The Hanging Gardens of Grey Lynn
News last month that the controversial Soho development is in receivership has left question marks hanging over what will happen to the Grey Lynn site. Local actor and Western Bays advocate Geoff Houtman put his thinking cap on and here he shares his vision for the land, brought to life in an illustration by Barry Linton.
In the far-east of Grey Lynn lies a pit of despair. It is known by many names: Soho Square, The Abyss and usually, So-Hole.
It is a place that wishes it were a swimming pool.
Rather than a potential cholera-breeding centre that no one wants to finish excavating or even pretty up.
A symbol of naked greed laid waste, open cast mining of the ancient suburb has left a gaping wound a block
wide. The developers have pulled the ripcord on the liquidation parachute and sailed off to fresher, untrammeled fields.
Now it's our problem. The residents, the council, in short - us. So we'll fix it.
Once we clear up two things.
It's not a "$250 million hole in Ponsonby" as everyone likes to quote. Firstly it's in Grey Lynn. Ponsonby doesn't begin until the north side of Richmond Rd.
And secondly it's not a $250m hole. Sources in the architectural world tell me the land and half finished excavation cost less than $80m, and even that figure is inflated. If anyone buys the site they will get it at a significant discount, with the developers and investors taking a bath on the difference.
The yeast factory previously on the site was no beauty, is the current abyss worse? Probably. Definitely more hazardous.
The solution needs to be something the locals can live with, the council doesn't have to worry about, and a way for the liquidators to move the land on.
We're suggesting an appropriate complex of shops, offices and flats in a very central part of the city - the Hanging Gardens of Grey Lynn.
From the outside: A traditional block of varied Victorian and Edwardian-style buildings - shops at street level with alternating offices and flats above. Two storied with ornate facades and awnings, rising to three levels along the lower Pollen St side.
Containing much needed facilities for the local community - an underground twin cinema and, after too many years, a new Gluepot live music venue, the Hanging Gardens also provides subterranean parking for residents, clients, workers and visitors and relief for the over-stressed surrounding streets.
But it's the inside of the block that provides the magic.
From the grand entrance on Williamson Ave, from the restaurants and cafes above it, from the office windows, the houses and flats; all look down on the inverted Ziggurat, the over-hanging stepped terraces of greenery that cascade magnificently to a beautiful park and outdoor pool.
The terraces are a mix of public viewing platforms, restaurant seating and private backyards and gardens while the park level features an outdoor restaurant, public swimming pool, children's playground and a pair of bright red blooming trees - a pohutakawa and a flame tree.
The grand entrance on Williamson Ave provides a "trompe l'oeil" effect known as lensing, effectively zooming the gardens up to the street level with an outdoor staircase giving direct access to viewing areas and the gardens themselves.
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Handily most of the excavating has already been done making the entire job considerably cheaper and easier. Even the existing steelwork can be used in situ - depending on the rust.
The block works in architectural harmony with the existing historical buildings and is "anchored" by the ASB Trusts' Allendale stately home, Lord Ponsonbys' Antiques building and two new-but-old-looking buildings on the Pollen Street corners.
Public transport is already in place: the Link and 02x buses pass the northern corner, and the 035 serves the Williamson side. Continuing the zoo-Motat tramline up Chinaman's Hill and along Williamson Ave could provide further options.
Other hanging gardens highlights include a foliage covered obelisk named the Ivy Tower, seemingly ancient chimneys concealing light shafts into the carpark levels, even the possibility of a waterfall.
The last development proposal for this site received over 900 objections. Handled properly this should attract close to zero.
With the Hanging Gardens of Grey Lynn all stakeholders will be happy. And the hole? Even the hole's wish will be granted - it will finally become a real life swimming pool.
The development of this site affects all of us who live and/or work locally, and support for Geoffs vision has been overwhelming. If you wish to contribute your viewpopint, or comment on the above please e-mail either either the Harbour News -
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, or the Ponsonby News -
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. The only way to get things like this happening is to nag louder than the bad guys!