COUNCIL TO BUY SURREY PARK

Southland Times, Issue 25545, 13 December 1944, Page 4

COUNCIL TO BUY SURREY PARK

LAND FOR HOUSING PURPOSES The City Council has decided to purchase Surrey Park for £2BOO. 'Hie land is to be subdivided for housing. This was decided by the council at its meeting last night and it was also decided to take steps to have the area included in the city. The council recently acquired an option over the property and the city engineer was asked to prepare a report on the subdivision of the land. This report, which was submitted to the council at its meeting last night, stated:— “Yarrow street is to be extended as one of the main east to west streets to the racecourse. St. Andrew street is also to be extended to connect with the road which runs along the north side of the racecourse. “A section area of one-fifth of an acre and a frontage of 55 feet has been used as a standard. “No area is shown for public reserves. To set aside the usual proportion (in this case two acres) would be of little service. The same would apply to subsequent sub-divisions by separate owners. This stresses the need for planning the area as a whole. The whole block of land from Isabella street to Racecourse road and from Tay street to Herbert street should have a large reserve, and a proportion of the proceeds of the sale of Surrey Park should be allocated to payment of a share of the cost of this reserve.” ESTIMATE OF COST The engineer gave the following estimate of the cost of subdividing Surrey Park: — £

The report suggested that some of the streets could with advantage be narrowed to 50 or 40 feet. There would be little increase in the salable land, but the cost of reading and its upkeep would be reduced. Full chain streets were quite unnecessary in residential areas. The engineer emphasized that his proposals were only preliminary. It was decided to refer the report to the Town Planning Committee.

Land purchase 2,800 Survey, etc. Reading, 105 chains at 325 £180 18,900 £22,025 Less contribution from adjacent owner on Yarrow street 2,160 TOTAL £19,865 The estimated yield from the sale of sections was as follows: — 177 sections at £125 (average) 22,125 Less 5 p.c. for Reserves 1,125 Net Sales, say . £21,000