Govt, funding cut —fewer council units revamped

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 9

Govt, funding cut —fewer council units revamped

A cut in Government funding for the remodelling of council housing means that the Christchurch City Council will be able to remodel only a third of the units it had intended.

The council had planned to remodel 30 of its elderly persons units, which were orginially built in the late 1940 s and early 19505.

Fifteen of the units due for remodelling are in Carey Street and 15 in Andrews Crescent.

The council’s property director, Mr Bill Morgan, said the council had planned to use $102,000 from its elderly person’s housing account and $198,000 in loans from the Housing Corporation.

The withdrawal of Housing Corporation finance meant the council could

complete work on 10 units.

The cut in funds was a severe blow to the remodelling scheme, initiated four years ago by the Government at City Council urging, Mr Morgan said.

Some units at Andrews Crescent and Carey Street had been completed and tenants in units that had not been completed and tenants in units that had not been remodelled were anxious to have their units improved also. If the units that were vacant were not done up, they would be difficult to relet, Mr Morgan said. Other council complexes were also in need of improvement. The council had planned to have all units improved within three years but that depended on Housing Corporation support. The council will write to

the Minister of Housing, Mr Goff, expressing concern at the spending cuts and seeking a review of this decision.

In the meantime it will continue with the remodelling of 10 units.

Residents in the council’s Guthrey Courts complex have asked for an extra outside light and additional storage space at the complex.

The committee suggested a lean-to on existing sheds to store garden equipment and they approved the extra light.

Residents at Mabie Howard Place are concerned about vandalism to their cars. The committee recommended they seek extra surveillance by the police and directed them not to park on the grass outside their units.