Lyttelton provides example of ‘gentrification’ of a suburb

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 57

Lyttelton provides example of ‘gentrification’ of a suburb

Greg Jackson

The Edwardian and Victorian homes of Lyttelton I are swiftly becoming coveted residences for a array of business and crafts people. Reflecting this increase in discerning demand the price of i owning a visible slice of Canterbury history has risen steeply in recent years.

Which to the traditional port workers is both a source of amusement and mild annoyance, i For those selling the size of I the capital gain is gratifying, for I those trading up through family I commitments the influx of competing “townie” buyers is an unwanted intrusion.

The title of this process taking place in the formerly slumbering port is gentrification. !

Gentrification is a world-wide | trend in cities old enough to i have a district with a supply of | turn-of-the-century homes.

New York has its brownstones, : London the dockside areas, Syd- ! ney the old inner city suburbs, | while closer to home Auckland has Ponsonby. Once a working class area with sufficient historic character seizes the fancy of professionals the process is underway. Christchurch a decade ago had several districts that had the potential to become the focus of | gentrification. If Sydenham had a more de-; fined set of boundaries it may well have qualified. Merivale was an early focal point but as a neighbour to “blue ribbon” real estate such as Fendalton did not have sufficiently low property values to qualify for long. Sumner was also a candidate, but as a sought-after area anyway had always enjoyed a population base that was mainly white collar.

Another relevant factor leading to buyers focusing ultimately on Lyttelton was the emergent trend for professionals to move to seaside suburbs. A house overlooking the ocean has long been the goal of the upwardly mobile overseas.

This trend has accelerated in Christchurch over the last decade.

It was the advent of the Lyttelton to Christchurch tunnel that first made a port address a viable proposition for city workers. The 20-30 minute trip by car is an easy drive for commuters. Container shipping for cargo, a drop in demand for labour and a series of rationalisations in the

shipping industry reduced the demand for a large number of cargo workers. The housing stock of Lyttelton was open to discovery by a new type of inhabitant. The first wave of “gentry” tended toward graduates of the “counterculture” involved in the arts and creative professions.

More attuned to the quality of life than their parents, had the opportunity to be they found the mix of urban/rural living around Lyttelton to their liking. Property prices were low, rates minimal and the village atmosphere provided a pleasant ambience for home renovaters. A club for old home restorers was formed, and thrived.

As homes were up-graded and restored to their former glory the demand began to accelerate.

The next marked influx of professionals into the area was of media workers.

In 1988 Lyttelton abounds with print media and television employees.

In the nature of their work these workers tend to meet and influence great numbers of people and possibly this was a contributing factor to the rapid rise in popularity of the port. Over the last; five years the increased demand for older homes in the area has fuelled a minor boom in house prices. A faithfully restored Edwardian home purchased for $14,000 six years ago would fetch between $5O-$70,000 today. The advent of a more sophisticated and demanding type of resident to the area has produced some predictable changes.

London Street now boasts three restaurants and a health food shop.

Small craft shops are also being opened up. The former rough vitality of a typical port is gradually blending with a more urbane approach to matters of dining, wining and dress. i

Although still typecast as a working class area Lyttelton is in fact a fairly affluent area. The hefty paychecks of many of the port employees are probably on average larger than the salaries enjoyed by more recent arrivals.

As a result the social tensions produced by a schism between “haves” and “have nots” are avoided.

So far the gentrification of Lyttelton has been a harmonious affair for all involved.

Declaration of interest: Greg Jackson has owned q property in Lyttelton for six years.