Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Liveblog: Moving House (Literally)

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  • Deborah,

    It looks great, Jen. Looking at the shadow from the powerpole, it looks as though one of the silver linings is that you've been able to position the house on the section at a good angle for the sun. And All That Space for the littlies to run around in is fabulous.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Chchch Council assets are back in the Government's sights

    Herer's the standard link to the story before you posted your comment. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Note that this govt is applying the same pressure to other Councils to sell or mortgage their assets to make up for other funding options which the govt refuses to allow. Christchurch is just the biggest prize, with its substantial asset base eyed up by lazy investors accustomed to a diet of pork.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Jen Hay,

    But here’s the good news. A taster – until David comes up for air and is able to update y’all.

    How is it even humanly possible for it to look this good already?

    Were the Saints involved?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Our House.......

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Jen Hay,

    Great work by all! The site is soo neat and tidy compared with some I have been involved with (and that was without earthquakes).

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Deborah,

    you've been able to position the house on the section at a good angle for the sun

    Did you ever doubt they would Deborah :). I mean David is an engineer (apparently hard hearted too) so perfect solar gain positioning would have been high on the agenda.

    So tree planting is next?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Jen Hay,

    But it looks like we should chip in and buy you some trees. What's the wind like out there?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jen Hay,

    fits in really well already. onya

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Windy. Chilling northeasterlies the most frequent, northwesters hot and drying in summer. Should grow a good garden over time.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    some trees

    coppicing was mentioned, I recall

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Deborah,

    Best line at 4.25, from Bob Haywood: Red Zone Resident: “Silly Gerry Brownlee.”

    Has no-one taught the lad to say "twonkface" yet?! I am appalled. :-)

    Good Closeup item! So thrilled for the Hay-Haywoods that your house has been put together again and looks so nice!

    I really hope Sutton's initiative is in time for other red-zoned people to save their houses. Like others, I boggle that he hadn't heard of David and Jen's struggles until now.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Jen Hay,

    coppicing was mentioned, I recall

    Indeed. And an orchard. A big one.

    The section is perfect for the house sunwise. The front door faces the road. The big bay window faces north. All exactly as it ws in Avonside, except in Avonside, the property to the north side had subsequently been developed, and so the bay actually faced a big fence & trees. So we've been telling Bob (and ourselves) that the house is finally returning to its original setting - surrounded by lots of space on all sides. Just as in 'The Little House".

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 43 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    I boggle that he hadn't heard of David and Jen's struggles until now

    Same. I'm just glad to see anyone commit to acting right away.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to BenWilson,

    There still seems to be covenants though. Is Sutton going to lift them ?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    The house looks beaut in situ! And gotta love that Canterbury sky overhead :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    covenants

    I thought covenants were a private thing. That is, the seller sells the land but with conditions on it's use. Hence Sutton can't do much about them.

    It's a pity there was no developer smart enough to target those who wanted to move houses. They could have set up a subdivision and charged a premium on the land simply because it was the only new development that allowed old houses.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    13 workers....

    There still seems to be covenants though.
    Is Sutton going to lift them ?

    The arc of the covenant?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I thought covenants were a private thing.

    I thought that was one of the problems the HayHaywoods had when looking for land? I thought it was really difficult in the city, which was why they ended up farther afield. Then again, my thinking can be pie in the sky { ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Covenants are a plague on most subdivisions here, but people must like living in Stepford because people buy the land and houses. I think the answer lies with the city council approving subdivisions that impose restrictive covenants. Cera has such wide powers it could override covenants - if it wanted to.

    It would seem to an untutored eye that a single section among established houses would be possible to find but then you would have council consent hurdles to cross -- and knowing the CCC that wouldn't be easy. A good-sized section with no land problems at a reasonable price (land is way overpriced in Christchurch) is hard to find in an appealing area.

    What really gets me about the covenants is that they impose the very opposite of sustainability on their occupants: newish cars, no space for compost heaps or chickens, no trees that grow too big. Yet the submitters' consensus seems to be for a green rebuild of the central city.

    Choice is what is needed -- for those who like subdivision life and for those who do not.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    I think the answer lies with the city council approving subdivisions that impose restrictive covenants.

    So true. CERA would quickly encounter legal resistance if they now tried unpicking hundreds of private legal contracts. And which parties do we reckon Fieldmarshall Brownlee would go in to bat for?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    I must ask a planner.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Can someone direct Roger Sutton to PublicAddress, please. He would find out a lot about Christchurch and its citizens' concerns here. Then he wouldn't have to act so surprised on television.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • David Haywood,

    Very sorry for the radio silence, folks. I have been snowed under -- hope to post a proper update soon. But many thanks for all the erudite and witty comments...

    Vita Cochran wrote:

    Can you move the apple tree too? Or take a graft of it, best apples ever… Good luck

    Very nice to meet you at last, Vita!

    I took 20 cuttings of the apple tree -- all of which seem to have perished. But I do have seeds. Peasgood Nonesuch is a terrific apple (the name says it all really). Jennifer and I have lived with a Peasgood Nonesuch tree our whole marriage -- it would be hard to go without.

    It had to be chopped down to move the house, but at least we managed to save the weeping elm.

    JacksonP wrote:,

    Roger Sutton: “There’s only been about 50 people approaching us wanting to move their houses”.

    Jen and I were told only 15 (we checked 15, not 50) -- so I wonder if there's been a mishearing here. Most people in "repairable" houses have yet to settle their insurance so wouldn't be in a position to move.

    Hebe wrote:

    Choice is what is needed -- for those who like subdivision life and for those who do not.

    My sentiments exactly.

    Dr Eric Crampton from the Department of Economics and Finance at the University of Canterbury has an interesting analysis of the covenants issue here:

    http://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/connect-dots.html

    It seems to me that covenants are going to bequeath an urban planning nightmare to the future of Christchurch/Canterbury. I'm envisaging a two-year freeze on covenants for any new (not already existing) subdivisions.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Can someone direct Roger Sutton to PublicAddress, please. He would find out a lot about Christchurch and its citizens' concerns here. Then he wouldn't have to act so surprised on television.

    If only. While it's no thanks to CERA, the story here has a happy ending, unlike most of the poor worn-down souls on Facebook who must hang on every rumour in the hope of some relief from their wretched uncertainty.

    A brilliant media coup by the Hay/Haywoods. And what hopeless minders Sutton appears to have, that they'd fuss over his increasingly silly faux Beethoven hairstyle* while putting him on TV in his ideological undies.

    *Bet you they do. These are probably the same folks whose market research tells them that Grizz Wyllie is second most trusted after St Rog.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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