Green light for tower apartments
A Blenheim office tower will be converted into apartments, despite a neighbouring publican’s fears his rowdy punters could cause ‘‘reverse sensitivity’’ from new tenants.
The second and fourth floors of the tower known as the Porse building, at the intersection of Alfred and Market streets, will become eight apartments, each with secure ground floor parking.
Biddy Kate’s Irish Bar and Backpackers owner Terry Sloan made a submission against the proposal at a resource consent hearing in October, saying he was ‘‘not totally opposed’’ but wanted protections for his business.
The former deputy mayor had never had a noise complaint before, but he said that could change if permanent residents moved in across the road.
Commissioner Julian Ironside has decided not to ban noise complaints, saying it was up to the building’s owner, TH Barnes and Co, to decide whether to include such a covenant in their tenancy agreements.
Council staff would still have to investigate all noise complaints, but Ironside said the double-glazed windows and air conditioning would offset noise from across the road.
His decision required TH Barnes to install automated electronic signage at the entrance to the ground floor garage, so pedestrians could be warned when vehicles approached.
Sloan said he was also concerned about the loss of a loading zone on Market St, which would be replaced by the ground floor entrance.
It was used by several shops in the area and the next closest loading zone was 20 metres down the road, he said.
Ironside said in his decision TH Barnes would have to make a formal application for road access, before the Marlborough District Council and Marlborough Roads would consider removing the loading bay, separate to the consent process.
The building, built in 1987, was once full of tenants such as government departments and corporate offices, but most had moved out and there was not as much demand for office space.
The tower was brought up to code following seismic strengthening after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016.
TH Barnes director Jason Barnes said the council encouraged intensive housing in the central business district to counter a housing shortage.
‘‘Apartment living has been more the domain of cities, but with current housing issues, apartment living is becoming accepted, and convenient for people living in smaller towns,’’ Barnes said at the consent hearing. ‘‘People living in these apartments are more likely to go to cafes and restaurants, and go shopping here when they can just walk downtown.’’
The apartments required a resource consent because they did not have any courtyard or balcony space, though there were parks and reserves within walking distance.