Heard of the Western Sydney suburb Villawood? If so, you may not have a great perception of the area. Domain’s news article ‘Villawood, Sydney: from ‘The Bronx’ Stereotype to up-and-coming Suburb’ discusses Villawood’s dark past, exciting present & bright future. Gain insights from those directly involved in Villawood’s transformation: St Trinity, the project marketer for Parklane Residences and the developer, ABA Group.
Table of Contents
Past: What did Villawood use to be like?
It was once nicknamed ‘The Bronx’ and was best known for its tide of drug-fuelled crime, gangland murders and riots at its migrant detention centre. ABA Group’s CEO, Ahmad Diab, recalls, “I remember Villawood always having the nickname of The Bronx, but we first came and looked at it in 2015, and I thought it resembled Redfern as it was in the late ’90s…No one, back then, wanted to live in Redfern.”
Present: What is Villawood like now?
A 2018 urban design study on the Villawood town centre was performed to include increased building heights, public domain improvements, pedestrian connectivity, new roads and new open spaces.
Currently, Villawood is undergoing enormous changes: “a wave of slick new apartment developments, a $326 million state government investment in its town centre for new homes, retail and infrastructure, and the opening late last year of a 3200 square metre landscaped park.”
Fairfield City Council has been investing in infrastructure and open space within Villawood, including its $1.9 million Koonoona Park.
Mr Diab explains, “We thought it was a good opportunity to get in early. In some ways, the coronavirus was a little bit of a blessing, too, as the state government then fast-tracked its master plan for the town centre to deliver a boost because of the pandemic. The town centre didn’t have any apartments at all, and it was surrounded by old fibro ex-Housing Commission homes. But now it’s all being rejuvenated.”
At St Trinity, we are handling sales for the new Parklane Residences in Villawood developed by ABA Group.
Our Sales Director, Will Wehbe, says, “We’re now seeing people coming from places like Surry Hills and Dulwich Hill to buy apartments…It’s just incredible. Who would have thought residents from the inner west would ever be buying here?
But while it doesn’t have the hip streets and coffee shops, people want to get their feet into the property, and with Sydney prices rising so much, they have to look further out. They’re coming here and seeing how much it’s changed and what good connectivity it has to the city, with trains, buses and roads. Those old stereotypes have gone.”
“Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the Kamira Court renewal was key to the government’s investment in Western Sydney and would deliver multiple benefits.” As a result of this, prices have improved.
The NSW Government will build more new homes in Western Sydney to meet housing demands and create local jobs, which will support more families & businesses because the region is one of NSW’s highest-demand areas for housing.
Mr Wehbe says the suburb has made a capital gain of 10.05 per cent over the past year, and the newly-built apartments are averaging a rental yield of 4.88 per cent for investors. “The demographic is also changing, with a rise in the number of residents with tertiary qualifications,” he said.
Future: What does the future look like for Villawood?
The NSW government has announced a $112 million project for Villawood – eight kilometres from each of Parramatta, Liverpool and Bankstown – to makeover a long-vacant 15,200 square metre site.
With construction estimated to start in early 2022, it’ll be a new development of almost 400 new homes, including 55 social dwellings, a supermarket and community spaces near local shops, the train station, buses and two local schools. You could say that Villawood will be almost unrecognisable!
Let’s talk about Parklane Apartments – Villawood.
Parklane Residences Villawood is a 7-level, 56-apartment tower located at 10-12 Howatt Street, in the centre of the Villawood Town Centre rejuvenation. Award-winning architect Tony Owen, who has designed some of the most expensive apartment buildings in Sydney, like Eliza opposite Hyde Park, was engaged to design Parklane.
With over 50% already sold, we are expecting project completion in late 2024.
Parklane Villawood Apartments Interior (artist’s impression)
Want to live or invest in Western Sydney’s major growth area? For more information on the Parklane Residences Villawood project, call 1300 595 488 or click below.
Sources: Domain News
