LETTERS + EMAILS 311 RICHMOND ROAD (FORMERLY THE LITTLE GROCER) The upcoming Environment Court hearing which will decide the fate of the residential site at 311 Richmond Road (formerly The Little Grocer) is taking place later this month. As you will recall, our community was successful in getting the non-compliant proposal to put a large licensed cafe and carpark on this small residential site declined at a hearing in June/July last year. However, the applicants appealed this decision. Since then, the Grey Lynn and Westmere Residents’ Society Inc committee has been working hard on our community’s behalf to help the council to defend the independent commissioners’ original decision and uphold the residential zoning of the site. Like us, the council’s experts have serious concerns about the effects of what is proposed and have lodged evidence recommending it be declined. In consultation with our experts, we have put together an alternative vision for the site which restores the building, retains its current footprint, and would keep the majority of the site residential with just a small cafe of an appropriate scale and intensity located at the front - similar to Crumb on the corner of Crummer Road and Ariki Street. Please show your support for our ongoing efforts by joining us at the hearing: WHEN: Tuesday 7 June 2016 TIME: 10am WHERE: Hearing Room 2.01, Environment Court Level 2, 41 Federal Street, (Corner of Wyndham and Federal Streets). We hope to see you there! Jess Fowler, Susan Hirst, Mattie Wall, Jo Patterson, Ange Travers, Grey Lynn and Westmere Residents’ Society Inc. Links to further info: https://thisisyourcorner.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/council-hears-usbut-applicants-appeal/ https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/311richmondroad
Views in Ponsonby News reflect the authors’ and not those of Alchemy Media. PONSONBY PARK Inner city residents flock to Ponsonby for recreation, sustenance and shopping. With the welcome addition of Ponsonby Park we will have yet another drawcard to attract people to our area to spend their time and money. The diversity of Ponsonby has consistently been its major attraction with our beautiful churches, historic buildings, heritage architecture and premium shopping. With the addition of Ponsonby Park our community will be greatly enriched and our many businesses will flourish. Margaret Smith, Westmere 254 PONSONBY ROAD AKA PONSONBY PARK With the increased intensification in the central city area, including Ponsonby, more and more people need access to open green space. Thank goodness for the foresight of the then ACC that we now have the site at 254 Ponsonby Road to develop into a whole of the site park. No other land has been purchased for this purpose in over a decade - even with developer levies required to fulfil this basic need. City parks are vital, not only for the health of the population, but also to provide a place for the community to meet and mingle and express itself. Ponsonby Park will be a major asset for our community, our businesses and our visitors and I look forward to the realisation of this community open space. Jennifer Ward, Ponsonby ANIKA MOA ALBUM RELEASE EVENT @ NATURE BABY WEST LYNN I wanted to say a huge thank you to you, Gwynne, and the Ponsonby News team for publishing our Anika Moa album release event in the latest issue. The photos look fantastic and the Nature Baby team was so excited to see us feature in the issue. Please pass on my thank to your colleague Gwynne for coming along on the day and we hope to see you both at our future events. Gemma Jelicich, West Lynn WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN A big thank you to the kind person who helped me on Saturday 30 April at 9.30am when I fell outside the Trade Aid Shop in Ponsonby Road. I am very grateful to you and have healed well. Valerie Leech, Freemans Bay TO THE FIREMEN WHO HELPED ME To the firemen who helped me on Saturday 30 April at 9.30am outside the Trade Aid Shop... a very grateful thank you for your support and care. I have healed well and received excellent care at Auckland City Hospital. Thank you Martin Leach... I am a member of the U3A and feel the monthly write up has swelled our numbers considerably. Valerie Leech, Freemans Bay MIKE LEE STANDS FOR COUNCIL AGAIN What good news! It would have been very sad if Mike Lee would retire (though deserved) - he definitely has to stay until the tram runs from Wynyard Quarter to Britomart und up Queens St - K’Road - Ponsonby Road - Three Lamps - Victoria Street Market - and back to Wynyard Quarter (and that’s just the beginning). Sol De Sully, Grey Lynn
photography: Dallas Pickering
SUMMER STREET HISTORY I arrived in Summer Street in 1965, to find the building - now Farina bakery - was a boat workshop for ‘Paddy’ McGeedy. He is buried in Whangapara, Great Barrier Island. I understand his daughter is putting a family and boatbuilding history together. For info, contact Max Howard, Whangapara, T: 09 429 0449 evenings. John MacMillan, Ponsonby
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