A NEW CBD park could be named in honour of Melboume’s first market. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle confirmed yesterday that a linear park between Collins St and the Yarra River was planned as part of the $1 billion “Pant scraper” development
The 39-storey twin-tower Collins Arch. at 447 Collins St, will indude 202 apartments, a five-star hotel, and a 14m sky bridge Iinking the towers.
Developer Cbus Property has pledged there will be a “pocket” park and is in talks with the council to extend it down Market St to Flinders St.
Cr Doyle said part of Market St would be closed under the proposal for a green link Crom Collms St to the Yarra.
“This site was the Western Market (so we’ll) look at how we might commemorate the history of this site through the naming of the park,” he said.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Arch’s original design would have overshadowed the Yarra, but he was happy with a compromise.
It’s really rare that you gel the opportunity to have a whole city block redeveloped with a very striking architectural building,” he said.
Adrian Pozzo, chief executive of Cbus Property, said the project would be one of the city’s most architecturally striking since Federation Square.
The bridge will have sculptural cladding to “bounce light down into public space below”.
The 2000sqm park on the comer of Collins and Market streets will include landscaping and sealing. An amphitheatre will have a raked, terraced stair and four main tiers.
Council plans to eventually extend the park to the river by partially dosing Market St.
Construction will take three years, ending in late 2019.