TRANSIT HOUSING CAMP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 228, 26 September 1945, Page 3

TRANSIT HOUSING CAMP

A WELLINGTON PROJECT BUILDINGS AT KAIWARRA INTO 40 FLATS (P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 24. Vacant Government buildings at Kaiwarra Park are to be taken over by the Wellington City Council and converted into a transit housing camp of at least 40 self-contained dwelling units. A decision to that effect was made by the council at a special meeting to-day. A condition of the undertaking will be that the Government restores Anderson Park as a sports ground. ” Proposals for the establishment o£ another transsit housing scheme at the Government-occupied Miramar motor camp will be considered later. It has been suggested that the buildings now on Anderson Park might be used for housing purposes, either at Miramar camp or on individual lots, or for establishing returned servicemen in light industrial buildings on corporation, or Harbour Board land. Each of the 40 Kaiwarra units, with a floor space varying from 460 to 590 square feet; will, it is proposed, contain a living room, equipped with an electric range and sink, a bathroom, with a hand basin, water closet and shower, and two bedrooms. Preliminary estimates by the city engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, are that the cost o£ sub-dividing and equipping the buildings, valued at £26,000, will be £17,000, or £425 a unit. Rents will not be fixed till the actual cost is known, but 30s a week has been mentioned as a possible figure. That would bring in an annual rental of £3120, and provide for the paying off of a capital loan, of £17,000, in approximately 10 years. To build a modern brick block of flats, accommodating the same number of people, would cost £BO,OOO, or £2OOO a unit.