Seachange Village to target baby boomers
Gold Coast Bulletin, 24/04/2007
A $180 million luxury community that aims to redefine over-50's living is earmarked for Arundel's last major development site.
Plans call for Seachange Gold Coast to have 370 homes, a $10 million-plus residents' club, and a retail and dining precinct.
Seachange Developments Gold Coast has sought approval for the first stage of the project and hopes to begin construction in April.
Seachange, linked to former estate agent Noel Mewett, former Clarendon Homes owner Peter Campbell, architect Bevan Lynch, and former Lend Lease executive Derek Nicholson, acquired the 20.5ha site last year from sports management figure Paul Galli for almost $28 million.
Mr Mewett is developer and general manager of the $100 million Golden Crest Manors over-50s project, nearing completion at Nerang.
In its research, Seachange Developments found that many projects aimed at the over-50's missed the mark for baby boomers, the first of whom are now 60.
It found that the idea of a traditional retirement village is almost offensive to them and that many facilities target an older and less active demographic.
Mr Nicholson said Seachange will cater for baby boomers who want secure, low maintenance homes without sacrificing their active, social and comfortable lifestYles.
He said the community, planned by architect Brian Toyota, will set benchmarks in its sophistication and design.
Mr Toyota, of ML Design, has been involved with landmark projects such as Casuarina, Salt, the Hyatt Regency at Sanctuary Cove and Devine's Hideaway project at Currumbin.
Mr Nicholson said Seachange expected 80 percent of its buyers to come from within a 10km radius of Arundel.
"This demographic is into health and wellbeing and wants to live somewhere close to friends and to family," he said.
Mr Nicholson said overwhelming inquiry for the project has prompted Seachange to seek sites elsewhere on the Coast, and on the Sunshine Coast, in northern NSW and far north Queensland.
Seachange Gold Coast will comprise freestanding and terrace homes that incorporate environment-sustaining design principles.
Most homes will have rear-lane car access to create attractive, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
The centrepiece will be a 5000sqm-plus residents' club with health and fitness centre, wine cellar, cinema, pools, squash courts and business centre.
Another lifestYle drawcard will be a 1925sqm restaurant and convenience retail strip facing Napper Road.
To be known as Seachange Village, the precinct will front a 1000sqm public piazza with a big screen for major-event showings.
Mr Nicholson said the precinct would augment the Arundel town centre area and would complement rather than compete with nearby Coles-anchored Arundel Plaza.
The project will be developed in five stages, with the first to include the commercial precinct, recreation club, community centre and some homes.
Seachange will operate under the Manufactured Homes Act, which means that the developer constructs and sells homes, but retains ownership of the land.
Plans call for Seachange Gold Coast to have 370 homes, a $10 million-plus residents' club, and a retail and dining precinct.
Seachange Developments Gold Coast has sought approval for the first stage of the project and hopes to begin construction in April.
Seachange, linked to former estate agent Noel Mewett, former Clarendon Homes owner Peter Campbell, architect Bevan Lynch, and former Lend Lease executive Derek Nicholson, acquired the 20.5ha site last year from sports management figure Paul Galli for almost $28 million.
Mr Mewett is developer and general manager of the $100 million Golden Crest Manors over-50s project, nearing completion at Nerang.
In its research, Seachange Developments found that many projects aimed at the over-50's missed the mark for baby boomers, the first of whom are now 60.
It found that the idea of a traditional retirement village is almost offensive to them and that many facilities target an older and less active demographic.
Mr Nicholson said Seachange will cater for baby boomers who want secure, low maintenance homes without sacrificing their active, social and comfortable lifestYles.
He said the community, planned by architect Brian Toyota, will set benchmarks in its sophistication and design.
Mr Toyota, of ML Design, has been involved with landmark projects such as Casuarina, Salt, the Hyatt Regency at Sanctuary Cove and Devine's Hideaway project at Currumbin.
Mr Nicholson said Seachange expected 80 percent of its buyers to come from within a 10km radius of Arundel.
"This demographic is into health and wellbeing and wants to live somewhere close to friends and to family," he said.
Mr Nicholson said overwhelming inquiry for the project has prompted Seachange to seek sites elsewhere on the Coast, and on the Sunshine Coast, in northern NSW and far north Queensland.
Seachange Gold Coast will comprise freestanding and terrace homes that incorporate environment-sustaining design principles.
Most homes will have rear-lane car access to create attractive, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
The centrepiece will be a 5000sqm-plus residents' club with health and fitness centre, wine cellar, cinema, pools, squash courts and business centre.
Another lifestYle drawcard will be a 1925sqm restaurant and convenience retail strip facing Napper Road.
To be known as Seachange Village, the precinct will front a 1000sqm public piazza with a big screen for major-event showings.
Mr Nicholson said the precinct would augment the Arundel town centre area and would complement rather than compete with nearby Coles-anchored Arundel Plaza.
The project will be developed in five stages, with the first to include the commercial precinct, recreation club, community centre and some homes.
Seachange will operate under the Manufactured Homes Act, which means that the developer constructs and sells homes, but retains ownership of the land.
