World leading game changer for the Auckland housing scene

World leading game changer for the Auckland housing scene.

Answers to Auckland’s housing crisis require new ways of thinking, new ways of building and new ways of engaging with the community, say a group proposing to build ‘The McGreggor’ New Zealand’s most sustainable apartment building in the vibrant Karangahape road precinct. Utilising the latest world leading environmental technologies is not the most revolutionary aspect of the project; the ownership model is a cooperative. While similar to co-ops that have long operated in New York and London apartment buildings, The McGreggor co-op is vastly different in that it retains ownership of the commercial properties in the building, creating income for the members of the co-op from the rents and the sale of power generate by the self sustaining building. As far as we know this model is a world first.

Architect of the building Dominic Glamuzina, is intimately connected to the neighbourhood, with his office on Cross St and having recently completed refurbishments of the historic St Kevin’s arcade and 309 K Rd. He wants to build a building that is sustainable and that incorporates the very best environmental technologies, an architecture that will draw on the historic fabric and the spatial connections between Cross Street, Karangahape Rd through to Myers Park; Creating a building that will not only serve the people that live there but the community as a whole.

Initial investors in the project include writer Rosa McGregor originally from Mt Linton, Southland, she now resides in Melbourne, Rosa is committed to green technologies. Another backer of the project, actress and presenter Lana Garland says building strong, connected, resilient communities is key. K Rd has always been my favourite part of the city, I worked at Verona in the 90’s when I first moved to the city, as a young actress I loved the creative, supportive and inclusive community. I still love it, and I see this building, this living and working space as something that locals can really get behind and get excited about, I know I am!

The proposed site, next to the iconic George Court building wouldn’t be completely covered, as has been previously proposed in a contentious consent already granted to Northern Escapes. Well known George Court resident Raymond Hawthorne was quoted in a New Zealand Herald article in March this year saying of Northern Escapes' proposed building, "It's going to block out our views, our sunlight...it's going to block out everything”.

In direct contrast ‘The McGregor’ would have a cross site link along the eastern wall of George Court, in effect, a new urban street. Not only providing the opportunity for easter facing residents of George court to add a balcony, but linking K Rd to Cross St, creating a new public space in the vein of K Rd’s existing architecture and arcades. Instantly enhancing the neighbouring buildings and the neighbourhood, an example of the collaborative co-operative approach at the centre of this project. In fact buying in not only means no body corp fees, but you are shareholder in the co-op that collects rents from the commercial spaces on the ground floor, so in theory, your home would not just be generating energy, but an income as well. A whole new spin on home and income.

The McGregor has 39 living spaces, of which 7 are already sold including the penthouse. 32 opportunities still remain to be part of a world leading apartment development right here in Auckland city. There are so many examples of wonderful buildings around the world that are clearly 21st century buildings responding to the 21st century challenges we face, but where are they in Auckland?

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