Trust gets poetry in motion
The first stage of a development that will add new character to the Five Cross Roads commercial centre in Hamilton East should be ready for occupancy within the next few months.
The ‘‘Poets’ Corner’’ development is the initiative of the Birds Plant and Equipment Trust.
It is also the local name of the suburb, Enderley, where the development is being built, and which has several streets named after famous poets such as Shakespeare, Marlowe and Wordsworth.
The long-time Hamilton business was started years ago by the late Grahame Bird and his wife Thelma, who ran operations such as T&G Bird uniforms in Garden Place, Coby Mufflers, several taverns and a gift store.
They also operated Bird’s Liquorsave for 14 years with seven outlets and a wholesale division before they sold it to The Mill in 2005.
Trustee Raymond Bird said the family had acquired properties at Five Cross Roads, including what had been the Hukanui Nurseries site, over the past 20 years or so.
The area, totalling about 5500 square metres and with entry off Peachgrove Rd and Fifth Ave, was backed by housing on two sides, which constricted its use.
However, rezoning as commercial suburban in the most recent Hamilton District Plan allowed development to proceed.
Site works began late last year with design by Chow Hill Architects, and Naylor Love as the lead construction contractor.
All the building, other than one 60-square-metre shop, has already been tenanted with businesses including Anytime Gym, Vivo Hairdressers and kebab outlets.
Construction includes the use of Speedwall, a galvanised steel sandwich with aerated concrete filling designed to give the soundproofing needed for separate tenancies and a
120-minute fire rating. Another important design attribute is the use of feature columns made of red bricks salvaged from the
2016 demolition of St Mary’s Presbytery and more reclaimed bricks brought from Christchurch.
‘‘When I was in the liquor business the Five Cross Roads roundabout was carrying about 30,000 vehicles a day. It was one of the best retail spots in Hamilton,’’ Bird said.
‘‘It’s centrally located, a conduit into the central city for the traffic from the northeast, and it has about
10,000 school pupils at schools within a
2-kilometre radius. It’s not far from Claudelands and near Davies Corner.’’
Another attraction of the Five Cross Roads area was the potential for urban renewal, Bird said.
‘‘There’s a raft of land about with ageing housing on large sections and we’re likely to see a big increase in infill housing. We hope to change the face of Poets’ Corner. For us it’s a longterm family trust investment with multiple income flows.’’
Stage one of the Bird Family Trust Poets’ Corner redevelopment will be followed by an adjacent restaurant, and later, an apartment building.