| 21 T T Richard Loader Affordable housing options in Whangārei Habitat for Humanity’s Maunu Road residential development in Whangārei. Northland: Habitat for Humanity - Maunu Road REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “All units have front gates with private paths leading to front doors facing the street, creating a strong visual and physical connection with the street.” Habitat for Humanity’s Maunu Road residential development is part of the non-profit organisation’s approach to providing affordable housing options to meet the huge need in Whangarei and across Tai Tokerau (Northland). Habitat for Humanity is a global housing charity that addresses substandard housing and housing access, by providing homes for people excluded from traditional private sector pathways and who meet its criteria. It also makes homes habitable by repairing and ensuring homes are warm, dry, and safe. This community housing development will provide good quality medium density housing to Whangārei, and is being built in partnership with GJ Gardner Homes, who are well connected within the local community. The site is within a 5-minute walk to Horahora active recreation reserve, Hora Hora primary school, Whangārei hospital, local shops in Woodhill and immediately adjacent to a bus stop. A build-to-own Public Housing development, Habitat purchased the land in late 2021 which included three standalone homes. One was empty at the time of purchase and the other two tenanted. Habitat took over the tenancy until site works started in late 2022. The completed development will include one three-bedroom townhouse and twenty one – two bedroom townhouses, all two storey and with uncovered parking. There will also be a community space, and an operational hub that can be hired out by tenants for extra guests, gatherings and meetings. High quality landscaping and shared spaces will include a children’s nature play area, seating and green space. At 85m2 and 108m2 respectively, the dwellings are of a good size. All units have an efficient layout with open plan kitchen/dining and living on the ground floor and bedrooms as well as the main bathroom on the upper level. Living areas face and have direct access to private open spaces. Kitchens are located to overlook the nature play and central communal spaces within the development which addresses safety and provides good visibility. “The development has been comprehensively designed to respond to the site’s existing context, opportunities and zoning requirements alongside the needs of our target clients — young families with one or two children, and older persons,” says James Davies, Building & Development Manager at Habitat for Humanity Northern. “The site layout provides a good balance of private and communal on-site amenity. All units have all units have solar panels educing residents power bills by up to fifty percent.” James says the buildings are well designed, using gables that reflect the character of the area, and use a simple palette of high-quality materials. “All units have front gates with private paths leading to front doors facing the street, creating a strong visual and physical connection with the street. Careful landscaping and front yard and boundary treatment is planned along this frontage to create interest and activation while balancing that with privacy for residents. “Pergolas above the living room doors, offer some depth and shelter and the opportunity to personalise the private open space.” The communal outdoor space is thoughtfully positioned in the centre of the site and is well overlooked, with direct access from the operational hub as well as several of the units, for visibility. The landscape plan includes deciduous specimen trees at intervals along the street frontage, providing colour, height and interest, making for a positive, attractive and safe contribution to the street frontage on both Maunu and Te Mai Roads. Construction commenced in March 2023 with works on track for the development to be completed in July 2024, with families moving in August 2024 “We are currently completing the exterior painting on the final block and site landscaping has commenced. Internal works are being staged by block.” Habitat are seeking to procure further land for future developments and directly purchase turn key products across Tamaki Makaurau and Tai Tokerau. We make it happen. Design Coordination | Consenting | Procurement Contract Management | Risk Management | Leadership Plan and execute with confidence. Put Maxco on the team! +64 9 212 8468 info@maxco.nz www.maxco.nz
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