Hard News by Russell Brown

And the Auckland CBD's population is now heading for 50,000 – up from only 1400 in 1991. It's a massive change in after-hours density.

To a lesser extent it's a similar thing in Wellington too. I've noticed quite a few Welly CBD office blocks from the 1980s that have been re-purposed as student accomodation.

I had an apartment on Parliament St for a few years in a fairly lovely but slightly threadbare building which was converted (I think) in the 80s from old law offices. That was a really great spot. Nice apartments seemed few and far between unless you had serious money to burn every week though.

As an exercise I suggest everyone, especially those who’ve never lived in the city, go and have a look on trademe for city apartments. You’ll quickly discover that almost everything is total garbage. I don’t know why our council rubber-stamped so many dingy low-ceilinged new apartment buildings, surely they always had some leeway to say “no, this building completely sucks and you have to make it nice because we won’t let you blight our city for decades to come with the likes of it”, if they didn’t have that leeway then what’s the point of any of it.

The city has certainly changed alright. I used to live in the old Brooklyn apartment building at the top of Emily Place between 83-85 and the closest supermarket was either Devonport by ferry or, dunno, Lynn. The ferry was easier - carting groceries on a motorcycle wasn't any easier then than now. I have since lived in the Heritage hotel, that big old ugly building on the bend between Beach Rd and Anzac and two stints at 2 Queen Street opposite the ferry terminal - now I look back at the skyline from Stanley Bay…Nice idea to promote a sense of community. Must move back one of these days.

I had the inner city bug too and lived in a couple of converted offices. It was fun and kind of liberating to be able to go crazy with layout, colour and party entertainment.

I often dream of having the money or influence to create a creative precinct in AK in a bunch of converted factories way out west or south - cheap rent, studios, flats, parties, cool vibe.

Probably more likely to happen in Dunedin where the rents really are cheap and the buildings are massive.

Space…

rents really are cheap and the buildings are massive.

I have fond memories from last century (early ‘80s) of flat-sitting Bryan Staff’s second inner-city Wellington domicile (the first – after the tiny cottages we were neighbours in, up Thompson Street – was upstairs behind the Dixon Street Deli) – number two was a huuuge upper floor of an open warehouse on Wakefield street – one could bike around it – there were little oases of domesticity in a desert of tongue and groove with areas for soccer or tennis – and the lift worked!
Largely furnished from the wonderful Government Stores (tucked away on the other side of the harbour – a fun trip) – old MOW draughting tables and map drawers, an operating theatre light centrepiece – plenty of room for an Irish wolf hound!
and it was just around the corner from ’work’ in Blair Street… literally staggering distance! (Blair Street was virtually all market garden produce clearing houses then.)

Lived in the CBD for the 10 years. Suddenly felt all grown up when we moved in - waking distance to the whole CBD and only minutes from buses, trains and ferries. I love it. Only downside is suburban screamers who descend on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Only downside is suburban screamers who descend on Saturday and Sunday nights.

IE, the bridge-and-tunnel people?