Fitzroy apartment project pedals bike culture to lure buyers

LOOKING to buy a new apartment in inner city Melbourne? Would you like a bike with that?

Bespoke Fitzroy buyers will get a complimentary bike from Tokyobike Australia, worth $1000 with their set of keys.

Need a place to tinker with your latest set of wheels? No problem.

The apartment block comes with a communal workshop, complete with tools, for the sole use of the residents.

Developer Anthony De Luca said the 81-83 Argyle St development was tapping into the bike culture prominent in the City of Yarra suburb.

“I think a lot of people search for apartments with bike spaces …(and) the whole push in Fitzroy and Collingwood is to have a bike as opposed to a car,” Mr De Luca said.

“We are providing 31 bike spaces, so there is one on each title.”

Mr De Luca said Bespoke Fitzroy had attracted a lot of interest from first homebuyers in the 22 to 35 age group.

“We have already sold 13 apartments,” he said.

To be launched this month, the project will also have 20 car spaces with the 31 apartments ranging between $345,000 to $700,000.

Mr De Luca said construction was expected to start in early June and finish in July next year.

“We also wanted to have some interaction with the street and not just have a plain facade…(or) another cafe or shop,” he said.

“So the bike workshop will be on show in the front facade and people will be able to see it from the street.”

He said the workshop would have a bench and a stand to hoist the bikes and would also provide a communal space for the residents to mingle.

“It will help people to get to know their neighbours,” he said.

“In a small block it is very hard to have a gym and pool which also drives up the body corporate fee.

“This is just a simple and effective way to get people to have some interaction with each other.”

Sourced from News.com.au – read the article here.