of the reasons it has been selling like hotcakes.

“It has mostly been owner-occupiers buying in Parc, a lot of them downsizers, but we’ve found the three and four-bedroom apartments are really appealing to families as well,” Mr Morris said.

“You’ve got the Wests Rugby Union club nearby, you can take the kids for a bike ride around the lake or to the Big Splash Water Park just down the road in summer. Or if you want to pop in to Ricardo’s Cafe for coffee and cakes, you just have to walk across the road.”

Parc’s location, just 2 km from the University of Canberra and Calvary Hospital, and 6 km from ANU have also made it very appealing to first homebuyers, he said.

“We knew this location was special,” Mr Morris said. “We also knew we had to make the right choices for the site so we could meet the needs of a variety of buyers. And just as importantly, the development needed to be totally in keeping with the area. We’re proud that Parc has been able to add to Macquarie’s community spirit.”

Parc has limited townhouses and apartments left for sale, from $499,900. Visit Parc’s fully furnished display apartments between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm daily, or learn more at Parc.

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