One of Auckland's earliest suburbs, Onehunga is set to flourish with further rejuvenation, including a new apartment development helping homes, parks and shared open spaces to rise from the suburb's light industrial past.
Once considered one of Auckland's little-known secrets before more people cottoned on to it being within 10km of central Auckland and close to motorway and rail links, Onehunga's tight-knit community, teeming with shopping and heritage buildings, has notched up some big improvements - and is earmarked for more.
Onehunga Business Association President Peter Gibson says Onehunga has always been a great place but he is delighted how many elements are coming together to help move the suburb forward.
He was part of the group which successfully lobbied for regeneration of the Onehunga foreshore which, since late 2015, has produced the 6.8-hectare waterfront park Taumanu Reserve: "It's getting a lot of use," he says. "It's given a human face to the edge of the harbour."
Also presenting more of a human feel will be the Fabric of Onehunga apartments development, to be built on land which once housed the Holeproof Industries clothing factory and which seeks to bring a new fashion in residential character to the fast-changing suburb.
It is one of many improvements Onehunga is benefitting from, like the opening of the Waterview Connection. Gibson says: "I've seen myself how much difference this can make to travel times at certain times of day. In the afternoon, I can be back in Onehunga from central Auckland in around 20 minutes instead of getting bogged down in traffic around Gillies Ave when parents are doing after-school pick-ups."
Gibson is pleased Auckland Council's Planning Committee approved an overarching plan earlier this year for the long-term transformation of Onehunga, described as being similar in scale to the transformation of Wynyard Quarter. A more detailed framework plan for the area is now being produced.
The benefits of the Waterview tunnel providing an alternative to Southern Motorway gridlock features frequently in conversations over the pints, says the owner of The Good Home Gastro Bar, Tony Woodcock. About 18 months ago, he bought a former cafe to re-invent as Princes Street Bar, noting how much the opening of Taumanu waterfront park swelled weekend pedestrian traffic nearby.
Tony says: "The decision to do business here was about knowing this is a good area which is going to enjoy some growth and change which will only make it better."
He notices patrons coming in for meals before catching the train into big central city events. Onehunga's transport linkages got a big boost when the Onehunga Line from Britomart opened in 2010 and work is under way on the City Rail Link which will hike Auckland's train capacity.
The private developers bringing to market a new Onehunga apartment development, designed by architects Ashton Mitchell, feel their timing fits well with the suburb's increasing momentum.
Take a tour
Brothers Tim and Andrew Lamont's Fabric of Onehunga development will be comprised of five four-storey apartment buildings arranged around a central pocket park, part of the landscaping conceived by Boffa Miskell.
"We're seeing a revival of what was one of Auckland's oldest traditional suburbs," says Tim Lamont, with Andrew Lamont chipping in: "Before we bought our Onehunga site, we looked at a map of Auckland and recognised the suburbs with great potential."
As well as a long history and some good infrastructure already in place, Onehunga had for decades attracted industrial activity. The apartments will rise on a site between Spring and Victoria Streets, a couple of blocks from Onehunga's main strip and handy to the train station and the regenerated foreshore.
Tim says: "The word 'Fabric' is a link back to the clothing manufactured onsite historically and was also chosen because we want the development to fit within the existing urban fabric of Onehunga."
Ashton Mitchell's design reflects the site's light industrial heritage with buildings wrapped in steel cladding and black joinery, softened by the use of timber detailing and the surrounding greenery. Suspended pedestrian walkways inside light-filled multi-storey atriums within buildings will access apartments and there will be secure basement car parking.
Andrew says: "One of the things setting this development apart is the extent of the landscaping between the buildings and in the central pocket park."
Fabric of Onehunga is being sold off the plans in two stages with dwellings now available to purchase in Stage One's third and final building. Apartments range from one to three bedrooms (including some one and two bedroom apartments available to qualifying first home buyers for less than $615,000). All will have their own exterior living in private ground-floor terraces or balconies.
Construction is scheduled to start at the end of this year, with the first stage of 160 apartments completed two years later. Lamont and Co's development experience also includes the SKHY residential-commercial precinct being created off Khyber Pass Road and central Auckland student accommodation.
Fabric of Onehunga onsite display suite open 11am to 3pm daily at 11 Spring St, Onehunga. For more information: www.fabricofonehunga.co.nz
