IT'S Queanbeyan's tallest city building, and residents of the new $11 million residential complex of Furlong House are set to move into their new Queanbeyan homes within weeks.
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Staff from the construction contractor, Project Coordination, are currently putting the finishing touches on the project, which includes 42 one and two bedroom apartments across nine levels, as well as a full restoration of the original, heritage-listed Furlong House.
Site owner Hanson Property Development purchased the site in 2009 for just over $1.2 million, however construction was held up for three months early last year due to internal issues with the developer following the departure of partner Man Li.
Project Coordination director Gavin Murphy said the build had gone smoothly since the issues were resolved in late March last year.
"Once the client resolved his internal issues, and once we got a role on, it was very quick actually," Mr Murphy said.
"We built the building using a lot of pre-cast elements and structural Dincel walls.
"And all the balconies came pre-formed, and all of the perimeter steelwork that trimmed out the balcony came with a hand rail on it. It's just a lot of things like that we did, a lot more planning off-site to bring it in and bolt it together- sort of like meccano- rather than traditional forming on site using bricks and blocks," Mr Murphy said.
As for the iconic, original Furlong House, the 1850s Georgian terrace received a full restoration and now houses two small commercial practices complete with pressed metal ceilings, some original fittings and tiles, and a new roof.
However, due to an oversight in the Development Application process, the original Furlong House building is yet to have water and sewerage connected. Sales agent Chris Farmer of LJ Hooker said the two commercial practices were now up for sale.
"They've got the [bathroom] facilities in the foyer of the apartment complex that they can use [in the interim], and it's ideal for someone who wants to run a gallery or a little private office practice," Mr Farmer said.
"They're on the market at the moment. Hopefully we can get a sale on them, or rent them out first and then sell them with leases in place."
Mr Farmer said all but a handful of the 42 residential apartments had now been sold, and that he expected the first residents to move in to Furlong House in early August.
