Apartments ‘too big, too ugly’

A proposal for a four-storey apartment and retail complex on the main street of Greytown has been labelled as ‘‘too big, too ugly and too shadowy’’.

Frank Minehan, of the Greytown Heritage Trust, said trust members were concerned about the size, the style and the purpose of the development.

‘‘Of course, you can have modern buildings but they have to be complementary. We say this one isn’t. It’s just too big, too ugly and too shadowy and built for inner-city apartment dwellers.’’

Developer Steve Pilbrow, of Westwood Commercial Ltd, said there was always an element of negativity around any new project.

‘‘We try and design things within the heritage precinct to be sympathetic to the heritage of Greytown. The problem with some of the heritage groups is that they want you to replicate some of the old buildings and that’s not what architecture is all about.’’

The plans include two retail shops on the ground floor and 10 apartments on the top three floors.

Bevan Moreland, owner of The Offering Cafe across the road from the proposed site, said nobody quite realised the project’s size and the impact it would have on those around it.

‘‘There’s going to be a shadow factor, you’re going to be looking at a big building, it’s four storeys.’’

Not everyone is against the plan, though

Greytown resident Phil O’Brien thought it was a positive development for the Wairarapa town and would look ‘‘fantastic’’.

‘‘We can’t still pretend it’s 1958 in this town.’’