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What is happening at 1310?
What is the driving force behind this major initiative?
Why did Zion church leaders make this decision?
How will this affect the neighbourhood?
What will this mean for Te Awamutu?
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT 1310?
There are some exciting changes being planned at 1310 Racecourse Road, the location of ZION which has been a church site since the mid-1980’s.
This property was purchased by Rosetown Community Church in September 1986 with the grand opening of the new worship centre in October 1988. Since that time, this local church has offered worship services, community events and Bible teaching to Te Awamutu. Often hosting large scale events, many lives have been transformed and healed through the power of Jesus at work through ordinary people of faith.
The current church building has reached the end of its life and the church Elders feel there is an opportunity to repurpose the land to serve a need in the community; that need is affordable housing which will be delivered through partnership with social housing provider, Habitat for Humanity. This means the exisiting church buildings will be decommissioned and removed.
Plans have been developed for 40 townhouses to be constructed onsite, including 12 one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom, and 8 three bedroom dwellings. A mixture of options will be offered to the market, including private purchase (with first-home buyers given priority), affordable, subsidised rentals, and rent-to buy opportunities. This allows for the development to serve a wide range of the community and ensures a mixed tenure of ownership. To serve the aspiration to build community, the proposed site plan includes a wide, open common green space for residents and their families to enjoy.
WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS MAJOR INITIATIVE?
Rampant property growth in Te Awamutu with high-priced houses on offer do nothing to help those wanting to get started — housing simply needs to be more accessible which requires it to be more affordable. The first and primary objective behind this initiative is to offer a range of home ownership options that include those currently “priced out of the market.”
Exisiting new housing developments in and around Te Awamutu offer million dollar homes on full sites, which contributes to the high-pricing, low-accessibility problem. By offering a compact housing concept with shared outdoor living, we aspire to achieve our second objective which is demonstrating that there is a better way to build community.
Finally, the church Elders wish to demonstrate to the local community that we desire to be active contributors of solutions. We asked “what do we have in our hand that could help?” Our current property seemed an obvious answer.
Read more:
How will the church be affected?
What are our goals with this affordable housing development?
WHY DID ZION CHURCH LEADERS MAKE THIS DECISION?
We desire to improve the social fabric of our town by providing social housing that positively contributes to the betterment of our local community.
Our mission of Activating Community Transformation is communal.
Phil Strong, Senior Leader, Zion
This means our purpose is to serve our community.
Therefore, we choose to invest our prime real estate asset into the betterment of Te Awamutu.
- Meeting growing housing needs
- Creating community space
- Affordable home ownership options
- Social housing solutions
- Creating community connections
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD?
The new property development has been carefully crafted to cultivate a community feel, to assist with residents enjoying the shared outdoor space and easy access to amenities. The buildings have been planned spatially to ensure natural light with an open feeling and expansive visual lines. The landscaping with trees and shrubs and wide pedestrian walkways will ensure connection to the local community is easily facilitated.
Owners will share responsibility of the management of the property through an elected Committee, which ensures the exterior is well-maintained and the occupants are able to retain a sense of pride in their place of dwelling.
Neighbours of this development need have no fear of a negative affect on their property values as a result of their new neighbours!
Read more:
Building community through effective partnerships
Project 1310 FAQ’s
Media Statement – 20 June 2022
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR TE AWAMUTU?
Our desire is for the people of Te Awamutu to become more aware of innovative ways to build community while preserving the feel of their town. This development has been designed with modern, urban living trends in mind and is the way of the future.
Te Awamutu residents can be proud that their town is a place for people to get a fresh start and a place they can be proud of to call home.
Contact Zion for more information.