A Topshop/Topman perhaps

I had a natter to the real estate agent who sold us (Rebekka and Me) our house down here in Papakura in 2013. As you do you talk real estate movements and what’s going on in the market.

In 2013 we got our first house before the market (and for that matter the Unitary Plan, and Special Housing Areas) at an affordable price (meaning no more that 40% of our income was used in mortgage repayments as a rough guide). Fast forward to 2015 and a Council revaluation later and things have changed.

The market has found Southern Auckland and by enlarge Papakura if the amount of For Sale and Sold signs are anything to go by. So bring in our revaluation adding 38% plus another $80,000 as a rule of thumb and things have heated up in the South.

The reason?

The Isthmus is coming south with central Auckland deemed so unaffordable that anyone wanting a house and is relatively cashed up is coming south.

Of course when you see things like this in 2013: SOUTH AUCKLAND – THE RISING JEWEL IN AUCKLAND’S CROWN, followed by investment from Council and Central Government (although not fast enough), and of course this: NEW APARTMENT TOWER ON THE WAY FOR MANUKAU CITY CENTRE you know there is money flooding into the area.

So what is my wish then?

Well with the increase of population and affluence in the South (not a bad thing entirely) I think we need two surveys done:

1. On the demographics of the clientele of the new Topshop/Topman in Queen Street
2. Demographic survey on Southern Auckland (think the Census might help to a limited extent)

So why the demographic surveys?

I think in a few short years it might time for a Topshop/Topman down in the heart of the South – Manukau City Centre.

With the south due to house 45% of the population by the end of the Auckland Plan (population is 38% currently) and the need to decentralise some things to assist our transport system a second Topshop/Topman might come in beneficial play.

Why?

Not only for their bottom line but a reality check on the changing dynamics of Auckland.

I need not remind the rest of Auckland of this:

It was around transport and the Development Auckland CCO.

When I mentioned the Gen0/Transport Blog Essentials Transport Budget, as I noted in my earlier comment it was received coolishly by the two Councillors and the Deputy Mayor present (it was not dismissed out of hand so let me be extremely clear there). So I got Franklin Ward Councillor Cashmore, and our Deputy Mayor to flesh their side of the argument out. Personally I knew where this was going but I was going to see if they could articulate their point to which they did.

Cr Cashmore I have respect for after he articulated a point about heavy industry last year when no other Councillor apart from Penrose could. But what was being articulated last night was that the Essentials Transport Budget (note from my end that the BTN and APTN is not any better) has a hole in it and that hole is in Southern Auckland. Now don’t shoot me here I am just reporting back a critique (I gave one back as well). Southern Auckland is tipped for large if not the largest amount of both residential and employment growth – even more so than the City Centre itself. Reason? The South houses four of the five Heavy Industrial Complexes and those complexes are experiencing both growth and are nearly out of land until Drury South and later Glenbrook come on stream. Coupled with the South housing 38% of the population of Auckland and all things considered with NIMBYism on the Isthmus growing to 45% by the end of the Auckland Plan you hit an acute situation at hand.

YES the South will still commute to the City Centre but as I just pinged Simon Wilson from Metro Magazine on:

Metro @MetroMagNZ
“It’s easier for people in the inner city to escape to the country than for people who live on outskirts to drag themselves into the centre”

Ben Ross @BenRoss_AKL
@MetroMagNZ if they “want” to go to the Centre
MoTransport report says the South “doesnt”

That Ministry of Transport report out last year strongly suggested Southern Auckland commutes within herself primarily and looking at future trends will continue to do so.

That report which I commented on in specific to the South can be seen here and here:
https://voakl.net/2014/08/21/aucklands-commuting-journeys-a-series-major-non-city-centre-employment-centres-overview/
https://voakl.net/2014/09/08/aucklands-commuting-journeys-a-series-concluding-remarks/

Now before Patrick pipes up everyone in that Have Your Say Session is aware of students and off-peak leisure trips using the networks to go north from the South. That was beside the point. The point being and as Cashmore articulated and the session agreed with last night is that the South is growing and set to grow faster in housing and jobs (from her Industry). The South commutes within herself for the most part.

Transport investment coupled with integrated land use planning needs to realise this and this is where East West linking across the South, links like the Manukau South Link to be in position (Pasifika will prove that particular point this weekend), three new stations between Papakura and Pukekohe being needed all come into play.

NOW, whether the Council and Auckland Transport actually follow through and do the above is yet to be seen. However the rumblings coming from the Southern Councillors and with the Deputy Mayor nodding realise at the absolute minimum there is a massive hole in planning down here and it needs to be rectified and budgeted for soon.

http://transportblog.co.nz/2015/03/10/the-consultation-problem-who-submits-on-the-plan/

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In the end yes, my wish as a Southern Auckland? A Topshop/Topman in the heart of the South – Manukau City Centre within the next three years please, thank you.