From:
Tim Kerr
Date:
Aug 03 00:16 UTC
Short link
Appreciate your comments Brendan, I did some work around the Auckland
suburbs back in the early '90's and was very impressed with the
re-conditioned villas. Back then the owners almost universally ripped out
the inside and re-built them to a sort of open plan - and painted everything
(including the wonderful timber) white. They looked very nice and
up-to-date. Of course, 15 years later I think many will regret the way they
ripped out the interiors and painted everything white...
But I digress.
The fact is, these houses were "saved" and the neighbourhoods look OK. So,
according to your comments Brendan, Auckland or Manukau City Council had
some sort of plan that prevented massive demolition of the character
buildings. Do you have any idea what the respective Councils did?
Of course the hills and the lovely red scoria footpaths contribute to the
overall attractiveness of the suburbs ... as does the view. Although views
in Auckland generally consist of distant hills covered in houses!
Apartments can be attractive - like the ones on Park terrace that the
couple went broke doing up. Nice red brick buildings that tie in with the
original structure. But no-one can afford them! There are others on Park Tce
that... well.. I'm no architect, but I reckon look like a stack of sticks!
They aren't cheap either.
Except where developers are catering to specific requirement cheap
apartments generally seem to end up a loss-maker. The developer may do OK
but subsequent buyers end up with uncontrollable tenants, poor governance
and leaky, scungey dwellings... Where cheap apartments are sort of OK is
close to blue-collar work regions coal mines, steel works etc. Lousy
buildings but hey, that's all the workforce can afford. I don't think there
is much call for such stuff in Christchurch.
But that brings up another point - and one that affects Victoria, Edwardian
and California-style bungalows... the "over 60's accommodation". As the over
60's bulge disappears what is going to happen to these dwellings? Also, in
an age of non-discrimination, why can't, say a 21-year-old buy or live in
one of these dwellings? So why are these buildings allowed? Who is buying
them? Are the buyers the residents? What happens when they on-sell them?
These buildings are responsible for the demolition of lots of elderly
dwellings.
In a phrase... Why are they allowed?
Cheers,
Tim Kerr
----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brendon Burns" <<email obscured>>
> To: "Canterbury Public Issues Forum"
> <<email obscured>>
> Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 4:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Canterbury Issues] Loss of Heritage
>
>
>> Hi Irinka, Tim, Graeme...
>>
>> Having flooded the Auckland market with sometimes truly cheap and nasty
>> shoebox apartments that are now selling for half their original price,
>> some developers have set their sights on Christchurch.
>>
>> We've seen what happened to the Caledonian site - a near doubling of the
>> original number of units, with no community input; I am not that
>> confident, therefore, about the Orion site development. Perhaps the
>> current downturn in construction may provide us some breathing space.
>>
>> Many people do want the benefits of inner-city apartment living. There
>> are around 8000 people already living in the central city. The new
>> apartment buildings have delivered the fastest growth rate of any area in
>> Christchurch.
>>
>> That’s part economics and part lifestyle. Restoring and maintaining an
>> older home to a point where it is warm and liveable is not a cheap
>> option. I spent six years restoring a 1905 Edwardian home. But when it
>> came time to move, there was nothing to stop the next owner bowling it
>> over if he wished. Having heritage buildings listed is no absolute
>> protection; even some class 2 listed buildings are falling to the
>> demolition hammer.
>>
>> I predict that fuel prices may be the key to some major and potentially
>> positive changes. Ponsonby, now a choice Auckland suburb, began to change
>> from an urban slum during the first oil shock in the mid 70s. Now it is
>> row after row of pristine villas priced from $600,000 upwards -
>> unrenovated! I reckon the inner city, Linwood, Phillipstown will become
>> "Ponsonbyfied." The key is to whether it can be done in a way which
>> retains heritage homes - as Auckland's council has done - and also keeps
>> some affordable housing for low and modest income earners.
>>
>> The Urban Development Strategy focuses on intensifying population growth
>> in the inner city, relieving pressure on the outer perimeters. That makes
>> sense from the point of view of environmental sustainability but it will
>> challenge our heritage values.
>>
>> There is some potentially good news here. A plan change is underway at
>> the city council for the current town plan. Signals are it may strengthen
>> protection for heritage buildings and for community input in suburbs that
>> adjoin the central city.
>>
>> Unfortunately, this may not apply to our inner city, where arguably the
>> need for heritage protection is greatest. The cultural precinct is at the
>> heart of our tourism strategy. It is the heritage of the inner city that
>> marks Christchurch as different and appealing.
>>
>> The council’s plan change may give more weight to the concerns of
>> suburban residents in future but it is unclear what, if any, new or
>> increased protection may emerge for inner city heritage buildings. They
>> are too important to have a policy which is framed around 'watch this
>> space.'
>>
>> Brendon Burns
>>
>>
>> Brendon Burns
>> Richmond, Christchurch
>> Info about Brendon Burns:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/5327sUyPUvOiDy1nF4Htfv
>>
>> This topic's messages may be viewed at:
>> http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/1QXwYH6YeaeKVjItH970pZ
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From:
Brendon Burns
Date:
Aug 03 10:40 UTC
Short link
Tim, Auckland City Council protected its heritage in the inner city suburbs.The
city itself is full of ghastly shoeboxes but suburbs like Ponsonby and Grey
Lynn see council protect the villas - you can't bowl them, certainly not
easily. They are very fashionable and popular because they are so close to the
city - and because they are so appealling. We can learn something here.
The current building downturn is our last chance to keep what makes
Christchurch's inner city and inner city suburbs so different. Tourists and
locals alike prefer well-maintained, renovated, insulated heritage buildings to
tilt slab.
This is around sustainable economic development as well as a heritage issue.