Frank’s shed finally comes down
The shed that defeated five attempts to bring it down has reached its final chapter.
New Plymouth’s most famous ‘add on’ is being taken down this week after being a notorious part of Moturoa’s Findlay St for more than 30 years.
Frank Amor, who died in February 2015, had been something of a folk hero over his battle with the New Plymouth District Council, which tried for years to
have illegal shed removed.
The sprawling structure – on a property valued at $370,000 and with amazing sea views – started life as a lean-to, which Amor had a permit for. Because it wasn’t a building he didn’t think he needed more paperwork to add on to it. And add on to it was what he did. Again, and again and again.
The council did not appreciate his handiwork and the parties argued the matter in court five times between 1998 and 2002 when he was given a reprieve, as long as he met requirements around the painting and warning signs.
Amor’s daughter, Vickie AmorPonter, said it had been a long process to get to the point of demolishing her dad’s shed and while it was emotional for her to see it destroyed ‘‘it’s no longer compatible to have it in the area’’.
‘‘I hated bringing it down. He fought really hard to keep the shed.’’
Over the years her father had built many things in the shed, including a boat. ‘‘He was quite inventive. It’s amazing how he was able to do that.’’
She plans to keep the land, which overlooks Port Taranaki, and wants to restore the family homestead for future generations.
They were working hard to honour her father’s contract with the council and the neighbours, she said.
Amor-Ponter said a lot of people had come to her while the demolition was underway.
‘‘They loved dad and they missed him, and he was always good to them,’’ she said.
David Brownson was one neighbour grateful the shed was being removed.
He had been wanting to redevelop his land into luxury apartments for eight years and the shed had prevented that because it made potential buyers hesitant about signing on the dotted line, he said.
‘‘Basically the shed has hindered any development in Findlay St. Other people wouldn’t buy while the shed was there.’’
He appreciated that there was a lot of ‘‘special things’’ in the shed that belonged to the family and they needed a chance to go through it.
‘‘It’s just been a long process which I can understand, it had to take its course. Our opposition to the shed was that basically when we built, the shed wasn’t there. We had to comply with all the building bylaws and this development next door never complied.’’
Brownson said he still maintained a good relationship with the family.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said they had put up with the shed for 32 years.
She said while they had never had any problems it was a good thing the shed was being demolished.
‘‘It was an eyesore.’’