We learned today that 78 houses, which are the homes of friends and neighbours in the Avon Loop, have finally been zoned red. I can’t begin to imagine what this will mean for our very special community.
In the announcement they referred to the area as Central City South, which is simply adding insult to injury. The Avon Loop is north east of Cathedral Square. It’s hard to believe that anyone cares when they can’t even get the location right.
It must be so awful for people, and I guess the uncertainty hasn’t been easy either. May you remain green, in all senses of the word!
My goodness that is quite shocking Ruth. Not only do you keep being shaken up but you may well lose part of the heritage of your local community. I feel for you indeed – more loss and change…stay safe dear friend
Thank you both. Our lives have already changed so much, and now there’s more change coming.
There was a chap on the radio tonight talking about this zoning Ruth. He seemed to feel that it was politically motivated.
I hope in time that creativity will prevail to honour what you had as a community but for now you have more to adjust to.
Perhaps someone could blog about each person in this community and how they respond to this event in the same vein as Gentle Author…..I plan to look out that blog it sounds fascinating. Our ordinary lives offer so much richness. Thanks for the link.
I’ll try and find that broadcast, OG. There’s feeling here too that the decision was a political one.
I love the idea of having the stories of those who have been zoned red preserved. There’s so much history in the Loop, and this is another chapter.
The chap spoke on Radio New Zealand just after 5 pm. I’m not sure whether it was part of the news or as part of Check point. I hope you can track it down.
Gerry Brownlee was quite definite that there was no negotiation about the land being built on again.
There is probably room for stories around how it affects the Loop community as well as individuals who have been zoned red and those who get to stay.
OG, I found the broadcast on Checkpoint, and expect there’ll be more in a similar vein. I agree there’s room for stories, but I tend to keep my blog personal – don’t feature other people’s stories unless I’m affected, and I have their permission, and then don’t usually name them. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about all the local changes as time goes on – will need to express my feelings, and the blog is the ideal place for this.
I feel for all the Avon residents who are losing a way of life in a beautiful area and community. Cost will prevent many of them ever replacing it. As most of us drive Fitzgerald and look across the river, a site that has often made me want to live there, I realize they will soon all be gone. Looking left as we come down your street, across to the hotel, I imagine all that will go too. My head spins just trying to follow it all, the pain, displacement, upheaval, financial loss, tears.
I find we are living on one of the few remaining areas left on a river. Totally green (yellow) and minor repairs to the area only. Yes we face some eqc repairs and may have to move out at some stage, another horror story in these rental shortage days, but we can only be grateful that our little original villa and land are here, still standing, when so many people have lost so much.
Just read Vicki Anderson’s latest article on Stuff. Our lost city. So hard not to remember it all as it was. Some comfort that we are all in it together and people can relate to each other and comfort those who are struggling.
Fi, my head is spinning too. I’m glad to know you are green/yellow. We have no idea what our green/blue zoning will mean in the long run, but are also grateful to still have house and land. I’ll seek out Vicki Anderson’s article.