‘Not in keeping’: Residents weigh in
A six-storey social housing development is no longer on the cards in central Nelson, but nearby residents still have concerns about Kāinga Ora’s alternative plans.
In a letter to nearby residents last week, Kāinga Ora explained that they were no longer waiting for a decision on Plan Change 29 (PC29) to start on their planned housing project at 4 Examiner St and 57 Wellington Rd.
Under PC29, the housing provider would have been able to explore building a six-storey development at the site, which sits in a high-density zone.
However, with a decision on the plan not expected until late this year, Kāinga Ora had decided not to wait, and plans are in the works for a three-storey complex, spread across two buildings and comprising of 30 to 36 units, the letter said.
Kāinga Ora’s acting Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast regional director Paula Bowden said while plans were not yet confirmed, it was likely the development would consist of one and two-bedroom units.
Andrew Dunlop, who owns two properties near the site, said a “six-storey development, planted right next door, would be too much to handle”. It’s not in keeping with the neighbourhood.”
However, Dunlop was not happy about a three-storey development, either. He had questions about resource consent, parking, the housing provider’s ability to manage such a large development, and anti-social behaviour.
He was also worried about housing values: a real estate agent had told him his two properties had “lost $1 million capital value” between them, which prevented him from selling up, he said.
“It’s not a nice situation to be in.” When asked where Kāinga Ora should build their development, Dunlop said “somewhere else”. “There are a number of other properties around.”
The latest available figures from the Ministry of Social Development show there are 306 families or individuals waiting for public housing. Of these, 189 require a one-bedroom home, and 75 are waiting for a two-bedroom home.
Kaye McNabb, who lives on Locking St, said she was concerned about “high-needs people” living in close proximity.
“These people do not become part of the community.”
While she recognised people needed housing, McNabb thought social housing should be spread out, “so [residents] can be integrated within the community”.
A couple living near the development who asked for anonymity told the Nelson Mail they had just moved to the area, and the letter dropped in their letterbox was the first they’d heard of the development.
While they were glad the development would be three storeys and not six, they had questions.
“We'd want to know what [the development] looks like ... and what kind of person will be living there.”
“My concern is [Kāinga Ora will] put high-risk people there. It’s not quite the right location, in a neighbourhood where everyone’s quite settled.”
Bowden said the project had been “on hold” while the council considered the plan change.
“[However], we recognise there is a growing demand for housing in Nelson. With this in mind, we have decided to move ahead with plans to redevelop the site, irrespective of PC29.”
The project is still in the early stages, and the housing provider was not able to give any time frames for construction, Bowden said.