Newspaper Article – $5.6m plan for Havelock

$5.6m plan for Havelock

By SELINA GENTRY
Staff reporter, Hastings

A Hawke’s Bay property development company wants to build a $5.6-million office and shopping block in the centre of Havelock North. The two-stage development on a 4500-square-metre site between Napier Rd and Te Mata Rd, is subject to leasing and financial arrangements.

It was outlined to Havelock North borough councillors at the final meeting of the council last night.

The proposal came from Havelock Village Developments Lid, a Havelock North-based company set up two months ago.

The partners in the company are Messrs Ray Smith, Neville Cleveland and Bryan Hopkins.

The development, which will be three storeys high in places, includes 14 shops on its ground floor, 10 shops and offices on the second and five rooms on a mezzanine floor.

Announcing the project, Napier registered surveyor Mr Neville Cleveland said that in keeping with the village concept, the buildings would be clustered around courtyards in a “street walk” configuration. He said the buildings had been deliberately kept small with simple gable forms, dormers, verandas and balconies.

Lifts and stairs would provide access to upper floors for disabled and elderly people.

Mr Cleveland said opportunities for outdoor eating had been allowed for, with seating and a landscaped area. He said the buildings were designed to provide a staging point for said the buildings were for commercial and retail activities as well as community activities such as meetings, street theatre and market days.

Mr Cleveland said developers had been working on the proposal since February. Construction was not expected to begin until March 1990.

Interest is keen: The interest in the project had been keen, with inquiries coming from Auckland and Wellington.

Mr Cleveland said he had 20 possible tenants for the development which? would incorporate specialist shops such as hardware, cut-price chemist and possibly a supermarket.

Mr Cleveland said that although no surveys had been conducted to assess the demand for additional shops in Havelock North, he said the response from the possible tenants was encouraging.

The development is planned to proceed in two stages. One section of land along Napier Rd earmarked for stage one belongs to the borough council. The land, occupied by a dentist, will be vacated by March 31.

Mr Cleveland said the company was negotiating with the owners of two properties near St Columba’s church for the second stage.

He stressed the first stage was not conditional on any land purchase and would go ahead even if the land for stage two was not available.

Consultants and contractors involved in the project are. – Developers, Havelock Village Developments Ltd; contractor, Hopkins Construction Ltd; Architect, ARBI Architecture, Mr Cleveland, Structural engineer, Michael Newby and Associates.

Close to main roads: Mr Cleveland said the site was close to main roads in and out of Havelock North, as well as village landmarks such as the roundabout and cenotaph.

About 96 parking spaces would be available once Napier Rd and Te Mata Rd had been “slightly realigned

Havelock North mayor Harry Romanes said that since Napier Rd was slightly wider than Te Mata Rd, the land in between, would be moved four metres into Napier Rd to allow for parking. Mr Romanes said he did not know when the road redevelopment would be done.

He said the roadway between the shops and the cenotaph would be closed off but would remain an open pedestrian area.

Mr Romanes said the council was excited about the proposal. The council had been aware of the development for six months. Mr Romanes said three other developers had expressed interest in the block, but he said the crunch point was who could buy an old service station between Napier Rd and Te Mata Rd.

Mr Romanes said the council was aware the section of land was the key to getting a development started in Havelock North, He said sale of the land by the council was guaranteed on the condition that the project went ahead.

If the project does not go ahead, the company has to sell the property back to the council for the price it was bought at.

Mr Romanes said the project was a significant undertaking, and would round off the total concept of the town nicely.

Photo caption – Dormer windows, verandas and balconies will feature in a $5.6-million shopping and office block to be built in Havelock North between Napier Rd and Te Mata Rd.