Village precinct enhancements

Pavers are going to feature quotes from creative people from Thorndon, such as Rita Angus, Katherine Mansfield and Douglas Lilburn. Other maintenance such as  footpath resealing and new sections of kerbing in some streets is also included in the project.

Read more here:
http://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2014/08/improvements-to-tinakori-village

Report: TRA Annual General Meeting

This evening the Annual General Meeting of the TRA was hosted by the  Kingsgate Hotel. Members, neighbours, friends and Councillors (City and Regional) enjoyed the opportunity to mix and mingle during a networking hour prior to the AGM. Everyone appreciated both the hospitality of the Kingsgate team and their support of the Association. The meeting venue was perfect and this considerably assisted a smooth navigation through the agenda prepared by Sadie Laurenson (Secretary), and led by William Neal (Chair). The meeting relaxed into productive discussion, focused on reports from Committee Portfolio leads. Matters arising were considered and helped identify priority issues for the Association to focus on during  2013-14.

Here are some of the resources from this evenings' meeting:

• Agenda and outline of the meeting
• Minutes from the AGM 2012  (adopted)
• Report from the Community Safety Portfolio
• Report from the Planning & Environment Portfolio
• Submission on Regional governance
• Officers and Committee of the TRA (confirmed)
• Draft Minutes of AGM 2013

City Council needs to improve communication concerning planning information

When heritage proposals descended on Thorndon three years ago, the TRA members and Thorndon residents generally, unveiled numerous shortfalls in WCC's consultation and engagement approach especially from a residents' perspective.

The Citizens Engagement Directorate had existed for quite some time. Yet by 2012, apparently the Council continues to struggle to effectively communicate with impacted communities.
Refer: http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=4928 
Could this be yet another recent example? The Mayor is moved to observe "... a significant Plan Change ... may not have been sufficiently clear." That's a scenario that will resonate with many TRA members! The Mayor also refers to an unsatisfactory situation which "... highlighted the importance of how the Council communicates planning information to potentially affected communities."

A number of years have passed since the Citizen Engagement directorate was established. Hasn't there been sufficient time to overhaul WCC's consultation/community engagement processes, especially when it comes to District Planning proposals?

No extra consent rules

As part of preparations to make changes to the District Plan, WCC's Strategic and Policy Committee has decided that inner residential Thorndon shall face no additional consent rules.

Following three years of conversation between residents (TRA) and Council there is now increased recognition of the diversity of Thorndon's neighbourhoods and our 'living' suburb. And at least some appreciation that we need to enhance our homes with modern innovations without undue additional constraints imposed by the Regulator.

Proposed changes to the District Plan will publicly consulted before Council adopt them.

(click on the article to enlarge it)

Draft Thorndon Design Guidelines

In mid May 2011, WCC's urban planners convened a workshop to discuss possible residential design guidelines for Thorndon. TRA representatives participated. Here is the draft report.

The revision marks are by the TRA's representatives. This report will be discussed at the WCC convened Thorndon Advisory Group meeting, Tuesday 7 June.

Background to the project.

Historic classification = lower resale

One of Auckland's oldest homes on a huge Parnell main street site has sold for $2.5 million - well below its QV rating valuation of $4.2 million. Someone is quoted saying "It reflects its historic classification - it is very restrictive what work you can do to any part of the property." Is this an exceptional case?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10730154

How do we ensure that residential home owners in Thorndon don't end up bearing costs to benefit a wider good?

The New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation published a viewpoint on the issue. http://www.iscr.org.nz/f515,14989/14989_July_2009_ver7.pdf

Scroll to p14 - Non-compensation It's Not Just

Some of the older posts in this blog outline WCC's approach to introducing heritage provisions to our suburb. (click on the 'heritage' tag to find related posts)

TRA and WCC at the Farmers Market

The Thorndon Residents' Association (TRA) and Wellington City Council were at the Hill Street Farmers' Market this morning.

The stall was a suggestion of the TRA to help citizens become aware of the Place-based Study of Thorndon and to be able to speak to knowledgeable WCC officers and collect more information about the project.

The stall was well patronised and many handouts were taken away. Fifty copies of the popular draft planning map had all been snapped-up by late morning.

This was the first of two opportunities to chat at the Market. The team will be back next Saturday 16th April.

Place-based planning - example feedback

click on the image to enlarge it

An example of feedback from TRA representatives provided to WCC's place-based study. This response characterised aspects of the Hobson precinct (area 10); illustrating gaps in the house style patterns (original style dwellings in green).

Seismic lessons

Residential Thorndon has been under WCC's scrutiny for years; the examination has been driven by heritage values. Residents have offered grounded advice, noting the many other significant characteristics of the suburb that deserve focus for management i.e. critical issues like traffic, parking, community facilities, and safety concerns. (acknowledging that characteristics of our built environment are already quite well regulated.)

It's about balance. Keeping 'grounded'; in touch with reality and facts. Can the latest round of analysis of Thorndon, WCC's place-based study, reveal and integrate, once and for all, the other significant facts about residential Thorndon that need to be accounted for; adequate to enable the community to understand and agree a desirable, sustainable, resilient residential future.

Top of mind are the lessons from Lyttelton's blind fault. Will this calamity impact the profiles and options for residential Thorndon? In the bigger scheme of things, what are the appropriate weightings for heritage values and residential preservation for residents in old homes nestled beside an active fault line?

The National Business Review recently offered a view. See "Heritage be damned, safety the priority" (25 February 2011).

For the science about our fault visit

http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/News-and-Events/Media-Releases/Lower-threat-from-Wellington-fault

Map

Place-based planning - WCC Gears-up for Community Walks

WCC is proceeding with a proposal to hold two organised walks around Thorndon that will be especially designed to better engage residents in the place-based study which is currently underway.

It is also planned to book a stall at the Hill Street Farmers Market to help advertise what is going on.

The objective of both the stall and walks is to publicise background information which has been gathered (including through past community consultation) and which is now being used in a place-based study. Both officers and TRA sub-commmittee members intend to be available to answer questions and/or provide information about the processes to date. There will be opportunities for anyone to provide feedback.

WCC's urban planners are keen to move on this consultation proposal. They would also like to know who might be available to help prepare for (and guide) the walks and to provide local background information (in particular streets) and commentary. If you would like to participate in this way please let us know.

The timing so far would suggest that the stall would be set up on one or two Saturday mornings in April (not Easter); and the walks could then take place on the same weekends on either or both the Saturday afternoon, or Sunday morning or afternoon.

The suggested dates for these events are 9 and 16 April 2011. TRA members - please let the committee know whether you would like to help on either or both of these two weekends.

Email: thorndonresidents@gmail.com or contact a committee member

Once the dates are confirmed the two opportunities for the community to engage, will be notified by way of a letter sent to all residents and ratepayers in Thorndon and also through the 'Our Wellington Page' in the Dominion-Post.

Thorndon Place-based study update

Council officers are gathering research to prepare a place-based study for Thorndon. A Thorndon Advisory Group was established in November 2010 and the TRA has representation.

Much more information is accessible from this link

http://www.wellington.govt.nz/projects/new/thorndon/thorndonheritage.html

Navigate to the Advisory Group Meetings page for minutes, milestones and information shared at the meetings.

New Futures - rethinking heritage in New Zealand's urban places

http://www.historicplaces.org.nz/events/RypkemaWLN-17Nov.aspx

A seminar on 17 November 2010 will cover the following topics:

• Measuring the economic impact of heritage in urban revitalisation
• Adaptive reuse opportunities
• Planning and urban design tools to reduce barriers to investment in older buildings
• Public private partnerships in heritage conservation
• Case studies: myths and realities in the comparison of adaptive reuse and new construction

Do I cry or do I smile?

As a citizen, rate payer and long time resident of Thorndon I would like to seek clarification from the Thorndon Residents Association (TRA) on the progress made by the Wellington City Council to resolve the issue of the historic precinct and the matters relating to its proposed requirements to ‘police’ renovation and building within the area.

Am I correct in understanding that the Wellington City Council (Council), after over a year of consultation, brought about mainly by the efforts of the TRA and interested parties, has made no decision about this matter? Does this mean the Council has given up its time wasting and ludicrous plans to dictate what resident owners can and cannot do to their properties?

The Council’s misguided work must have cost thousands of dollars while the Council boffins worked tirelessly to be as uncooperative as possible to find a way of planning for others properties. Let alone the hours of work, given freely by the TRA members and other concerned citizens to the consultation and development of cases against the regulations and policies that were to be mandated.

At a time of fiscal tension I would have thought the Council should have been more careful with its spending. At a time when citizens are meant to be consulted with and an honest dialogue is encouraged it has been very sad to see a ‘Clayton’s democratic process of consultation’ in play and then no conclusion. This is not a game to residents of the area. If there is so much money in the Council’s coffers let’s have a few pavements fixed and better lighting in the suburb.

Since all went quiet I have noticed on my walks around the area changes being made to houses that are in keeping with the heritage look of the suburb. There has been no need for ‘policing’. These owners have sympathy for the ‘look’ of the suburb, bringing back the grace and charm of older properties which have been in decline for years. Congratulations to those who have brought fresh life to rundown parts of Thorndon and completed their building with care and sympathy to the surrounding dwellings and suburb as a whole.

Perhaps the Council could review what it is looking at and take a focused view on the ugly buildings encroaching on the area e.g. Muturoa St. Glass and steel overhanging in all directions (great for an earthquake) and the large monstrosity being built in Molesworth St. What an irony. For so many years the site of the Thai Embassy was the haunt for drug addicts, run-aways and the graffiti kings and queens of Wellington. The building was unsafe with few floors still remaining and an eyesore that haunted the area. Neither the Council, Police nor other authorities were interested in cleaning up this area. Public Health and Safety went out the window. Oh sorry it was diplomatic land – not good enough. No other rate payer would get away with this type of neglect.

Is the Council willing to now write that the flawed process of imposing additional restrictions, policies, regulations and permits is OVER?

CMM

Mayor calls review of earthquake-strengthening policies

Mayor Prendergast is calling for a review of the Council's earthquake-strengthening policies. Council staff will be asked to canvas a number of issues including whether the Council should:

• revisit the review of the quake-prone buildings policy with a view to tightening the deadlines again
• seek relaxation, where appropriate, of heritage rules to allow more latitude and flexibility in strengthening work. This could include the replacement of heavy masonry features like parapets or chimneys with replicas built from light materials like glass-fibre, timber or carbon-fibre.
• consider changes to District Plan rules to allow the demolition of some older buildings with less heritage value
• look at rule changes to force some building owners, if they can't afford to strengthen, to remove heavy and dangerous features like parapets and chimneys from the roofs and facades of some buildings
• increase grant funding to help more building owners complete strengthening work.

Further information

Our Quake-risk Buildings: Mayor Seeks Review

Map of the fault rupture hazard area in Thorndon

GNSscience video about the Wellington Fault Line

Mayor's view after visiting Christchurch (15/9/10)

Thorndon Residential Project - initialisation stage

The thinking caps are now on for the place-based study of residential Thorndon. This proposal was an outcome following the extensive consultation undertaken during 2009/10 on options for managing Thorndon's residential heritage.

An initial meeting was held this week with WCC's Director Strategy, Planning and Urban Design (Teena Pennington) and others, including Councillors. Teena has extended the invitation to the community to provide feedback on the suggested approach. In particular, ideas on overall project engagement and ideas on specific engagement opportunities that would be helpful at defined stages of the project.

It is envisaged that an engagement plan will be confirmed in conjunction with the Thorndon community.

Please add comments to this post, or email thorndonresidents@gmail.com

Update (23 September)

The TRA sub-committee has carefully reviewed WCC's initial documents. The committee has provided comments and redrawn the diagram of the proposed workflow (to emphasise the importance of engagement of the community as an active part of the decision-making process).

• TRA feedback
• community collaboration model / workflow diagram

WCC Heritage Grants for Thorndon properties

On the 16 September WCC's Strategy and Policy committee will consider a report seeking approval for the allocation of grants to applicants in the July 2010 round of the Built Heritage Incentive Fund (BHIF).

This round proposes grants to nine applicants. Three of the properties are within Thorndon. If approved these three will receive funding summing $32,098. The total yearly fund is $200,000. This is the first of three bidding rounds for the 2010/11 financial year.

The latest report recommends that a 4th application for a Thorndon residence be declined because it is not included on the District Plan Heritage List and is not in a Heritage Area.

WCC's news on managing heritage

Following 18 months of consultation with the Thorndon community WCC plan to undertake a 'placed-based' study. Click here for WCC's article.

The Wellingtonian - "Thorndon residents revolt"

Letter to the editor:

Thanks for your great front page story on Thorndon (August, 12). Good to see The Wellingtonian focused on such an important Wellington issue.

Just a small point, the letterbox drop late February 2009 was a council letter to residents, not from the Thorndon Residents’ Association (TRA).

Vivien Rickard’s comment “We are looking at preparing a district plan change and that’s not something that a Council can do in partnership” is at odds with an earlier undertaking from council officer Teena Pennington for TRA to be involved in shaping the content of any District Plan rules. While residents would expect council planning officers to draft the words, TRA has already accepted council’s offer.

TRA’s motto is “Nothing about us, without us” in Thorndon as Council moves forward with their work.

Finally a note of thanks for Councils fresh‐thinking in Thorndon - long may participatory democracy continue. And thank you to your reporter for his extensive interview.

Lance Gunderson

Melissa Ludlow

Co-Chairs Heritage Sub-committee

Thorndon Residents' Association

Proudly supporting the Thorndon Community

Deputation attends WCC's Strategy & Policy Committee meeting

The Association has reviewed the WCC report "Approach To Heritage Management In Residential Areas of Thorndon", publicly released on 29 July 2010.

A TRA deputation will represent this feedback to the Strategy & Policy Committee at its meeting on Thursday 5 August 2010.

WCC recommendations on heritage management in residential Thorndon

A report for WCC's Strategy and Policy Committee (SPC) was released today. It reports on the outcomes of the consultation process and recommends an approach to managing the heritage values of Thorndon.

Five regulatory options have been identified to better manage heritage values in residential Thorndon.

The TRA sub-committee is reviewing the report. The committee would like to hear your views and to collate feedback for Councillors. You are invited to share your views by emailing thorndonresidents@gmail.com by 5PM Monday 2nd August 2010. Otherwise make a comment to this post.

There is only a small window of opportunity for the TRA committee to collate and provide Association feedback in time for the SPC meeting on Thursday morning ( 5th August ).