Pat O’Connor could see potential written all over the modest two bedroom brick house on the corner of Cambridge’s busiest roundabout when he bought it for $1 million four years ago.
Developer Pat O’Connor sits on the concrete porch of the house in Victoria Street which will be demolished to make way for town houses. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Built in the 1940s from Huntly brick and native timbers, the home has changed little over the decades. But its location – on a generous 997sq m section at the intersection of Victoria Street and Hamilton Road – places it at the heart of a town experiencing rapid growth and transformation.
Pat O’Connor
O’Connor , 73, announced this week he has secured resource consent from Waipā District Council for four three-bedroom freehold town houses.
The process was smoother than it might have been four years ago, thanks to Waipā’s status as a Tier 1 growth council under new legislation promoting increased urban density. By working closely with planners, O’Connor believes the design respects the character of the neighbourhood.
Across the road stands the historic St Andrew’s Anglican Church, built in 1881. In a nod to its iron pitched roof, the southern end of the town houses will be constructed of the same material and at a similar pitch.
O’Connor and his wife Sandie live in Mātangi, where they run a contracting business. Originally from the Waikato, he was raised in Hunua, South Auckland, and spent years milking cows and driving trucks and milk tankers.
News of the development surfaced following a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (Lgoima) request by The News for resource and building consents issued in the six months to June 30.
How the town houses will look from Victoria Street in Cambridge.
Previously, the information appeared in quarterly reports from District Growth and Regulatory Services group manager Wayne Allan. However, earlier this year, following a council workshop, it was decided to replace the reports in favour of media releases and newsletters from the Communications and Engagement team, leaving The News to make requests for the information and being told to wait under the act..
O’Connor said the townhouses will feature high-end finishes, private internal lifts, and double garages.
“These homes represent the best of Cambridge – elegant, considered design in a location that’s second to none,” said O’Connor.
“This site has been an important journey, and we’re grateful to those who have supported us through the consent process.”
The bricks from the original house – the same type used to build the Huntly Courthouse – will be salvaged and reused once demolition begins later this year.
Gone will be the spacious lawn and its iconic wishing well. For years the section has been a prime spot to advertise events and elections campaigns.
Pricing for the freehold units is expected to range between $1.7 million and $1.8 million, reflecting their proximity to town and Lake Te Koo Utu.
All units will be noise-proofed, given the roundabout – upgraded for $3.1 million eight years ago after it ceased being part of State Highway 1 -sees thousands of vehicles pass through daily.
Access to the development will be via Victoria Street, not Hamilton Road, O’Connor said.
Developer Pat O’Connor at the busiest roundabout in Cambridge – with the most iconic church feature – is about to have a new look about it. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
