Next step for $150m retirement village
The continued development of New Plymouth’s new $150 million retirement village shows people want to invest in living here, district mayor Neil Holdom says.
‘‘It’s exciting to see an amazing investment like this in New Plymouth supporting the community,’’ he told residents of the Summerset Pohutukawa Place development in Bell Block yesterday.
Holdom was officially opening Pohutukawa Place’s recreation centre, which will provide space for communal activities such as indoor bowling, table tennis, movies, and musical events.
The development is part of the evolution of the New Plymouth district, which is transitioning from a big town to a small city, Holdom said.
Each of the units planned for the site would pay rates to the New Plymouth District Council, and large residential developments like this helped spread the burden for the cost of new infrastructure needed by the city across more households, he added.
The Summerset investment also showed central government that people wanted to invest in the local community, Holdom said.
The new recreation centre building is temporary and will be in place until a permanent facility is finished in 2023, Summerset Pohutukawa Place manager Martin Hook said.
The village will eventually total 300 units, all with 24-hour care.
Homes range from twobedroom cottages and 2-3 bedroom villas to serviced apartments, priced from $590,000.
A hospital and a dementia unit will also be built.
The development will eventually be home to 500 people, but at the moment there are only 25.
Vic and Doreen Terrill say they love being among the first residents – although Vic does have one regret.
‘‘I miss my shed,’’ the 93-yearold said, saddened that he had no room to store the large collection of antique tools that had taken up a greater part of their old double garage in New Plymouth.
The garage at the couple’s twobedroom unit was built for only one vehicle.
‘‘I have stored the tools at my grandson’s before we decide what to do with them.’’
The Terrills have moved from their Westown home of 11 years.
‘‘We love living here,’’ Doreen, 90, said. ‘‘There’s always something to do and see, and there is always people around to talk to.’’