"They've been building apartments and offices over supermarkets and the like for a long time in England and elsewhere, so it must make sense financially in some instances at least.
"I know that the council's urban design team has been promoting such development. For example, there was an apartment block proposed to be built over retail as part of The Warehouse's development of its site in Balmoral.
"But it's a commercial decision at the end of the day and we weren't elected to start second-guessing commercial decisions," Haynes said.
Glenda Fryer, Albert Eden Local Board deputy chairperson, pointed to Countdown's Vinegar Lane development in Ponsonby where residential is a big component of that mixed-use development behind Ponsonby Rd.
"Ironically this store is virtually the same layout as the new Williamson Ave one in Grey Lynn/Ponsonby. That building has apartments and offices as part of the project and they appear to be well received," she said. Fryer wondered whether there was a height restriction difference between Mt Eden and Ponsonby, and cited Environment Court action on the Ponsonby project.
Leyroy Beckett, Generation Zero's Auckland director, said it was unfortunate in a city blighted by a housing crisis that there was such wasted opportunities. It made sense to create different types of houses and large flat buildings like supermarkets were appropriate for development above, he said.
The upgrade and expansion near the Valley Rd/Dominion Rd corner has been open since September but got its official opening celebration with executives on December 13.
People close to the project pointed to the fact that Countdown does not own the land so did not control the outcome.
The Valley Rd site behind the Dominion Rd shops is owned by a Melanesian Mission Trust Board entity. Talks about the expansion of the store are understood to have dated back at least five years - some say well before the housing crisis hit the city - so the board and Countdown never addressed the issue of residential development as part of the expansion and upgrade.
Countdown has expressed pride and satisfaction with the result.
Adrian Walker, property general manager, said the store was one of the chain's busiest.
"We've been part of the community on this site since the 1970s, but as the area has grown and changed, we've also had to change to meet the needs of customers here.
"That's what has driven the significant refurbishment we've just undergone here. We've widened the aisles and increased and improved parking, which I know will be a welcome sight to our customers," Walker said.
