A fruitful existence
Developers are doing their best to encourage neighbourly feeling, reports Donna Fleming
It might seem like a random thing to do: planting different types of fruit trees in the gardens of homes being built in Richmond, a new development under construction in Mt Wellington. But there’s a good reason for it, explains Christie Wrightson, Richmond’s sales manager. “It’s one of the things we’re doing to help encourage interaction between neighbours,” she says. “Hopefully we’ll get people doing things like going next door to swap their limes for the neighbour’s lemons.”
Creating community feeling among residents in Richmond is one of developers Wilshire Group’s main priorities. They’ve designed it to not only look good, but to bring people together.
“One of the other things we are doing is making the front of the homes more open so you do say hello to your neighbours,” says Christie.
“That also creates passive security — neighbours will notice if there’s something suspicious going on.”
Other measures intended to create a sense of community include leaving space for small green areas, or pocket parks, which will have more fruit trees and shared herb gardens.
“They’ll be good places to hold community events, like Easter egg hunts,” says Christie. “It will be up to the residents what they want to organise, but they will have the space for it.”
A residents’ association will be responsible for planning events, as well as maintaining the quality of the development.
Amenities to be included further down the track include a gym, yoga/ Pilates studio, jacuzzi, sauna/ steam room and a children’s playground.
The first stage of the development is for sale. There will be seven stages, eventually creating 600- 700 freehold terraced homes over three to five years. There are 97 available now, with either two, three, four or five bedrooms. All will have off- street parking; some have an internal access garage.
The range of designs means the homes will cater for a variety of people, from couples through to families, and they’re affordable.
“It’s rare to be able to find a family home so close to the city for under a million dollars,” says Christie.
The houses are all contemporary, with weathertightness guarantees. They are being built with sustainability in mind, hence the double glazing, passive solar design, above- grade insulation, LED lights and water- conserving taps, toilets and showers.
A lot of thought has gone into small details, says Christie — from USB outlets in some power points through to taps at the front of each house so the occupants can easily wash their cars, the developers want to make living as easy as possible.
They’re going a little over the top when it comes to the kitchens, admits Christie. “We have overspent but that means our buyers will be ending up with very high- quality kitchens,” she says. “We’re installing engineered stone benches, soft shut drawers, Smeg ovens and dishwashers — the kitchens are going to be great.”
The homes are designed to get as much sun as possible and have great flow from indoors out to the gardens. There will be plenty of greenery on the site, promises Christie.
Many years ago the site was a quarry, then it was used for growing plants for sale in nurseries. Today the land is flat, elevated, and surrounded by ancient pohutukawa, creating a natural green boundary.
The location is already drawing in buyers. Sylvia Park shopping centre is just up the road and Mt Richmond is also handy, as is Ellerslie village. It’s just a couple of minutes to the motorway and only 12km to the CBD. Richmond is ideally placed for public transport. Panama Rd is a key bus route and there are two train stations a few minutes away.
The first of the homes will be ready by around February next year, and the whole stage is due for completion by February 2018. RICHMOND, 33 & 33A PANAMA RD, MT WELLINGTON ON OFFER: B: C: D: SIZES: PARKING: BODY CORP: INSPECT: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: