New shops and living options in Canberra's old Kingston

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Old Kingston is set to receive a new lease of life with planned new developments, commercial sales and an influx of new shops.

One of the most eagerly awaited arrivals is a supermarket that will be part of the new Atria residential and retail development on the site of the large Eyre Street car park.

Independent Property Group director of project marketing Wayne Harriden says Kingston residents had been missing a place to do their major shopping.

“Everyone who visits our display suite has been telling me the supermarket is something they’re really looking forward to,” he says.

“We’ve also been getting tremendous interest in our one- and two-bedroom apartments and have had to reconfigure the design to accommodate requests for more three-bedroom designs.”

Construction is expected to begin early in the new year, when tenancies will be offered at 13 retail spaces.

President of the Kingston-Baron Residents’ Group Rebecca Scouller says part of her group’s focus was to work with the existing Kingston traders on the development of a “shareway”, a kind of piazza, that would connect with the Atria development.

“Everyone will benefit with the connectivity that will help ensure pedestrian flow between the supermarket and the existing Kingston shops,” she says.

“It’s just one of the signs that revitalisation is under way.”

Scouller says that area is experiencing a new take-up in retail space that is helping inject new life into the area.

“We also recently received a grant that is going to enable us to help preserve the heritage of old concrete pillar street signposts in the Kingston-Barton area,” she says.

“It’s important old and the new features are integrated into the overall feel of the area.”

Elsewhere, the Green Square Centre retail development is on sale for $5.5 million. The building fronts Green Square and comprises some 1600 square metres of retail space.

The development is 80 per cent vacant, but selling agent Guy Randell of Burgess Rawson Canberra says it represents an exceptional opportunity for someone to refit or develop the space.

Developer and owner of the popular Kingston Jones & Co restaurant  Socrates Kochinos says he is very confident about the precinct’s future.

“Kingston is part of Canberra’s DNA and it’s important that character is preserved yet evolves with the times,” he says.

“I believe it’s on the way back and I’m excited about its future.”