Auckland Transport has been busy over the last few years buying up properties along the route of the City Rail Link in preparation for when the project will finally get the green light. Most of those properties are going to have buildings already one them however one site in particular has been an empty lot for many many years.
That situation could have continued while we wait for the CRL however fantastically Auckland Transport, the Council, the Local Board and the local Business Association are hoping to get together with the community to create a temporary pocket park on the site this Sunday.
What a great initiative and way to make better use of the land for the next few years at least.
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Further information from http://www.uptown.co.nz – I don’t know why they didn’t put it on the main flyer
“the volunteering component of the build which will include laying ready lawn, track work, building a community noticeboard, planter boxes and laying wildflower seeds….
After the volunteering, we will be going to Galbraith’s Alehouse for a refresher. So if you’re keen to contribute, please bring some study shoes and plenty of enthusiasm.”
Thanks, couldn’t see anything related to it when I looked last night
Good stuff indeed. One thing that almost all authorities struggle with is a bit of un-planned (or semi-planned) activity, and temporary schemes. But that is an attitude, and a change in attitude can be learned too. Great idea.
Cool, long overdue.
I remember the old house burning down in the mid 90s. Think it was the Myers’s house, anyone know?
I think it was 1998 when it burned down BIW. I lived just down towards the Khyber Pass intersection. A bunch of us watched it burn. I remember was being amazed at how much heat it gave off – not surprising though when you think about it. I can’t beleive that site has been empty for 16 years. I agree it’d be a nice site for a wee park or garden even if it’s temporary.
This was the site of ‘Bungalow Bill’s’ a music shop in a stranded detached timber house, possibly a Bungalow, certainly from the turn of the last century with some arts and crafts features, the shop and possibly Bill, now relocated around the corner on Khyber Pass.
Pretty sure this site is now no longer needed for the CRL as it was the location of the now redacted Newton station.
Well then how about a (smallish) redevelopment project for the development agency?
We need more volunteer projects like this. It would be much cheaper and less work for the council and would make the locals feel proud.
Oh, cool! Of course, that was originally going to be an entrance to the Newton station, but this will do at a pinch.
I don’t think this project is eva going to start by the time it is due to start the major at present wont be major hahahahah
Mayor is spelt with a ‘y’ damnit! Why do all the trolls get this wrong.
And this major you speak of is the only major who will ever support the CRL? It seems to be widely supported, I suspect the next major will support it too, wherever he or she comes from in the political spectrum.
what has the military to do with all this?
Incorrect spelling by trolls on forums and blogs is a global problem
What a great project, there must be pockets like this all over town that could have a little park pop up on it for a while or longer.
Awesome, great to see something like that around here, always wondered what was with that random wooden wall, I assumed there was a car-park behind it or something.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the postiive feedback on the project and welcome your help with building the park on Sunday.
As the Waitemata Local Board representative on the UpTown Business association I have been providing advocacy and support for the project; with the key objective to engage with the local community on the short-term use of this space and to deliver a project at no cost to Council.
It’s a large plot of land and the space has CPTED (Crime Prevension Through Environmental Design) issues because of the visibility from the road to the bottom of the site. So, instead of “eating the elephant” all at once, the project is being split into two parts.
The first part of the project is to push the fence line back to create a pocket park. AT have signed a contract with Phantom Signs to pull down the existing fence, reduce their overall advertising space and pay advertising rent in advance to cover the development of the pocket park.
After the volunteer day on Sunday we are looking for local residents to help support the project and continue the engagement into the second stage; looking at the overall use of the space. You will have a chance to register your interest in shaping stage two at the volunteer day on Sunday.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Rob Thomas
Waitemata Local Board
Thanks Rob,
On a related subject, would you like volunteers to help create a large pocket park at 254 Ponsonby Rd?
I know lots of people are keen to see it happen…
There’s great historical AKL images on this fb page… including a peak of the steep roof of Bungalow Bill’s building:
https://www.facebook.com/OldAuckCity
About 10 years ago – after the site had been cleared but before the fence went up – the site was a regular spot for graffiti. I used to walked past it on the way to work, so I took lots of photos. Sadly the graffiti wall was eventually rented to a bill sticker company, then the fence went up blocking access to and view of the wall entirely (though when I last peeked, some of the old graffiti remains). But that wall is still there and perhaps some sort of mural could be incorporated into the pocket park design.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/robyn-gallagher/sets/72157647371426144
Love the printer incorporated into the canvas, and the reflective David Lange.Thanks for sharing it.
Morning everyone, due to the severe weather the volunteer day at 257 Symonds Street has been postponed until next Sunday 21st December, hope you can join us then. Rob Thomas