Adelaide’s $100m disability-friendly accommodation on the way
Adelaide residents and tourists with a disability are set to benefit from a new accommodation complex that will be fitted with cutting edge assistive technologies.
The $100 million ‘’U City’ development currently being built by South Australian service provider Uniting Communities will help make the city a more desirable and accessible destination for visitors and locals with a disability.
SA Disabilities Minister Katrine Hildyard feels the innovative multi-use complex will be a great addition that will cater for everyone.
“Anyone with any kind of disability or accessibility issue – both local community members and visitors to our state – will now be able to stay in the heart of our city in accommodation that completely meets their needs,” she says.
“Whether it’s for a one-off holiday or break, or a regular respite stay, there will now be an accessible, purpose-built option for people with disability visiting our great city.”
U City will house 41 retirement apartments, 21 long term disability rental apartments and a 24-hour concierge.
The SA government committed $7.44million to the short stay accommodation facilities with a a further $1 million from the Commonwealth government for equipping the long stay apartments.
Access features include special use beds, personal lifting hoists, accessible bathrooms and adjustable fixtures and services.
“Whether someone is coming from interstate to attend a festival, or visiting the city from the regions to attend a medical appointment, there will be a great new accommodation option on offer through this great new development,” Minister Hildyard says.
Other features like in-room monitoring and alert capability will also be available in these apartments.
Uniting Communities, a state based organisation that delivers more than 90 community service programs including aged care and disability care, will base 200 staff within the dedicated office space also included in the building.
Chief Executive Simon Schrapel believes the development will create an inclusive environment for people with a disability.
“These disability apartments are unique because they’re designed to be completely integrated with the rest of the development, which houses a wide range of functions under one roof,” he says.
“We hope that people who come to stay with us, or rent an apartment long-term, will feel very much a part of supportive and diverse community.”
U City will also be home to a 400 seat function centre, café, gallery space and retail areas.
Mr Schrapel says they are “immensely proud” to be part of the project that he says will set a new standard.
“This development will lead the world – not only because of the technology it will embrace – but also because of its CBD location and integration as part of a much larger mixed use community,” he says.
The complex is expected to be completed in early 2019, creating 180 jobs during construction and more than 30 ongoing jobs in the future