Korimako Lane opens

Christchurch’s biggest community housing project will soon welcome its first tenants.

New homes as seen from Korimako Lane.

Korimako Lane, the first stage of Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust’s ambitious Brougham St development, opened on Friday.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel declared open the first 28 homes of a 90-home Southbase-delivered development that breaks new ground for the city.

It’s the largest building project commissioned by ŌCHT since the trust was established in 2016. It is the one of the largest developments of its kind under construction for an NGO in New Zealand.

ŌCHT chief executive, Cate Kearney, says this is a significant boost to community housing stock in the city and provides homes that are modern, dry, healthy and cheaper to run for those most in need.

The new homes back on to car parking on Korimako Lane.

“Three distinctly different communities have been designed for each of the three stages of this 90-home project, and they’re supported by many innovations.

“A great deal of thought went into the planning, which sought to minimise the build density to accommodate enhanced community amenity.

“There are green spaces, safe areas for children to play and communal garden areas to encourage interaction between tenants.”

Korimako Lane is named after the New Zealand bellbird.

ŌCHT commercial and development manager Ed Leeson says the project is designed to the NZ Green Building Homestar 7 standard.

Its construction considered safety and longevity of materials and their relationship to the residential and industrial buildings in the area.

Fences and gardens set the homes back from Brougham St.

“Everything from the brickwork to the metal cladding, the window location, the insulation and heat recovery systems contribute to making these homes as energy efficient as possible.

“We’re also keen to promote energy efficiency outside the homes, which is why we’re working toward having e-bikes and electric vehicles on-site, too.”

Land for the development was transferred to ŌCHT as part of the 2014 Housing Accord Agreement between Christchurch City Council and the Government to capitalise the Trust.

The complex will be owned and managed by ŌCHT.

Overall, the Brougham St development will consist of 70 x 1-bedroom homes, 3 x 3-bedroom homes, 14 x 2-bedroom homes and 3 x 4-bedroom homes.

Shared spaces separate homes on Korimako Lane.

A dozen homes have been designed so they can be converted to provide accessible bathrooms at a future date, to meet accessible home requirements.

The site was previously a large social housing complex called Brougham Village, where 89 homes were demolished following the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.

The development is set for completion in June.

Korimako Lane is the latest in a slew of properties opened by ŌCHT.

The Trust delivered 59 new homes last year at Hastings St East, Charles St, Tiwaiwaka Lane and Reg Stillwell Place.

Work continues on stages 2 and 3 of ŌCHT’s Brougham St project.

More are planned for Coles Place in St Albans and Gowerton Place in Richmond.

Mr Leeson says ŌCHT is grateful for the hundreds of skilled people who have helped deliver so many new homes during a trying period.

Main contractor Southbase ensured the first stage of the Brougham St project was finished to an exceptionally high standard, and the Trust looks forward to working with them into the future.