Bourke St redevelopment

In December, the City of Melbourne submitted a planning application for a $232 million redevelopment of a Bourke St precinct.

The block between Bourke and Little Collins streets will be turned partly into a “public commons” precinct aiming to encourage people to gather and participate in council activities.

Added to the precinct will be: “public commons” spaces, including shared rooftops; new laneways to connect the block; new retail spaces; and new office space that will be partly used as a new home for City of Melbourne staff.

There is also speculation that the City Library may be re-homed there, as its Flinders Lane lease expires in 2020.

An application for a heritage permit was also submitted, as the Commonwealth Bank building at 219-225 Bourke St – which the council  proposes to refurbish – is heritage listed.

Decisions won’t be made on the applications until at least mid-2019, with construction likely to begin in 2020.