Life in the fast lane

Inner-city building sites remain scarce in most of our large cities, so it's not surprising that urban renewal has taken on a life of its own. Entire precincts, such as Chews Lane in Wellington, are being revitalised to create vibrant, mixed-use developments that offer the best of all worlds a place to work, live and play.

The idea of a mixed-use development is not new around the turn of the last century, terraced buildings providing shops and accommodation lined the main streets of most towns. Those early settlement ideals of working and living in close proximity have been revisited to provide sustainable, vibrant communities well suited to modern lifestyles.

The most recent such development, Chews Lane precinct, was developed by Willis Bond & Co in response to a detailed brief from the Wellington City Council. The precinct won the Supreme Award at the Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Awards 2009. Chews Lane also won the Auckland City Urban Design Award and Trends Publishing Mixed Use Award.

Originally the site of a timber yard back in the 1870s, and owned by Wellington's father of industry, John Chew, the precinct runs between Willis and Victoria Streets. The site includes several distinctive buildings of significant heritage value, representing architectural styles from the early to mid twentieth century.

Connal Townsend, PCNZ CEO, says the Property Council was particularly impressed with the project's focus on the creation of a lively, sustainable precinct that mixed the best of the old with new developments.

"Chews Lane represents everything we are looking for in terms of good urban design," Townsend says. "Four buildings were restored, a heritage facade preserved, and five new buildings added to provide a healthy mix of retail, office and residential units. And this is all within walking distance of other downtown Wellington shopping precincts, government offices, transport hubs and the waterfront."

"The project also fits with the move towards greater urban density, but Chews Lane is designed in such a way that privacy and outlooks are not compromised."

Townsend says the project illustrates PCNZ's close association with central, local and other government-associated bodies.

"We are all about growing property investment and are the only New Zealand property association to be actively involved with these bodies to help create a vibrant commercial property market."

Townsend says Property Council is a not-for-profit organisation that represents New Zealand's commercial, industrial, retail, property fund and multi-unit residential property owners, managers and investors. As such, it represents all forms of commercial property and property investment.

"Property Council has the distinct advantage of its large membership base, which means the council is able to instigate real change within the industry," says Townsend. "The council is also able to provide advocacy and research services, seminars and networking opportunities for New Zealand property investors."

For details, contact Property Council New Zealand, phone (09) 373 3086. Email: enquiries@propertynz.co.nz. Website: www.propertynz.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas