We’ve arrived at the present housing disaster rather like the Hemingway character explaining how he went bankrupt: “Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly.”

NZ’s 5.2 million people live in 2,018,100 dwellings of which 35% are rented and 65 % are privately owned. Census data shows that private homeownership peaked in the1990s at 74 percent. (Stats NZ Sept 2018)

Egalitarian NZ should be able to provide ‘security of tenure’ for all citizens no matter what income theyearn – whether owners or renters. Vienna believes that housing is not a commodity, a financial product or investment object but first and foremost a human right and accordingly intervenes in the free market. The Austrian housingmarket offers a diverse range of private and public housing types on a spectrum of profit to non-profit. (See upcomingAGM article)

This new regional housing addition to Whanganui ‘s 48 ,000 populationis exactly the sort of sensible walk up medium density housing needed everywhere in Aotearoa. These 8 new apartments on the street,complete the redevelopment of a former motelblock andthe additional construction of new units to the rear. The intended use of the total property is longterm, high-quality public housing. The existing motel blocks were also refitted by local construction firm, W&W Construction.

In total the combinedproperty now comprises 14 one-bedroom units, 18 two-bedroom units and 2 three-bedroom units Developments like this emphasise the importance of long term planningand establishing regional growth centres with good urban amenities, well connected to the national public transport network.

Who runs the community housing development?

The new Community Housing development on Victoria Avenue is a partnership with SOHO Development Ltd, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) and Compass Housing Services (CHS).

Soho Development is committed to delivering high quality, safe, warm and healthy homes that are available to a broader cross-section of the Whanganui community.

MHUD is responsible for the strategy policy, funding, monitoring and regulation of New Zealand’s housing and urban development system. It will provide funding for the project over the 25 year contract period.

The tenancy and property management services will be provided by Compass Housing Services, a not for profit, registered Community housing provider,accredited by the Community Housing Regulatory Authority (CHRA).

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) manages the social housing register, which determines who is eligible to rent properties in the development. MSD also provides a rent subsidy to low income households based on their income.

Published in the River City Press November 2020.

The eight unit apartment with future retail ,hospitality,gymor workspace on the290 m2 ground floor will supplement the commercial return and help animatebusy Victoria Ave . One end opens out to 115m2 pergola covered courtyard under the leafy plane trees.Eight large rentable one 52m2 / 58m2 and two bed 83m2 apartments are walk up The lower levels are fully wheelchair accessible and’ lifemark’ compliant.

Although low maintenance equates with concreted over carpark this seems to providea robust surface for the locals

Construction of the final block is highly insulated light weight timber frame utilising proprietary construction systems that provide 67 STC separation on Hibond concrete slab base. The Resene ACC integra cladding system adds a haptic solidity to the occupants living with each apartment opening to decent sized out door terrace and outlook (I'd live there! ). The new homes have all been specifically designed to exceed Building Code requirements for insulation, noise insulation and ventilation ensuring warm, dry and comfortable homes. The newly built block has also been designed to include additional accessibility provision for tenants. Several onsite amenities have been included for tenant convenience, including a central carpark and communal laundry.

There are 8 additionalapartments addingto the 26 purpose-built apartments completed in Nov 2020 by soho and 34 units in total, including 14 x 1 bedroom, 18 x 2 bedrooms and 2 x 3 bedrooms. Each unity has it’s own private open space area.

Credits

Client: Soho Development Sam Wallace

Architects: Concept design and RMA Chow Hill Architects

Builder: WW Construction Ltd Sam Blinkhorne, Steelie Koro, Chris Keenan

Architects Design Build and Amended RMA Architecture Workshop: Eleni Timoteo, Nigel James, Christopher Kelly

Structure: Stuart Mackintosh BPL group

Fire: Grant Haggart at Objective

Landscape: WAL Nicole Thompson, Nathan Young

Services: WW Construction