HEIGHT OF BUILDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 12

HEIGHT OF BUILDING

PRINCES STREET FLATS -- FOUR STOREY RESTRICTION COUNCIL ADHERES TO VIEW Adherence to its previous decision to limit the height of a proposed six-storey block of flats in Princes Street to four storeys was confirmed by the City Council last evening. It is proposed to erect the flats on the site next to the Jewish Synagogue, now occupied by the Ellesmere boarding house. After the announcement of the council's decision, the applicants asked that five storeys be permitted. At the same time, a deputation representing the Auckland branches of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the New Zealand Town-Planning Institute and the Auckland Society of Arts urged that the building should be restricted to three storeys. Both representations were thereupon referred to the Town-Planning Committee. The city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, subsequently pointed out that a perusal of the original lease stipulated that not more than one messuage or dwellinghouse should be erected on the allotment. Therefore, if it were held that a number of self-contained fiats were a number of dwellings, the building proposed, containing more than two flats, would not be in accord with the terms of the lease.

The city solicitor, Sir. J. Stanton, also consideredfthat the proposed block of flats was not one house, but several houses. Therefore, the lessee would be prevented from erecting the block unless the council as lessor should waive its rights and expressly permit the erection of a number of dwellings. It might so act without incurring any liability for damages or compensation, or it might allow the building to be erected in its present or in a modified form.

Without discussion the council adopted the following recommendation from the Town Planning Committee:— "That the previous decision of the council be adhered to, but that this shall not extend to the provision of any rooms on the roof, and that any building must bo approved in terms of the lease." SYMONDS STREET FLATS INCLUSION OF SHOPS DESIRE FOR ELIMINATION A scheme for the erection of a block of 56 "one-room" flats on the eastern side of Symonds Street, near St. Paul's Church, was approved by the City Council last evening, but it was decided to urge that four lock-up shops shown in the plans should be eliminated. The building will comprise five floors. The city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, reported at the previous meeting of the council that he had received a letter from Mr. S. S. Alleman, architect, on behalf of Co-operative Buildings, Limited, requesting permission to erect the flats. Mr. Tyler expressed the opinion that the intrusion of shops at present in that locality would tend to induce premature disintegration of the existing character of the street, but he felt it would be difficult to establish a case for the exclusion of the shops if such became the subject of an appeal to the Town Planning Board. Miss A. M. Geddes and Mrs. J. McKail Geddes, residents on the eastern side of Symonds Street for over 40 years, wrote protesting against shops being built on the site. The Town Planning Committee recommended that the application be granted, provided the building fully complies with the by-laws, but lhat the applicants bo urged to eliminate the shops shown in the plans. The recommendation was adopted without discussion.