Church to demolish homes as cash raiser
Move to flatten century-old Parnell buildings alarms heritage group
Heritage advocates are decrying Anglican Church plans to demolish two century-old Parnell homes — but the church says the buildings must go so it can lease the land for development to earn money for other buildings’ upkeep.
Julie Hill, Parnell Heritage cochair, said some people were upset by imminent plans to demolish the twolevel wooden neighbouring homes at
1a Brighton Rd and 9 St Stephens Ave, beside the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Parnell Rd.
“It’s demolition by neglect,” said Hill. “These two homes have played an important role in the early 20thcentury history of the area, built around 1910 to 1920, so we’re very concerned. A lot of people have been in touch with us.”
But Holy Trinity Cathedral Dean Anne Mills, asked if she had any complaints about the imminent demolition, said: “Absolutely none. Since we announced our plans to establish an endowment fund for Holy Trinity Cathedral to our parishioners and then the stakeholders on April 22, I have had no formal complaints nor criticism, either verbally or in writing.”
In a letter published online last month, Mills wrote that annual cathedral, grounds and associated building maintenance was $300,000-plus annually, and predicted to rise.
So the two sites, zoned for terraces and apartments under the Unitary Plan, would be leased long-term to a developer for apartment development.
All 17 protected trees would be kept, the homes were not listed as heritage and it was not economically feasible to keep them because refurbishment to a commercial standard would be so expensive, she wrote.
Activity was due to start by late last month but was delayed by a gas pipeline which needed to be disconnected.
Vernon Tava, Waitemata¯ Local Board member, said after the land was re-zoned, the church got a code of compliance certificate which allowed it to demolish or relocate the two homes.
Mills said relocation had not been an option because due to the homes’ size and their structure, it had proved “too expensive and as a result, the decision has been made to demolish the two buildings. Work at the site commences on April 23,” she wrote.
Hill said people had complained directly to Parnell Heritage and the dean. One man, whose family had lived in the area for 75 years, said he was “so upset about the old buildings being allowed to decay and being demolished”.
The cathedral had built a new “golden temple”, he said, referring to the $15 million Fearon Hay Architects’ award-winning chapel, yet was engaging in “wanton destruction” of the two homes.
Mills said the chapel money was raised before that project began and the church was unable to afford the $300,000-plus maintenance bill without leasing land on its two house sites.
Jenny Leatham wrote to Hill: “As a
It’s demolition by neglect. These two homes have played an important role in the early 20th-century history of the area, built around 1910 to 1920 so we’re very concerned. Julie Hill, Parnell Heritage
member of the Anglican Church and also Parnell Heritage, like many, I have been saddened by the demolition by neglect of the two old houses that are now due for active demolition. It has been difficult to accept that the church has been unable to refurbish and use the houses when there has all the time been such a need for accommodation, yet funds have been found to undertake other work that might well have waited.”
Mills said neither house had been occupied for some time. Hill said fire and safety concerns resulted in their being empty for years.
Auckland Council records showed 1a Brighton Rd was a pre-1900 structure, relocated on that site in 1983. Neo-Georgian in style, the old deanery or friary was in poor condition.
A council spokesperson said neither of the buildings was listed as an historic heritage place under the Auckland Unitary Plan.