Housing Upgrade - About the Improvements

The upgraded Te Ara Hou apartments

The housing upgrade will improve overall living standards, increase the safety and quality of existing community spaces, and create new community spaces.

You can see photos from the Housing Upgrade project on Flickr:

Housing Upgrade Project - Flickr website

Your Say on Improvements

No one knows better than you what's needed to make your home better.

Your ideas will help the architects decide what design improvements will be made to the units and shared spaces, such as community rooms, entrance areas and outdoor areas.

There will be lots of opportunities to get involved as the project progresses, including meetings, workshops, activities and open days.

Contact the Tenancy and Relocations Team Leader with your ideas on how we can improve this process.

Suzanne Chittenden
Tenancy and Relocations Team Leader

Current Projects

Newtown Park Apartments

Newtown Park Apartments need significant upgrading, including earthquake strengthening and adding more family units and reducing the number of bedsits.

Improvements include:

• earthquake strengthening
• insulation and ventilation, heaters, double glazing, thermal curtains
• solar hot water system
• modern kitchens and bathrooms
• signage
• communal indoor spaces (eg letterboxes and laundry)
• outdoor spaces (eg new playground and balconies)
• access, safety and security (eg better lighting, new fire alarms)
• rubbish and recycling system.

Architects: Studio Pacific
Contractors: Hawkins Construction

Central Park Apartments

Central Park Apartments need earthquake strengthening, re-fitting, landscaping and changes to the numbers of bedsits, two- and three-bedroom units.

Improvements include:

• earthquake strengthening
• insulation, ventilation, double glazing, thermal curtains and heating
• kitchens and bathrooms
• disabled access (some units)
• roofs
• flooring
• front doors
• rubbish management
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• painting
• new community space and laundry
• shared landscaped area for all apartments
• some ground floor private gardens, and balconies
• community garden
• improved safety and security (eg Fire alarms, secure access)
• stairwells
• signage.

Architects: Novak + Middleton
Contractors: LT McGuinness

Completed Upgrades

Te Ara Hou Apartments

The upgrade at Te Ara Hou did not include earthquake strengthening or changing the layout of the flats.

Improvements include:

• repairs to joinery
• kitchens, bathrooms and ventilation
• insulation
• private outdoor areas for ground floor flats
• security and safety
• signage
• community facilities.

Architects: Novak + Middleton
Contractors: Fletcher Building

Hanson Court Apartments

Construction was completed in February 2012.

Improvements include:

• insulation, ventilation, heating and double glazing
• security entry system for each building
• modernised kitchens
• bathrooms
• painting
• curtains
• access (ramps and driveways)
• new community space and laundry
• landscaping and better lighting outdoors

Architects: Architecture Plus
Contractors: Maycroft

Regent Park Apartments

Regent Park apartments are built on a swamp, in a natural basin in Newtown.

The flats were not easy to upgrade so it was decided to demolish them and build new ones.

The project involved:

• demolition of 38 units
• decontamination of the site
• construction of 27 new two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses and apartments
• village green
• strengthening cross-site links.

Architects: Stapleton Elliot
Contractors: Hawkins Construction

Department Details:
City Housing