AUCKLAND CITY'S GROWTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 5

AUCKLAND CITY'S GROWTH.

WATERFROIfT SHOPPING AREA . NEXT LIKELY DEVELOPMENT. AXZAC AVENUE AND BEACH ROAD. The business development in the near -future of the area eastward of Queen Street embracing 'Anzac Avenue and Beach - Road wae the subject of some remarks by the Major, Mr. J. H. Gunson, this morning in reply to an inquiry respecting the recent sale of Anzac Avenue sections. "Tfhe improvement, generally of commefcial conditions in the Dominion, and the activity of business in Auckland, are shown, among other ways, in the considerable sales which have taken place on the city'e Anzac Avenue and Beacn Road property," said' the Mayor. "Throughout the war period, and for some time subsequently, with the exception of one or two of the choice sections sold at the outset, the property remained very dead, there being practically no inquiry. But during the last twelve months, and (particularly in the past half-year, an entire change has taken place, and a considerable proportion of the remaining sections have been disposed of. The upsets which were fixed by £he corporation still obtain, and there is no doubt that while it suits the corporation to sell the property and get the returns in on the money lying idle there, as a business investment, even although the arcae may not be immediately needed, there is nothing equal to it in Auckland. RAILWAYS MUST MOVE SOON. The movement of commercial interests to the eastward of Queen Street is very marked, while the development of the waterfront there, and the improvement of the Beach Road, render this area much more eligible, and are quickly bringing it not only into use for heavy commerce, buc into use as a shopping area, which is rapidly spreading eastward along Customs Street. With the erection, moreover, of the new railway station, and the development of the adopted plane and layout of the railway yards, a radical change will be worked in this locality. The urgent requirements of the Railway Department itself cannot allow this work to be left long undone. It will be literally impossible for the authorities to cope for many more years with the traffic under the "conditions which .. exist. at present. The restricted facilities, both for the public and the railway's own needs, imposed by the obtaining conditions, are such that a move will have to be made, willy-nilly, towards putting the plan into effect. And the metamorphosis of this area will be one of the next big developments in Auckland. As a matter of fact, there is no doubt that' inside of twentyfive years the whole of this area, including Beach . Road to the Strand, will, if not entirely, to a very great extent be a retail shopping thoroughfare. An interesting and significant feature in this respect is that several leading firms have recently been purchasers of Auzac property. Without doubt, in accordance with the general development along the lines indicated, most of these properties will be built on during the next decade or two. ANZAC AYEN T UE FINANCES. The financial position of the Council in this matter is now quite clear, and the recent legislation under which the Council made a further £50,000 debenture issue for Anzac Avenue, leaves the account in such a way that the property sales now taking place, together with the realisation of the balance of the property, will wipe out the existing debit balance. This debit balance at March 31, after crediting, as directed by the Audit Department, the antecedent liability loan to the account, stood at £76,403.