Aucklanders saying no to 18 story suburban apartment blocks
Len Brown and his city planners seem to think that you build a city to fit in with your transport plan, rather than build a transport system to fit in with where people want to live.
Their master plan is to force as many people as possible into apartments. But not just CBD apartments (which I am quite fond of), but massive apartments everywhere – up to 18 stories in height.
Yes Len and sidekick Penny have not just proposed 18 story suburban apartment blocks, but are demanding that the Government fast-track their plan to do so. Labour seem to be backing them.
The Herald reports:
Communities are rebelling against high-rise and in-fill housing, Aucklanders are struggling to follow the complex document and nine of 20 councillors have written to the Prime Minister urging him to slow down the process. …
Auckland-wide community meetings have sparked angry reactions to plans in a draft copy of the unitary plan for high-rise and in-fill housing in more than half of the urban area. …
Meanwhile, St Heliers residents turned out in force last night to oppose more “concrete monstrosities” destroying the character of the seaside village.
I understand there were almost 500 people at the meeting.
Len and Penny want a height limit of 18 stories not just for the CBD (which is fine) but also for:
- Albany
- Botany
- Henderson
- Manukau
- New Lynn
- Papakura
- Newmarket
- Sylvia Park
- Takapuna
- Westgate/Massey
In 13 other town centres they want 8 stories, or 33 metres.
There is no doubt that Auckland needs to grow both upwards and outwards. But the majority needs to be outwards, not upwards to reduce house prices and give Aucklanders more choices over where they live.
Auckland already has a higher urban density than Sydney and Melbourne.