Developer knew plans faced fight

A retirement village is nearing completion on a former 100-year-old Remuera bowling club and its developer says he understands why local opposition to his company’s plans has been so strong.

“Totally,” said Guy Eady, chief executive of retirement specialist BeGroup. “You’re losing a green space and having two years of construction. I would not want to be in that position either.”

But he says the Unitary Plan seeks intensification, the city has a rapidly ageing demographic, and retirement village demand is strong, particularly in Remuera — all factors contributing to BeGroup’s Be Rawhiti Holdings’ decision to buy the site at 14 Rangitoto Ave for $8.1 million four years ago.

“People want to age in the area they live in,” he says, referring to last year’s closure of the Caughey Preston rest home nearby.

“When I bought the site, I knew there’d be a fight . . . people were not going to love it,” said the developer who went to King’s College in Otahuhu, grew up just a few streets away and lives on nearby Portland Rd.

“We had a fairly entertaining hearing,” he said of the consent application process which went to independent hearing commissioners.

“They had letters sent through their personal letterboxes. We ended up with security at the hearing.”

Now, 99 places are being built: 68 bed-sit style studio hospital rooms with lounges, 27 independent living apartments and a further four units on Ara St, he said. Included in the plans are 20 beds in a separate area for dementia care.

As well as the bowling club, BeGroup bought a further two sites.

“It’s costing about $40m to build,” Eady said.

The village has risen in a residential-only neighbourhood full of big character homes on standalone sites, on a block bounded by Rangitoto Ave, Rakau St and Ara St.

At its tallest, the buildings are three levels high, but the site slopes, so that the elevations are lower on Rangitoto Ave.

Eady said 70 was the minimum age. Out of the 27 independent living apartments, deposits had been taken on 14 by mid-June, he said. The deferred management fee — what you lose when buying there — is 30 per cent spread across three years. Pets are allowed only with the management’s agreement.

Weekly fees had yet to be set but Eady indicated they could be around $350/week.