Posts by Russell Brown
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Some more ...
While anyone can apply for an SHA or any other content, the criteria in this case require that "the landowner's views be sought".
So I don't think Maureen was entirely in the dark about the designation being sought, and I don't think she objected to it.
But if something's going to happen to the King's Arms, it's going to happen soon. With the expiry of the key sections of the Act, resource consent applications for a development must be in by September. And if you were planning such an application, you'd be working on plans now.
In terms of what could be built there, the "special height overlay" under the Unitary Plan will allow up to eight stories on that site. But the Special Housing Area limit is only six stories, so at the moment, it looks like six stories would be the plan.
-
I checked the title on the other two properties in the SHA, 11 and 13 Karaka Street.
It sold in August last year to:
Alhan Ali Elsayed Selem
Kiwi Trustee Services Limited
Mohamed Selim
Susan Anne BierreThey're investors who seem to have other ventures in common. Alhan Ali Essayed Selem set up a property development company this year.
-
Hard News: About the King's Arms (updated), in reply to Matthew Poole,
Does that mean the designation also expires in 2018 unless utilised?
I think so.
-
I had a brief conversation with Kelly McEwan, the director of development at Urban Collective.
He wouldn’t comment on whether he’d spoken to Maureen Gordon or discussed a sale, but said that if Maureen says she’s not selling “then there’s nothing to worry about”.
He did note that development controls switch to the Unitary Plan later in the year and that those are similar but more stringent. (Specifically, Sections 17 and 18, which cover the designation of new SHAs, expire in September. So the 36 SHAs announced last week are the last to be designated.)
“People in our industry apply for consents and do things all the time,” he added. “It’s just a zoning thing.”
He noted that the KA’s carpark might be a good development site.
It would be a fair guess that Urban Collective wanted to get in under the SHA rules and applied for the designation in the hope of a acquiring the property in the next couple of years.
Vernon Tava of the Waitemata Local Board is getting back to me soon, but did note that anyone can apply for a resource consent over any property.
Note: Luke Appleby at TVNZ has talked to Maureen and says she stressed a "never say never" approach and said her position "might change".
-
Here's the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013
The parts that expire inSeptember are those to do with establishing new SHAs and the rest rolls on until 2018.
So, yes, the 36 SHAs announced last week were the last under the act.
-
Hard News: About the King's Arms (updated), in reply to Brent Jackson,
That’s the most plausible explanation I’ve heard.
I've called the developers and they're calling me back, possibly.
-
Latest.
-
Hard News: About the King's Arms (updated), in reply to Mr Mark,
o I’m assuming (as a Wellingtonian with limited knowledge of the minutiae of Auckland’s social / cultural history) that it was a high density area with a very strong working class (presumably, above all, unskilled wkg class) population ?
Those people were shooed out ages ago. You’re now talking about urban liberals who may or may not be working class.
-
Hard News: About the King's Arms (updated), in reply to Lindsey Rea,
You can apply for a Land Use consent over any land – whether you own it or not.
Which appears to be what's happened here. The strange part is that the greater part of the SHA is land currently not available for development. The preening statement from Urban Collective seems particularly odd in this light
I've sent a message to Urban Collective and I'll try again in the morning.
-
Okay ... things are getting strange now.
I've amended the post to reflect that Maureen Gordon apparently says the property is NOT for sale.
One theory is that the developer may have applied for SHA status to increase the value of the property to pressure a sale. But ... hmmm.
Last ←Newer Page 1 … 202 203 204 205 206 … 2279 Older→ First