Lakeside office with views looks for suitable match

The space is available for $110,000 a year gross and the 10 per cent fee offered would deliver a handy $11,000 to a helpful party.

Lemon Baxter leasing agent Sophie Amerena said the floor had been vacant for six months.

“The owner is proactive,” Ms Amerena said.

“We have seen enquiry dramatically pick up over the last two weeks. We are seeing a larger percentage than normal of enquiry from tenants coming out of the CBD due to the cost and congestion issues,” she said.

Three new leasing deals had been struck in the past three weeks at 10 Queens Road, 606 St Kilda Road and 3 Bowen Crescent, she said.

Also hoping to pick up tenants escaping from the CBD is Cedar Woods which has just completed its fourth commercial strata building at Williams Landing in the west.

In the CBD, values are holding up. An investor snapped up the suite belonging to late ophthalmologist, David Dale, in Alcaston House for $850,000 or $15,500 a square metre.

Colliers International agent Chris Ling, who did the deal with Anthony Kirwan and George Davies, said “We’ve run a few campaigns in the city during the Covid period and there’s plenty of capital out there. Values have been in line or above what we expected.”

Mums move

The Lawrence family has sold a vacant St Kilda warehouse office that was home to the charity St Kilda Mums until last year.

Michael Sholakis’ Hillsyde Group paid $3.1 million for the 2-4 Vale Street property on a speedy 14-day settlement.

Hillsyde is planning to gut and refurbish the two-storey property, engaging architect Chris Connell for the project.

“With bank returns next to nothing and the share market as unpredictable and volatile as ever, our focus – for the short, medium and long term – will be acquiring commercial property,” Mr Sholakis said

The 955-square-metre building is on a 585-square-metre site off Barkly Street near the intersection with Acland Street.

CBRE agents Rorey James and Dylan Kilner did the deal with Adam Guest from Wilson Commercial.

St Kilda Mums moved to Clayton last year.

More gyms

Global fitness company F45 Training has signed up for a new 470-square-metre space at 96-100 Toorak Road, South Yarra.

Fitzroys agent Samuel Friend negotiated the five year lease, with a five year option, at $425 a square metre.

F45 are moving out of a smaller gym in nearby Yarra Street which is being converted into apartments and presumably, more clients.

“F45 isn’t currently operating its gyms due to lockdown restrictions, but had taken a longer-term view of their operations and the South Yarra market and sought a long-term deal,” Friend said.

Other recent leasing South Yarra deals include Foundr’s commitment to level 1 at 60 Wilson Street and kombucha maker Remedy Drink’s move to 6 Bond Street.

Reception centre

A reception centre on the site of the first colonial-era dwelling on Mount Dandenong is on the market.

The CountryPlace Conference and Function Centre is located where pioneers Isaac and Ann Jeeves built the first house and later, hotel, on the ranges east of Melbourne.

CBRE hotels agent Scott Callow has the listing. CountryPlace has 62 guest rooms and a variety of function rooms.