Formus News
The Salvation Army selects partner to transform Miranda site into multi-purpose community centre
The Salvation Army announced today it had entered a partnership to transform its Miranda site to better meet the growing need for its social support and faith services in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
The Salvation Army undertook an exhaustive 12-month Expression of Interest process to find a partner that aligned with its principles, mission and vision for the site. Following this process, The Salvation Army appointed Formus Property (FORMUS), the new entity of experienced development specialists Ben Fairfax and Adam Lucas, to partner with the organisation to deliver the new multi-purpose facility.
The current 2,447sqm site houses critical local welfare services including financial crisis assistance, access to transitional housing for vulnerable women and families, hot meals and hampers, training and mentoring to help vulnerable young people attain their driver’s licence, counselling for family issues, and drug and alcohol support.
FORMUS and The Salvation Army will explore how the site can be best utilised to meet the needs of the local community. The proposed development will encompass a purpose-built, holistic community centre that offers a range of professional services and faith pathways for community members, enabling vulnerable and disadvantaged people to receive the vital support they need in one convenient and safe location.
The partnership will also investigate building a mix of apartments, including key worker housing, a Salvos Store at ground level and a social enterprise café providing opportunities for social connection and job skills.
The Salvation Army’s Acting NSW/ACT Divisional Commander, Major Mark Everitt, said the Army had conducted a comprehensive search for the right partner to help maximise the missional outcomes and ensure good stewardship of the local landmark.
“It is important for us to partner with a developer whose people are aligned with the Salvos’ mission, values and intent for this iconic site,” Major Everitt said.
“We are excited to embark on this partnership with FORMUS to realise the full potential of the Miranda site in having a positive impact in the community. Ben and Adam are both local to Sutherland Shire and have a great track record in working with organisations like ours to help guide critical change and enable our work to continue for future generations.
“We are privileged to have walked alongside so many people in the Sutherland Shire for over 55 years, and we hope the community will continue to know that anyone from any walk of life can come in, be valued and supported in the most loving and professional way at Shire Salvos.”
Currently more than 30 people work and volunteer on the site, providing assistance to over 150 people of all ages each week. Last month, Shire Salvos distributed over 250 Christmas hampers and toys; a record for the corps (church).
In previous roles, the FORMUS team has helped partners create specific solutions for their sites, ranging from large-scale master-planned communities through to smaller integrated neighbourhoods.
All are community-centric developments that have involved reimagining underutilised land holdings to provide landowners with not only new facilities but often a new business model to help provide financial sustainability for the long term.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed to this great project with The Salvation Army and to continue our community-based work within the Sutherland Shire,” said Mr Fairfax.
“Every site demands a different solution that responds sensitively to its location and the partner and community need. In this case, the Miranda site is an opportunity to not only progress the Salvos’ critical, life-changing work, but help meet a growing need for housing diversity in the Sutherland Shire.”
FORMUS is working with award-winning architects Turner and respected urban planners Ethos Urban to investigate options for the site and will embark on comprehensive community consultation and engagement as part of the process.
There will be no immediate disruptions to services and the on-site construction works are not proposed to commence until approximately mid-2025. The development will be funded by FORMUS while aligning with The Salvation Army’s mission, values and intent for the site.