Reg Stillwell Place opens

It took three-and-a-half months to redevelop and it was opened with speeches, sandwiches and basketball.

Housing Minister Megan Woods officially helped cut the ribbon at Reg Stillwell Place – a 19-home development she lauded as a fine example of innovation and a can-do attitude.

Cate Kearney told the crowd OCHT’s second intentional family/whanau development helped the trust add 75 new homes to the city’s community housing stock over the past two years.

Reg Stillwell Place includes 12 relocatable homes transported from Linwood Park in August this year. They have been refurbished as 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes.

Sarah’s children were among those playing on the basketball court after the formalities. She lived in one of the new three bedroom homes when it was at Linwood Park.

“It’s very warm, so warm, and it’s flash, and I love how the whole place is designed, there’s just so much space” she said.

“There’s plenty of room for kids, and we’ll love the basketball court. I can see them playing from the house. It’s going to be great for us.”

Nearby, the old community hall has been converted into a warm, modern 3 bedroom home, and the six of the existing 1-bedroom bedsits have been redeveloped as 1-bedroom homes.

Three tenants who lived there before it was redeveloped have returned to their homes. Another family moved into one of the bigger homes just as the speeches finished.

Reg Stillwell Place is the latest in a series of OCHT new home developments.

Another 90 new homes will be available when Brougham St’s first community opens early next year, ahead of another 90 at the same development by the end of 2021.