Parnell plan riles residents

The Real Estate Institute is meeting strong opposition to its new headquarters in the upmarket village. Joseph Barratt reports.
Parnell is proud of its village atmosphere, it's low-rise old buildings filled with boutique stores, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Sidestreets are packed with 19th-century homes and one of New Zealand's earliest Catholic churches stands on Parnell Rd.
But residents are afraid that could go because of a multi-storey commercial and residential building planned for the corner of Parnell Rd and Denby St.
The Real Estate Institute has applied for permission to demolish its existing premises and replace it with a four-storey building with two levels of underground parking. It already has consent to build three storeys of townhouses which will loom over the mostly single-storey older villas on Scarborough Tce behind the property.
Increased traffic, damaged historic sidestreets, and lack of style are among the complaints about the development. It would also leave the Church of St John the Baptist, built in 1861, in shadows much  of the year.
Pamela de Beer, Stephen Davies and Susan McKegg live on Scarborough Tce, across the road from the proposed apartments. Because the apartments are subject to Auckland
City Council bylaws, neighbours can not oppose them. However, they are mobilising against the main building because it exceeds the maximum 12.5m height restriction. They have organised resident meetings and are filing submissions against the project.
Mrs de Beer says heavy excavation work and increased traffic could cause major problems and the 86 vehicles from the underground carpark would cause congestion on Denby St and Scarborough Tce where traffic flow and parking is already a problem.
There are also concerns for the stability of older buildings in the vicinity.
"The church and we are worried about the vibrations from excavating the two storeys underground,'' says Mrs de Beer.
Stephen Davies says that Scarborough Tce is one of the city's oldest streets and was never built for heavy use.
Debbie Harkness, of Parnell Inc, which represents more than 400 businesses, says the  design is dull and has no architectural merit. She is asking members to join the protest.
"Auckland's creative quarter'' is the image Parnell Inc promotes but this doesn't fit that image, says Ms Harkness. "There are some great examples of modern creative architecture. This is not one of them.''
Hinu te Hau, of the Hobson Community Board, says the board supports residents' opposition. "These are character-defining streets.  It's a question of urban design versus heritage.''
Christine Le Cren, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute, referred queries from The Aucklander to planning consultant John Childs, who says the development will make better use of the land and the institute plans to stay in the premises. He confirms residents have voiced their concerns. "We are working through the issues people
have raised.''
Auckland City Council's district plan requires all new buildings on the site to abut the kerb and Mr Childs also says car access to the building is not allowed from Parnell Rd and the
council's urban design panel has already approved the design.
Auckland City Council declined  to comment because of the project being "in the middle of the consent process''. Submissions close on September 25.