Two years after approval of a $750 million redevelopment of the ageing Buranda Village shopping precinct, shop owners say they are still in the dark about when or if the major project will proceed.
Read: Buranda Village Redevelopment in Woolloongabba Includes Massive Residential Project
The ambitious plan, submitted by site owners Vicinity Centres, called for transforming the 1970s-era centre in Woolloongabba into a modern urban village with over 620 new apartments, up to 50,000 square metres of office space, retail spaces, subtropical landscaping and community spaces.
The proposed redevelopment calls for the complete demolition of the current Buranda Village shopping centre to make way for an entirely new mixed-use precinct billed as “world-class.” It would include residences, workplaces, and shopping/dining areas all in one space.
The master plan is divided into three phases. Phase one would involve constructing four 15-storey residential buildings designated for renters within a lifestyle-oriented precinct. Phases two and three focus on commercial development – two 15-storey office buildings and one 10-storey building comprising a working precinct.
Construction was originally slated to begin in early 2024 according to Vicinity. But with that target now slipping away, traders who have operated at the centre for decades say communication from the developers has been scant.
The traders at Buranda Village report being informed that the redevelopment project has been postponed indefinitely, with no new timeline provided. Whilst the site’s owners, Vicinity Centres, acknowledge they cannot confirm specifics at this point, they claim to be making progress toward finalising the redevelopment plans.
Read: Greenslopes to Witness Urban Renewal with New Commercial Building Development
The shopping centre first opened its doors in 1978. It was purchased by Vicinity Centres in 2000, and underwent its most recent renovation and expansion in 2005.
Published 14-May-2024
