Local landmark development keeps business close to home
Strong sales activity and building progress at MAB Corporation’s southjunction development, 999 Nepean Highway Moorabbin, is giving new life to the former City of Kingston site.
Sixty percent of the corporate office suites have been sold and the building refurbishment is due for completion in December.
Occupying a prime position on the high profile junction of Nepean Highway and South Road, this vibrant commercial centre provides local businesses with an attractive alternative to an expensive CBD address.
The development follows a trend for small-medium businesses to look beyond the city for office premises as people strive to achieve a better work-life balance by working closer to home.
According to research by strategic property consultants Charter Keck Cramer, lifestyle factors impact significantly on choice of office location. The distance that management and staff are required to travel are important factors in determining business premises, often outweighing other considerations. Offices should be easily accessible by car and particularly by public transport.
Charter Keck Cramer Senior Property Analyst Frank Sorgiovanni said: “The demand for office suites is being fuelled by Baby Boomers who have in recent years relocated to Kingston and Bayside municipalities and want to operate a small business close to home.
“Location influences are playing an increasing role. Strategically located office suites near clusters of growth industries and similarly good access to an employment base such as the South Eastern suburbs are more favourable.
“Office suites appeal to a growing number of white collar professionals who are looking to establish a working environment that meets the needs of their staff and clients.”
Local businesses are embracing southjunction’s benefits, including Rosalinda Batson, director of Neural Networks, who purchased a 91 square metre office suite.
“southjunction is just perfect for us”, said Batson.
“Our family lives in East Bentleigh so we are only five minutes away. I was impressed with the professional presentation of the suites, proximity to shopping and I am looking forward to belonging to a business community, something our current space does not offer. Also the development is well serviced by public transport, which is important for my staff.”
City of Kingston’s Manager of Economic Development, Suzanne Ferguson believes the local area needs a diverse range of vibrant activity centres, like southjunction, to attract and retain advanced business services and act as a development incentive to home-based enterprises.
“There are many small and home-based businesses operating in the area and these people want to upscale without sacrificing the lifestyle benefits to which they have become accustomed.”
MAB Senior Development Manager, Philip Soumilas says southjunction is a positive addition to the community.
“These offices represent an asset not just to owner-occupiers and investors, but to the local community by offering employment opportunities and expanding the range of community-focused services.”