The Cornwall Park Trust Board has invited residents leasing its 110 One Tree Hill and Greenlane residential properties to a meeting next Thursday to discuss revisions to its new "modern" lease.
Chairman John Clark sent a written invitation to the meeting to be held at 6.30pm at the Carlton Cornwall Bowling Club, 126 Market Rd, to deal with the new terms, outlined at a meeting earlier this year.
Clark said the board had received feedback on its proposed new lease and he indicated some changes.
"We would like to meet with lessees again to provide you with our response and present the revised key terms. Following the meeting, there will be a period of two weeks for final feedback from lessees. The trust will then consider this further input, conclude its work and write to all lessees with an invitation to convert to a modern lease should they wish to do so," Clark wrote.
Leaseholders, charged up to $73,750 a year for the 110 prime sites around Cornwall Park, expressed shock and dismay at the new lease earlier this year, saying the board had not moved on the unpalatable 21-year rent review period and that the new lease increased the board's powers and disadvantaged leaseholders by offering them almost no benefits.
The board has taken a $348,284 High Court action against Yong Xin Chen, who abandoned 21 Maungakiekie Ave when her annual rent shot from $8300 to $73,750. Although that case was heard in May, a decision is yet to be released. Chen told the court she had made improvements to the property, including fixing the roof and swimming pool, renovating the kitchen and bathrooms and improving the flooring.
Leaseholders have complained the board has a poor track record towards them and Chen's lawyer Jenny Wickes said the board had been involved in litigation with other leasehold owners over valuation methodology.
Clark also wrote that lessees would be told of the board's submission to Auckland Council on the unitary plan at a later date.