Horowhenua StarA proposal to redevelop the Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green took a step forward with Horowhenua District Council voting to sell the land to The Wellington Company at a meeting on Wednesday.
The hall is an earthquake prone building needing structural work to meet National Building Standards, and requires significant investment, prompting the council to seek proposals that could breathe new life into the area.
Of the 10 expressions of interest received, The Wellington Company’s proposal was accepted. It includes a reimagined War Memorial Hall with a restaurant, craft brewery and retails spaces, the retention of the Freyberg Room for community use, a village square, and 18 three-storey residential apartments.
The Wellington Company director Ian Cassels says he is thrilled with the outcome and “the visionary leadership shown by Horowhenua District Council”.
“We genuinely want the best outcome for Horowhenua, and are committed to working with council and iwi partners to play a transformational role in the future of the Levin Town Centre,” he says.
Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says the decision saves ratepayers money because the council receives the money from the sale of the sites while removing the burden of future maintenance and strengthening costs associated with the hall.
“The fact that developers see Levin as an attractive place to develop is a great vote of confidence and we hope it will be the catalyst for further investment in our district,” he says.
Consultation showed more people supported the proposed concept for the Memorial Hall (218 saying yes,113 saying no) and the concept of a village square (216-114), but there was opposition to the prospect of three-storey apartments (117-213).
A report by council officers that analysed comments showed a mixture of enthusiasm and concern from the public.
“The community appears divided between those who see the project as a chance to modernise and revitalise Levin and those who prioritise preserving its historic significance and green spaces,” the council report says.
Bernie says while there was less support for housing being reintroduced on the site, it is this part of the plan that makes it commercially viable for the developer. The proposal had to be considered as a package, he says.
If the proposal did not go ahead, the alternative was that ratepayers would have to fund the earthquake strengthening needed on the hall by 2028.
“All things considered, we voted that going ahead with the development was the best way forward for our district, and I’m excited to see it take shape,” Bernie says.
Council chief executive Monique Davidson will now be delegated to proceed with a sales and purchase agreement with The Wellington Company Limited to sell the Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green properties.
Before any agreement is completed council have requested an additional step to provide further opportunity for Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga to assess the proposal.
This is allow Muaūpoko Tribal Authority and Raukawa ki te tonga to provide an assessment against the proposal to ensure appropriate regard is given to its relationship, culture and traditions with their ancestral land.
Should this work result in significant changes to the scope of the development, or the views of iwi partners are unable to be resolved, the matter should be brought back to council.
A delegation from Muaūpoko Tribal Authority spoke to their submission and had requested a three-month pause on project negotiations, citing unsatisfactory consultation.
A Moller Architects drawing of The Wellington Company’s proposed redevelopment of Levin Memorial Hall and the Village Green – view from the west.
