Harrison Grierson have proposed nine options. Many of the proposed options indicate room for expansion and the development of new one and two-bedroom units.

The 25-unit village was established in 1984 for people over 60 on low incomes.

But the Auckland Council proposes to demolish the Village.

They want to use the land to to extend Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough.

Legacy Auckland City Council agreed to acquire the land over a period of years from the Auckland Catholic Diocese in 2010.

Residents have right-to-occupy agreements. That means they can stay for the rest of their lives or until they choose to leave.

Those opposing the demolition say the proposal to extend the park is problematic.

They highlight the lack of social housing options for the elderly.

"We have a housing crisis in Auckland and if we don't provide this kind of social housing for our seniors many will be thrown out of our community," says Puketapapa Local Board member Michael Wood.

But the Auckland Council community and social policy general manager Kataraina Maki says the purchase of the land is being funded through development contributions for open space.

"This funding does not allow the land to be used for any purpose other than open space," she says.

"Any change to the proposed use of Liston Village would require the council to refund the development contributions."

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

Fourteen households in Auckland Council-owned rental properties have been given 90 days to find new homes in the city's tight property market.

The council has said it can be flexible about notice requirements.

Monte Cecilia School was moved at ratepayers' expense to allow for expansion of the park.

The council is also progressively buying nearby Liston Village.

A confidentiality agreement with Auckland diocese means the price of land deals is not public.

Continue reading

The deal involves progressively buying the Liston Village from the Catholic Church as units are vacated, expanding Monte Cecilia Park and rebuilding the Monte Cecilia school.

The agreement was made months before the amalgamation of the Auckland territorial bodies in 2010.

Liston Village is a 25-unit retirement village that the Catholic church built in 1982.

Nine houses that have so far become vacant and have been filled by renters.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, whose mother lived in the village, said she would like to "retain some housing on that beautiful site" but was mindful of sale-and-purchase agreements entered into by the previous council.

Jean Stansfield, 75, who has lived in Liston Village for 10 years, said residents were worried about the future even though it could be decades until the death of the youngest person with a licence to occupy, who is still in her 60s.

"There are some elderly, they can't stop worrying," she said.

"The lady next to me came in a panic, which is understandable because she has nobody to find her another place if they kick her out.

"We can't see any sense in destroying 25 places for the elderly when there is such a shortage of homes."

The Puketapapa Local Board says the five-year old plan for the Hillsborough complex makes no sense.

Roskill Community Voice member of the Board Michael Wood hopes to persuade the Council to reconsider its decision.

"This plan made limited sense in 2010, and even less in 2015 during a housing crisis," said Wood.

"In the middle of a housing crisis, how can it be that Auckland Council is planning to demolish a thriving social housing community for Senior Citizens?", he asks.

A campaign has been launched to try to stop the Auckland Council from demolishing Liston Village.

A broad community coalition is coming together to support the campaign, and a petition will be launched at a public meeting on 11 October.

Speakers at the meeting will be:

• MP for Mt Roskill Phil Goff
• Albert-Eden-Roskill Governing Body member Cathy Casey
• Auckland isthmus Grey Power President Anne-Marie Coury
• Puketapapa Local Board member Michael Wood

All are welcome to attend the public meeting which will be held at 2pm on Sunday 11 October at the Fickling Centre, Three Kings.

"Working together we can stand up for our Seniors, and convince Auckland Council to save Liston Village", says Wood

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• cityvision.org.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz

Auckland Council plans to extend Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough. This would require the removal of Liston Retirement Village.

However a new report commissioned by the Puketapapa Local Board highlighted the lack of social housing options for the elderly. Continue reading

Liston Village, owned by the Auckland Catholic diocese, could face demolition for parkland under a long-term plan for the development of Monte Cecilia Park.

Puketapapa Local Board member, Michael Wood, said the local board was commissioning a report to investigate options to retain the village.

About 40 residents of Auckland's council-owned properties on the other side of the park already face losing their homes.

The Residents of Korma Ave have been told their council-owned flats and houses backing Monte Cecilia Park could go, possibly by December.

Eight properties - including blocks of flats - will be cleared to make way for 44 carparks to access a new playground, shown on plans for the reserve.

Letters have been sent to residents in homes and flats telling them their properties will feature on park maps.

"Inclusion of this property on the map does not imply the public has access to your property but as the land has been purchased by Auckland Council and will become part of the park in the future it has been included in the map," said the letter.

"We don't have a firm date for the house removals but it is likely to be at the end of 2015 or during 2016."

The Shape of Auckland website says the consultation process Monte Cecilia Park master plan update closed on 15 April

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image: Walks in Auckland