Bensons launch $230m Chevron One tower

MELBOURNE apartment developer Bensons Property Group is renowned for its design flair, so it isn’t about to pass up the chance to make an impression with its first project on the Gold Coast.The family-run company has focused on innovative inner-city apartment projects in Melbourne for more than 20 years, amassing a $2 billion-plus portfolio of developments.Its collaboration with award-winning architects has delivered landmark projects such as Solstice in Hawthorne East and Vanguard at Malvern East.Now it plans to bring that style to Chevron Island with a major new development that will deliver more than just quality apartments to an area that it believes is experiencing a renaissance through the emerging arts and culture precinct at Evandale.Bensons has engaged award-winning design firm Marchese Partners to bring its $230 million vision for Chevron Island to life, and the design brief specifically includes embracing the new arts and culture precinct.Bensons chairman Elias Jreissati, whose business interests include the Levantine Hill Estate in the Yarra Valley, sees the emergence of the $365 million Gold Coast Cultural Precinct as symbolic of the changing face of the Gold Coast.“We are seeing a major transformation taking place on the Gold Coast, and with that the city is becoming as rich in urban lifestyle as any of our capitals,” said Jreissati.“It’s one of the reasons we have been looking to invest in the region for some time.“The Gold Coast has always been an aspirational leisure destination, and that will always be the case.“However, the Commonwealth Games has brought with it a new energy that people are only now starting to realise.“This has lifted the pulse of change, including the desire for a cultural heart which we warmly welcome, and there’s no stopping that now.“We’re seeing the city setting itself up for a golden era of growth and Chevron Island is on the cusp of playing its role in this transformation.“Bensons looks for vibrant and amenity-rich inner-city locations where people want to live and Chevron Island has more to offer than most.“It’s home to a thriving local village, yet it’s close to this amazing and extensive arts precinct on the doorstep of iconic Surfers Paradise. Our proposal is to embrace that village vibe and enhance it further.”Bensons Property Group has earmarked a prime eastern Chevron Island site at 36-44 Stanhill Drive for its planned development. The 2627sqm site faces the city’s iconic skyline and is just metres from the bridge linking Surfers Paradise.Mr Jreissati said the Chevron Island development would exemplify the group’s unwavering commitment to design excellence and the arts community.“Bensons has been a long-time supporter of the arts in Melbourne and many of our projects have reflected our appreciation of the creative spirit,” Mr Jreissati said.“The spectacular architecture and benchmark amenities of this development will epitomise not only this philosophy but the project’s location in a vibrant, energetic and growing coastal city.“We intend to bring to Chevron Island a level and quality of design and development never seen before.”Bensons launched the 247-apartment project to the market in January and it anticipates construction of the project will be completed by early 2020.Mr Jreissati said Bensons viewed the Gold Coast as a stable growth market and planned to invest in the city for the long term.“Careful consideration has gone into our first development foray outside of Melbourne and the Gold Coast is performing very strongly on the fundamentals of population growth, major infrastructure spending and affordability,” he said.“With that in mind, we see Chevron as the first of many Gold Coast apartment developments for Bensons in the coming years.”For more details visit www.bensonsgroup.com.au.