Sydney's First Nightingale Rental Development Opens in Marrickville, 54 Homes at 80% of Market Rent

A new affordable rental housing project opened in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west, on Sunday, offering 54 small-footprint apartments at 80 percent of market rent to eligible residents. New South Wales Housing Minister Rose Jackson opened the development, a partnership between Fresh Hope Communities, an arm of the Churches of Christ in NSW and the ACT, and not-for-profit housing provider Nightingale Housing, built on church-owned land. It is Nightingale Housing's first rental development. (Archive image: the Nightingale Marrickville homes.)

Residents chosen by ballot, with income caps

The project received 177 applications, and residents were chosen through a ballot system, subject to income caps of $97,000 for individuals and $126,125 for couples, with a higher cap of $145,500 for larger households. The first residents began moving in early April.

Fossil fuel free and car free, steps from the station

Designed by SJB and Dangar Barin Smith, the development is fossil fuel free and car free, thanks to its close proximity to Marrickville railway station, with residents relying mainly on public transport. The developers say the small-footprint design and shared spaces are meant to keep rents and living costs down while preserving a sense of community.