Luxury homes now park
LIZ WILLIS
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BE CAREFUL when you walk on this grass – North Shore City Council has spent $10.5 million, around $3000 a square metre, to convert three Mairangi Bay beachfront homes into a reserve.
The homes in Montrose Tce, have been bought to extend park land and prevent development.
The latest purchase, 19 Montrose Tce, means a public reserve can be extended by up to 1.3 hectares if Montrose Tce is closed.
The council started buying the beachfront land in February 2008, when it bought No 17 for $4.1m.
In 2009, the council paid $3m for 15 Montrose Tce and it's now paid $3.4m for No 19.
A house was removed from one property and a luxury home demolished on another.
The previous owner of two of the properties had plans for a large apartment block and the purchases preserve the land as a public reserve, mayor Andrew Williams says.
"Trends towards increased pressure on coastal land for development and redevelopment on the North Shore vindicate our decision to purchase these properties and return them to the public for their recreational use and enjoyment."
Money from development contributions to buy reserves was used.
The Mairangi Bay purchases were opposed by some councillors who felt the council shouldn't buy land to prevent beachfront development.
Councillor Vivienne Keohane publicly raised concerns about the cost of the project even when voting was still confidential.
Ann Hartley, a former real estate agent, criticised the $3m price the council paid for 15 Montrose Tce, compared to its valuation of $2.4m.
Chelsea Estate Park in Birkenhead cost $20 million in 2008, or about $54 a square square metre, for the three parties who contributed including the council which paid $10m.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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