City Development | Napier

[Marky Mark]

Welcome Spotila , Have seen heaps of photos and Developments that can make up Napiers own Thread , so as a welcome present thought Id start one !

Click on this to View T@G apartments , one of Napers beautiful old buildings being turned into apartments . :cheers:

http://www.bayleys.co.nz/listing.asp?LID=26231&p=n

[spotila]

Bless you sir! Some good pictures there I've never seen before ^_^
Well if it's Napier pictures we're looking at I guess it's best I up what I've got :).
Here's a good few of the new Expressway while in its construction stage:

The intersection of the expressway and Taradale Road, with the expressway stretching left to right:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway1.jpg

The same intersection:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway2.jpg

The intersection of Prebensen Drive and the expressway, with Hospital and Bluff Hill in the background, and the estuary bridge at the far left:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway3.jpg

The same intersection, with part of the industrial area:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway4.jpg

Another shot, with most of the industrial area included:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway5.jpg

A shot of the estuary, with the rail bridge on the left, and the new expressway bridge on the right:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway6.jpg

A closer shot of the bridges:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway7.jpg

A shot from above Westshore, with the airport just out of the picture to the right, looking across the estuary:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway8.jpg

Showing the construction of the Kennedy Road overbridge, with the Taradale Road intersection in the background:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway9.jpg

Closer shot of the bridge:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway10.jpg

Yet another picture of the Taradale Road intersection:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway11.jpg

A higher view above Prebensen Drive, showing the hill and port:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway12.jpg

The estuary and part of suburban Napier:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway13.jpg

Showing the construction of the intersection of the old state highway and the new expressway at Westshore:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway14.jpg

Prebensen intersection with Ahuriri and Pandora, and the port:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway15.jpg

Looking over the estuary and the ocean:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/expressway16.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Spotila , is all that industrial land the area that lifted up out of the Harbour in the 1931 Earthquake ?

[spotila]

Yep. The majority of the industrial is on the new land, as well as a substantial amount of the residential.

[atkinson1]

Here are a few of my Napier pics that are already uploaded:

EDIT Images Removed

[flyin_higher]

Ah, ye old home town..

Here's a few more;
The CBD
http://www.napier.govt.nz/images/igallery/air_cbd.jpg
The new-ish 6 level Te Pania Hotel
http://www.napier.govt.nz/images/igallery/air_saltwater.jpg
Marine Parade
http://www.napier.govt.nz/images/igallery/air_marineparade.jpg
Tom Parker Fountain at night
http://www.napier.govt.nz/images/igallery/fountain.jpg

[atkinson1]

Haha I can see the sound shell on that aerial photo. Excellent :). ANd go Tom Parker!!

[flyin_higher]

Here's a new apartment project currently under construction, in the are of Ahuriri.
'West Quay'
http://www.globedevelopments.co.nz/westquay/images/apartments_photo2_large.jpg
A fairly substantial project for a provincial city anyway :cheers:

[spotila]

ooooooooooo lovely pictures both of yas! some great shots I've never seen~ West Quay is nearing completion mmhmm, and there's numerous other projects under construction in Ahuriri also. The area has experianced a substantial boom recently, tis neat~

[flyin_higher]

Yeah the Ahuriri area has boomed of late! The West Quay apartments are infact designed by Craig Craig Moller, the guys behind the Sky Tower! :cheers:

[spotila]

more pictures!
here's a few I've taken over the last few days~
ENJOY

An ariel view of the majority of the napier urban area, taken from a hill near my home:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9448.JPG

The rest of the urban area (mostly Taradale), looking practically east:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9449.JPG

Another arial. The cluster of shops to the right of the picture is the Taradale town centre:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9450.JPG

Looking more north-east, with Sugar Loaf on the left, and Hospital/Bluff hill on the right:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9451.JPG

A shot of the southern tip of Napier. My house is in this one somewhere ;)
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9452.JPG

A church near my home, very very old!
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9556.JPG

A typical Napier street :x
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/100_9557.JPG

[atkinson1]

Awesome pictures bro. Thats some serious blue sky in those first 4 images.

[spotila]

We make a lot of that round 'ere ;)

[flyin_higher]

Super pics! I'm going home in the weekend- for my new job at the City Council! :carrot: Ah, glorious Hawkes Bay summer here we come!

[spotila]

we should do lunch ^_^

[flyin_higher]

That could very well be a possibility :cheers:

[atkinson1]

.. .unless you're over the age of 81

[spotila]

not quite that old :x
found some more pics here:

http://www-public.tu-bs.de:8080/~y0013517/napier.html

[flyin_higher]

Don't worry, i didn't think you were that old, lol.

Lovin those Clive Sq palm tree shots, a bit of LA thrown in with Napier;)

[spotila]

Just in case anyone misses it, I took some pics today, and posted a thread in another section:

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=156530

[flyin_higher]

Some nice as pics there! Working at the City Council, I have been taking pics of all the Art Deco bldgs in the CBD as part of a new Heritage Study for the Planning Department. There are heaps, and i'll try to get some and post them on here at some stage.

[flyin_higher]

I took pics of the new Hawkes Bay Regional Council 4 level office building in the Napier CBD yesterday
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p655233ab2b82d37cf3e33f010d73f26e/f51d98d5.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p310cb5df111cb6010930e0e4ba1aa337/f51d98d3.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pc84d6ebceb79a0cba18a2ba4d85ffbc0/f51d98d0.jpg

[spotila]

Yes! I parked outside this 2 days ago and watched them erect one of those steel frames. It was really quite entertaining!

[flyin_higher]

Yeah i work in the City Council bldg just across the road, so i can see the progress as it happens.

[Marky Mark]

Guess this building is designed with Earthquakes in Mind , any Renders Guys ? :)

[flyin_higher]

Yeah just steel framed structure. I have a render somewhere, ill post it when i find it.

[spotila]

should be 50 floors imo ^_^

[atkinson1]

Yeah I think you should mention that to them now before it's too late.

[flyin_higher]

Yeah i can imagine a 50 floor scraper would go down (or is it up? lol) well with the citizens of Napier.

Anyway, some cool aerials i found...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p1bd4b92b5bd98bfebb8dc1dc0b844fce/f51cc37b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p478b4ac11320111720947cece5b12a1a/f51cc36d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p94bf3e33a66cfe02a590a21b6d41c340/f51cc374.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pe1bb3d6ab7d81f6885e04481c36a2969/f51cc364.jpg

[atkinson1]

I like those aerials.

[flyin_higher]

Yeah, in that first aerial, the long avenue down the center of the pic, is called Kennedy Road, which I bike down to work (and back) each day.

[spotila]

omg I'm gonna come hunt you ^_^. Them some nice ariels... in the 2nd one you can clearly see the pathway along the parade...looks to be in construction though.

[flyin_higher]

Oh no don't hunt me. Ill have to shoot you with my BB gun, lol.
Yeah that pathway is great, im glad Mrs Arnott is pro-cycling and had the commitment to get that done.

[atkinson1]

Mount your BB gun and a milo dispenser on your bike and defend yourself against hunters.

[flyin_higher]

Lol, more BB gun mayhem on the streets of Napier

Some pics of a new apartment complex on the Napier Hill, called Northridge Apartments>>>

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pc88e123c2941e9b3d213171105af3cd6/f51a2256.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p6c674f85b197f8a37b00a7349ec6eec1/f51a225c.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pfc7090cb37f0f4e5db276bfc3718263f/f51a225b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pe1f71068aeeddda9ac5768bd3cd057e5/f51a225f.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/pe1361bb04db2141ec553895ae08b4fcc/f51a2254.jpg
The brilliant view these apartment dwellers will look upon
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p528779b93ef0300fffd160d9e7d74c03/f519e581.jpg
In the foreground, you can see the site of a new 6 level apartment complex, 'West Quay':
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p7a75046b2bcdeffcd59d6f423ef7ce98/f51a2257.jpg

[Marky Mark]

for Art Deco Week ?


http://www.artdeconapier.com/images/card-bisson.jpg :)

[flyin_higher]

Yeah, at the council they encouraged us to dress up in art deco style clothes, so most people did (yes and me too). Its quite interesting seeing all these fancily dressed art deco people walking around town casually.

[sam_L]

Haha that's so cool. Were there heaps of 30's style cars around too?

[flyin_higher]

Yeah bro, heaps of old cars and stuff, although those things are real inefficient, they sound like big trucks, lol. I just got back from an aero display they had over the Marine Parade, with all these old planes from the 30's, quite cool.

[sam_L]

That's the coolest thing ever. It's a good thing about living in a small city - you can organise community-wide festivals and things like this. Like where everyone gets in on the act. If you tried something like that in Auckland it wouldn't be anywhere near as effective. If they do this every Feb i'm keen to visit next year.

[flyin_higher]

Yep, its on every year, so come down if you can, but make sure you have some Art Deco style clothes to wear, then you'll fit right in, lol.

[spotila]

Ah yes, I went up and looked at those new apartments. I stood exactly where you took the photos from ^_^. Grab some updated ones of the council building ;D?

[Marky Mark]

those apartments , be like looking out from 30 floors up LOL, couldn't help but notice the safety fencing , guess it does the Job though !
What sort of prices are those apartments selling for ? :)

[flyin_higher]

Yeah those views will be great! I thinki most were sold off the plans, so don't really know the market prices, but im sure it would be up there around 800,000 to 1 mill.

[flyin_higher]

Here we are spotila, just for you. They have poured the concrete floor on the first floor. Just remember that presently they have erected only half the building superstructure, so that it will be much bigger than what is there now (the rest will be on the Vautier St side of it).

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p1f95d9cbed0119ce9fa1dec1e0e0913a/f509bfab.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p186f79f1e65e98a2f9ab44aa69f1a82f/f509b861.jpg
You can see the Council Bldgs in the background (where i work)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p73c6343a6eac812ab163153ab10cbbe3/f509b863.jpg
The rest of the steel structure will be erected on the concrete pad in the foreground;
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid158/p46c49bfd57a4a8a0d4fc0c7a931d0a95/f509b864.jpg

[spotila]

thank you sir ^_^

[spotila]

so like, I totally walked past the site today! Stood there for about 20 minutes watching the crane lift concrete beams up onto the top levels. Fun fun!

[flyin_higher]

Here's a cool pic with those cranes you were talking about, taken today>>
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid159/p09f2d8c2e5c68e1ae9605523e231d7cf/f5075f07.jpg

[spotila]

good boy for keeping us updated ;>

[spotila]

Took some pictures of EIT, the polytech in Napier yesterday. Enjoy:
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/101_0029.JPG
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/101_0030.JPG
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/101_0031.JPG
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/101_0032.JPG
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/101_0033.JPG

[flyin_higher]

Yesterday eh? ;)

Nice pics anyway. EIT has been undergoing alot of expansion in the last few years. Big increase in student numbers.

[SkylineTurbo]

The new buildings at the polytechnic look nice.

[spotila]

Yesterday eh? ;)

Nice pics anyway. EIT has been undergoing alot of expansion in the last few years. Big increase in student numbers.

yes :p, ignore the datestamp on the pictures, it's corrupt :(

[flyin_higher]

Ah, very good.

[spotila]

time for an update pal? I walked past today..is it just me or is there only 3 floors? I swear someone said it was going to be 4?

[flyin_higher]

Yeah, well i'm back in palmy now, lol, back to the old study. I'll be back in Napier at teh end of the month tho, so ill test my new digicam out and get some update pics then. Yep, its 4 floors, but the 4th floor is only a floor for the middle part of the building, ie, it deosn't go right across like the rest of the floors.

[atkinson1]

You got a digital camera! Good on you man

[flyin_higher]

Yeah i thought it was about time i got one. The SLR was just costing to much to get the pics put into CD each time i took some photos. So yeah, expect a couple more pics from now on i guess.

[atkinson1]

Yeah digital cameras are really cool. Film has its uses too but digital is very convenient and great fun.

[flyin_higher]

Indeed, convienient and very fun- capture things and be able to use the images much quicker.

[SkylineTurbo]

^ How many megapixels is your new digital camera?

[flyin_higher]

4, with 3x zoom. Its a Canon.

[SkylineTurbo]

^ Oh, thanks, quite good camera then.

[atkinson1]

Indeed, convienient and very fun- capture things and be able to use the images much quicker.

Yeah and handy in all sorts of situations. You can photograph Signs, Documents, things you own, strange or weird things you see on the street, etc. I use mine at uni alot for documenting the progression of research and development on my studio walls. In fact I used it today in drawing class to create a funny little stop-animation of a hand-drawn skeleton taking a photograph for each frame then animating the frames on the computer into a little movie.

[flyin_higher]

Yeah, pics of anything, lol. That animation thingy sounds pretty cool.

[atkinson1]

Yeah it was this skeleton head and a body and he walks along and the head falls off and spins around while the rest of the body flies off the screen in pieces. Sounds pretty morbid I know but we had to animate a drawing we did last week when we were studying anatomy and we were sketching this model skull which we named Jimmy.

[flyin_higher]

yay 1000 posts! nice one tom

[spotila]

spammer tom ;)~

[Gertzy]

Napier ehhh, I know someone who lives in Hastings.

[flyin_higher]

Hastings is about 20km south of Napier, and the cities have a close relationship both economically, socially and politically.

[KingKong1]

Hastings is about 20km south of Napier, and the cities have a close relationship both economically, socially and politically.

wow, I thought the two places were closer than that, do you think they will merge one day like that place in Canada

[flyin_higher]

No, they won't.
Mainly because population growth isn't high enough, and also, there are District Plan regualtions that protect the very valuable soils of the land which lies between the cities from urban sprawl.

Cheers. :cheers:

[flyin_higher]

Some pics I took from an area near Napier, called Bay View (for obvious reasons), when I went for a huge bike ride>>

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid164/p8ae08faaebf41723ba52a113fb47e37a/f482749d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid164/pe744fafa354c12005188a2e348b016de/f482748e.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid164/p50e0fd5c185805fa680ca7bb8abda89a/f4827484.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid164/pe589a8aaccf5fab600d9a21cbc6e4bd2/f4827478.jpg
The path in the bottom right corner is the Cycleway that the council has been building around the city
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid164/p7aee0c8dd56e47b706317bb0e9c8688e/f4827463.jpg

[Marky Mark]

it looked amazing , filmed during Art Deco Week - it looked perfect - perfect weather and lots of fun ! :)

[spotila]

nice sunny day as usual :). Good pics lad

[NZer]

Hey flyin,do you think you could get a pic of the Kawekas with some snow on top in the next few months and post it on here.
If you could that would be great thanks.

[flyin_higher]

No probs, i'll see what I can do;)

[atkinson1]

Beautiful pics flyin. Pretty nice weather you're having down there.

[flyin_higher]

Took this today as part of stuff for work, taken from the top of the 6 level Scenic Circle Hotel on the Marine Parade. Looking over the CBD towards Havelock North. The T&G building on the left is a city landmark (the green dome), and you can see my work (council building) on the right, the grey building :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0301.jpg

[sam_L]

Very nice! You can almost feel the coldness in the air.

[flyin_higher]

Yea, its was real cold this morning, but after biking to work, soon got all warmed up from the exercise!

[flyin_higher]

oh yea, as a development related thing, for thsoe interested in the city, there is a 4 level office building abouot to begin in the CBD, our very own PWC Centre!
Plans:
https://www.bayleys.biz/list_img/1411039/1411039_01.jpg
It's the first significant office development in the city for a number of years.

[spotila]

Nice picture~ Ooooo another 4 story. It's our own little manhatten going on down here..

[Marky Mark]

Wish Tauranga would get a few like that ! :)

Is this rather Large Apartment Complex Finished Yet ?


http://www.realenz.co.nz/photos/ILS/16/457716-1.jpg

[flyin_higher]

Yeah that's right Spotila, our own Manhattan, lol;)

Um, that project is coming along well marky mark, i'll try and get some update pics before I leave in the weekend.

[Tasman]

It would be great if Napier and Hastings was physically one city. We would have a few skyscrapers and a greater place to live. Its just silly the two competeing for the main CBD. And with a population of over 100,000 Im sure it would be growing at a faster rate with the climate they have. They get so neglected for how big they are.

[flyin_higher]

Yes, well, i've always wondered what it would have been like if they had been one city.

[spotila]

Though if they were one city, they wouldn't exist at all in theory, as the plains between the two are the very veins that hold the region together.

[flyin_higher]

Yes that's right. But they could have been located nearby as one city, but then you would lose the nice flat land to build on.

[SYDNEY]

I love this design. no symmetry - whoopee.

oh yea, as a development related thing, for thsoe interested in the city, there is a 4 level office building abouot to begin in the CBD, our very own PWC Centre!
Plans:
https://www.bayleys.biz/list_img/1411039/1411039_01.jpg
It's the first significant office development in the city for a number of years.

[flyin_higher]

Indeed, lol. I guess they have gone for somethign a bit different from the usual symmetrical style of Art Deco

[flyin_higher]

Update pics:
The new Regional Council HQ-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0471.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0470.jpg
Northridge Apartments-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0481.jpg
West Quay Apartments-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0480.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0482.jpg

And Napier CBD from the hill, taken this morning-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0463.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Shes Ganna Look Rather Spectacular with all that Apartment Development on and around the Hill , Sorry whats it Called ? :)

[spotila]

bloody nice man, good to see the council building nearling completion!

[flyin_higher]

Yea its all go round there for apartments now!

Shes Ganna Look Rather Spectacular with all that Apartment Development on and around the Hill , Sorry whats it Called ? :)
You mean whats the hill called? It's just called Napier Hill, lol.

[spotila]

Just a question, where'd you take this picture from? I know there's that small lookout up there near the high school, but that's covered by trees on both sides. My guess is it looks like a veranda of someones house? You been breaking and entering again mate?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/IMG_0463.jpg

[flyin_higher]

lol, nah, actually it was part of site visit for a resource consent that I was helping out with. I had to take a whole heap of pics as part of the Assessment of Environmental Effects, and I just snapped that pic as well cause the view was a good one!

[Tasman]

Shes Ganna Look Rather Spectacular with all that Apartment Development on and around the Hill , Sorry whats it Called ? :)

Its called Bluff Hill at eastern end, hospital hill at the western end. Most people call it Bluff hill or Napier hill. It was once call scinde island (before the earthquake when it was one).

[Marky Mark]

Where are you based ? Good info , are you a Kiwi living in OZ ? You have the right to remain silent ! LOL :)

[Tasman]

Where are you based ? Good info , are you a Kiwi living in OZ ? You have the right to remain silent ! LOL :)

Other way around mate. I'm an Oz living in New Zealand. Currently living in Hawkes Bay and Palmy. I haven't been very vocal, I prefer to watch. But you'll propbably here a lot more from me now!

[Tasman]

Just a few pics from Bluff Hill lookout of Napier Port. Taken on a beautiful Hawkes Bay day a while ago on Art Deco weekend.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/biggestj/n4.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/biggestj/n3.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/biggestj/n1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/biggestj/n2.jpg

[sam_L]

Nice photos man... the weather couldn't be more perfect.

What is it with the unproportional amount of SSC members from Napier and Palmy? lol

[flyin_higher]

lol Sam, not sure, but there must be a reason.

[flyin_higher]

Other way around mate. I'm an Oz living in New Zealand. Currently living in Hawkes Bay and Palmy. I haven't been very vocal, I prefer to watch. But you'll propbably here a lot more from me now!

Hey, your in the same cities as I am! :cheers:
What are u over in NZ for?

[atkinson1]

Beaut photos Tasman!

[spotila]

Nice pictures :). I can see why there'd be lots of people from Napier.. but palmy I just can't explain ;)

[Tasman]

Hey, your in the same cities as I am! :cheers:
What are u over in NZ for?

I've lived here here for years, moved over with my family. Parents moved here for business.

I was at Massey, but am leaving to Auckland to do a property degree. Hawkes Bay is where my family lives.

[flyin_higher]

Cool, sounds like a similar situation to me. I'm at Massey doing urban environmental planning

[Tina From Taihape]

Nice photos Tasman , I have an Auntie up on that hill in Napier , haven't been there for Years though , looks like it getting bigger though witha ll those apartments , See Ya ! :)

[Marky Mark]

Whats the History behind this Building Guys ? I see that its being Transformed into Apartments ! :)

http://www.realenz.co.nz/photos/vclhawk002/06/NAA2206-1.jpg

[SkylineTurbo]

Those pictues are beauties mate :okay:

[Tasman]

Whats the History behind this Building Guys ? I see that its being Transformed into Apartments ! :)

http://www.realenz.co.nz/photos/vclhawk002/06/NAA2206-1.jpg

Thats the old IRD (inland revenue department) building. From what I've heard it will one day be completely apartments but there doing it in stages, I guess with demand. I think there first few floors are already filled? or being sold at the moment? I dont know how nice they are inside but they havent done anything to the facade. I think its a very ugly building anyway in dire need of external renovation.

[flyin_higher]

Yes they are being done by floor, first floor is finished and now the second floor is being sold off. I also think the develper needs to remake the externals, but this may come in time when they eventually sell the top floor apartments as penthouses and need to bring the buildings image up to suit the prices they are likely to expect!

[flyin_higher]

Here's a pic that NZer might like, the mighty Kaweka's viewed from the Hawkes Bay town of Onga Onga;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/HawkesBayPlanningTrip006.jpg

[flyin_higher]

Here's a new rendering of that new Office Bldg that is about to be built in Napier: It's called the PWC Centre (same company as that Auckland tower)
https://www.bayleys.biz/list_img/1411039/1411039_02.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Napier certainly has its fair share of construction going on , whats the population growth like ? Isn't the next Census due soon ? :)

[flyin_higher]

Population growth is steady but not huge, but that does make planning easier! Census is March 2006 (so just over 5 months away). Napiers pop. last census was about 53,500 pple, while this year it is nearing 56,000, so not huge but a susbstantive increase.

[spotila]

Where abouts exactly will that new PWC Centre be built, do you know?

[flyin_higher]

Corner of Munroe and Raffles St's (opposite Pak'nSave Fuel) :)

[spotila]

Oh so they're FINALLY doing something with that land! Excellent.

[flyin_higher]

No, no, its not the old railway land, its the other corner, opposite Beaurepairs, and where there is curently some old villas which are about to be moved off site.

[spotila]

:(

[flyin_higher]

Why the long face? lol. From what I know with working at the City Council and all is that this areacould beocme an inner city park with some carparking on the side.

[spotila]

I suppose that's good news then hehe. Though with the extremely limited space in the CBD, would it not be wise to make use of the space as best as possible (not saying that a park is bad..but you know..money ;))

[flyin_higher]

Yea it would prefer it to be built on too, cause we already have enough parks in Clive Sq, Marine Parade, etc. Maybe the council will just leave it for now until there is demand to build something large on it.

[heavyzakura334]

it looks really nice and I had never heard of it.

[flyin_higher]

West Quay apartments
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05025.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05020.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05026.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05027.jpg
Hawkes Bay Regional Council HQ
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Napier_labourweekend05032.jpg

[flyin_higher]

'Ahuriri Quadrant', just round the corner from West Quay.
A 3 stage development, with terraced housing, apartments and retail
http://www.globeholdings.co.nz/ahuriri/images/masterplan_large.gif
Stage 1
http://www.globeholdings.co.nz/ahuriri/images/photo_terraces_lge.jpg
Stage 2/3
http://www.globeholdings.co.nz/ahuriri/images/photo_lodge_lge.jpg
How very 'new urbanist';)

[Marky Mark]

Napier is certainly making the most of its Beautiful Waterfront with all these Apartment developments :cheers:

[spotila]

horray nice pics!

I really gotta get me a digicam :(

[flyin_higher]

yea digicams really are quite good

[spotila]

well I had a look around the city this morning at about 6am. Don't ask me why so early.
Had a look at the apartments up by the hospital, half of them are done and have people living in them. Other half are a long way off yet. The west quay apartments are coming along nicely.. did I count 5 stories?

And f_higher, could you answer me a couple of questions. Across the road form hot chick and the cool cat etc, on the corner there, there's a large fenced off area, a big hole in the ground and lots of construction work. What's going up here do you know? Also, between the port entrance and the ocean spam they're taking a lot of shingle off the beach in trucks. What's the deal?

Cheers
spotila

[flyin_higher]

6am??! lol, dont worry I won't ask;)

Yep, I can answer all those questions, lol;
-Yep, West Quay is 5 levels.
-The construction site on the Corner of Hardinge Rd and Bridge St that you talk about is where a pretty cool looking 3 level hotel is being built (all glass facade!).
-Gravel is taken from the foreshore at the port end of Marine Parade because (due to longshore drift and the geomorphology of the coastline) that is where the greatest accumulation of gravel occurs. This 'excess' gravel is then used in the replenishment schemes of beaches where more gravel is required, such as Westshore. Theres a whole background to this but I don't really want to wrtie an essay on Coastal Dynamics on a skyscraper forum, lol.

I'm back in Napier at the City Council mid-Nov after exams, so I'll be able to give a better low down on everything else thats going on then.

Ciao :cheers:

[spotila]

thanks ;>. We gotta get a picture of this glass facade hotel!

[spotila]

Yea it would prefer it to be built on too, cause we already have enough parks in Clive Sq, Marine Parade, etc. Maybe the council will just leave it for now until there is demand to build something large on it.

i'm thinking.. the Burj Napier... it has a certain ring to it don't you think?

[flyin_higher]

haha, um, no, just a tad out of character isn't it? lol Well, depends on its size, cause 10 levels would be enough for something to stand out in Napier, which makes it more likely!

[spotila]

yah 10 would be about right. Are they still uptight about building tall buildings in Napier because of earthquake risk? The Wellingtonians don't seem to have an issue with it.

[flyin_higher]

No its not the earthquake risk at all- construction techniques are well advanced to ensure that a tall building would remain standing in all but the very worst earthquakes. It's more the market demand (or lack of) that means no tall buildings are built (although the new 4 level PWC Centre is a start, lol), as well as the nature of development in Napier, which tends toward low level structures.

[spotila]

hmmm
I read a pdf on urban planning about the napier CBD a while back, found it on the councils website. I don't remember much but I seem to remember a lot of complaining that room has run out in the inner city, so I wish they'd start building up :(. I'd love to walk up the back of Taradale hills and look over to see a nice wee dense skyline of 8-12 story buildings. MMmmm maybe one day aye.

[flyin_higher]

Yea one day... :cheers:

[spotila]

i saw some surveyors hanging around the meanee road/expressway intersection today. Promising!

[mtb_nz]

hmmm
I read a pdf on urban planning about the napier CBD a while back, found it on the councils website. I don't remember much but I seem to remember a lot of complaining that room has run out in the inner city, so I wish they'd start building up :(. I'd love to walk up the back of Taradale hills and look over to see a nice wee dense skyline of 8-12 story buildings. MMmmm maybe one day aye.

yeah nothing too high... but it would make Napier look more city like... I wonder if they did build any tall buildings in Napier if they would go for the modern look or art deco type look??

[flyin_higher]

The urban design guide, which ensures all new developments are sympathetic to the Art Deco styles, applies only to the Inner City 'Art Deco Quarter', which is mostly the retail and inner business area (not the fringe commercial zone where the larger commercial bldg's are), so any new tall building could go in this fringe commercial zone, and it could be any height-there is actually no height restriction!- as long as the building complied with other District Plan provisons. Like with the new PWC Centre on Munroe St, the design could be decidedly modern (or post-modern to be precise ).


i saw some surveyors hanging around the meanee road/expressway intersection today. Promising!

Yea its starting this Summer! Includes cycle lanes on the underpass along Meeanee Rd :)

See this HB Today Article:

Expressway overbridge plans advance
HB Today
03.11.2005


Planning for an expressway overbridge at the Meeanee Road intersection is pushing ahead, says Napier City Council chief executive Neil Taylor.

Governed by traffic lights, the busy intersection has been identified as an accident hot spot, and the council - with the support of other Hawke's Bay local authorities - successfully lobbied the Government for an overbridge that would address the problem.

Yesterday, Mr Taylor said Transit New Zealand and the council's works asset department were working together on plans for the overbridge. The project was being worked through in tandem with the proposed cross-country drain being constructed between the expressway and the coast.

Soil taken during the drain's construction would be used as fill in forming the overbridge's approaches, he said.
Mr Taylor told the council he was particularly appreciative of "the major role" local Transit engineer Mike Wong had played in seeing that the plans progressed.

[spotila]

ah excellent! The sooner the better. Not only is it an accident hot-spot, but the lights are terrible. They take so long to change, you can be sitting there for like 3 minutes. Terrible.

[flyin_higher]

A couple of recent pics i took;

The T&G Building, one of Napier's tallest (and nicest lookin!), recently upgraded with apartments:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NapierNov05005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NapierNov05004.jpg
West Quay, Ahuriri, with those large apartments in the background;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NapierNov05006.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Ha Ha ...I'm trying to organize a Smarth Growth check up Trip for you to Tauranga so you can take lots of Photo's up there LOL Nana has been real Slack !
I see Havelock North is getting into the Apartment Swing with these Woolshed Apartments ! :)

http://www.globeholdings.co.nz/images/woolshed_2.jpg

[spotila]

Nice shots! Hopefully santa will bring me a digicam.. then it's all on.. ;)

[flyin_higher]

haha, then it'll be a real competition for the best shots;)

[spotila]

say, the new section of prebensen drive opened yesterday, the part round behind park island. Honestly, I get from my house out the back of Taradale to the CBD in 6 minutes, it's unreal!

Oh and the new council building looks nearly done, it's quite pretty.

[flyin_higher]

Indeed, it opened earlier this week. And the best part about it is they have a cycle lane alongside the entire length of it! Eventually, the new subdivisions will extend right out to where Prebensen Drive is.

The HBRC bldg is looking pretty good, i'll try and take some pics of it tomorrow.

[spotila]

Right, I'll come molest you during that time!

[SYDNEY]

Is Napier one of the art deco capitals of the World ?

[flyin_higher]

Yes, it is Enigma, the inner city of Napier has the most intact collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. You should make the trip down here sometime, you'll enjoy it!

Right, I'll come molest you during that time!
That's good news then.






:runaway: lol

[SYDNEY]

Yes, it is Enigma, the inner city of Napier has the most intact collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. You should make the trip down here sometime, you'll enjoy it!


That's good news then.






:runaway: lol

I have just booked a night in Tauranga - Saturday night - and I can't wait to see Marky's home town ;) Next on my list is Napier .. geez, I have soooo much to see.

I am a LOTR fan and I have just heard that Wellington's Te PAPA Museum (is that right ?) is going to have another expo of all the props etc. I must book tickets and go see that too.

[Marky Mark]

Sounds like there will be a bit of Rain but nice and Warm ! Please Please lots of photo's Enigma , of both cities , its always good to see an visitors perspective ! Watch out for my Nana , you will probaly spot her driving up and down Marine Parade in her fab Chyrsler Viper enticing attractive young men ! [ LOL sounds like my fantasy ] :)

[flyin_higher]

Sounds good Enigma, and yes make sure you get heaps of pics of both Tauranga and Napier;)


Oh, and here's some pics of the new Regional Council HQ:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NewHBRCHQbldg005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NewHBRCHQbldg004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/NewHBRCHQbldg006.jpg


Btw, that new 4 level PWC Centre is about to start, with earthworks commencing either before or just after Christmas!

[spotila]

yay! drove past there today ^_^

gw

[rustawilliams]

Latest report says the Meeanee Road Interchange won't be started on until 2007 as earthworks have to settle. Looks like the long waits on the way to school will continue until I leave Napier to Uni.

btw, go Chris Tremain if he does anything

rustawilliams

[flyin_higher]

Wow another Napier member! Represent!

Yea, earthworks will begin in January, while the actual Bridge will be built over the 06-07 summer.
I think the Napier Mayor has done alot of work toward getting it built.


I went past the West Quay Apartment site today too, and the place was humming nicely. I'll try and take some pics sometime.

[rustawilliams]

I recently biked along the new road from the end of Church Road to Prebensen and I can't believe how much quicker it is. Nearly got pummeled off my bike by some crazy drivers at the Westminster Ave roadworks but I can't do much about that. You have to expect it if you bike.

The new subdivisions are looking good if only Waipatiki would get up and running like Lagoon Farm and the ones at the end of Church Road. What is the new road called?

Will take some photos from my house on the Taradale hills.

rustawilliams

[flyin_higher]

Its called Prebensen Drive. Good to hear you bike. :cheers:

[rustawilliams]

Here are some photos from the hills around Taradale

Ahuriri and West Quay from Home

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4702/ahuririfromhome2eb.jpg

CBD and Hill from Home

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8607/cbdfromhome2xu.jpg

East Taradale from Home

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8257/southfromhome9hy.jpg

Taradale from Home

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/175/taradalefromhome9ke.jpg

Hill, Ahuriri and CBD from Dobell Reserve

http://img454.imageshack.us/img454/8071/hillahuririandcbdfromdobell8oi.jpg

Taradale from Dobell Reserve down Puketitiri Road

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/7638/puketitiri0il.jpg

rustawilliams

[spotila]

my gosh, i live like, 1 minute walk from the dolbell reserve, you must live pretty close to me!

[flyin_higher]

Nice diagrammatic photos there

[rustawilliams]

I thought it might help with people getting their bearings.

Spotila, I live up on the hills where that large white house is. about 1/2 the way up, where are you?

rustawilliams

[Marky Mark]

Welcome Rusta ! I would imagine it looks beautiful at night ! :)

[atkinson1]

Yo rusta good to have you on the forums.

[sam_L]

Hey rusta. Welcome to SSC. I think we've met already though lol.

[spotila]

Spotila, I live up on the hills where that large white house is. about 1/2 the way up, where are you?


large white house? cumberland rise?
I'm down here a bit more hehe.

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/here.JPG

[rustawilliams]

lol

I am on Churchill Drive. I think its called Otatara Heights. There is big earthworks for one section there at the moment and a house that cuts the horison. You must be Waterhouse/O'Dowd area. Thats really close lol.

Hey sam, didnt realise you were here lol

rustawilliams

[rustawilliams]

Heres some more pics

http://www.hbrc.govt.nz/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/Napier.jpg

Topographical map from NZTopoOnline

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6871/napiertopo2ef.jpg

And heres an interesting photo from the air of the whole of Napier. Big!!! Photo. 8000x6000 pixels

http://ortho.linz.govt.nz/high_res_jpg/2001_02_jpg_high_res/v21b_fy_01_02.jpg

rustawilliams

[spotila]

thanks for the pics! I'm on weathers place ^__^

[rustawilliams]

Cool. Now I see it. Where do you work?

[spotila]

nowhere! I'm doing a course at EIT so right now I'm on holiday ^_^. What about you?

[rustawilliams]

do you have an MSN or AIM? IT would make this easier?

[spotila]

meow

[flyin_higher]

Wow, you already know Sam, cool.

Hey me and spotila were spose to have lunch one time, but he never got back..

[rustawilliams]

lol, where are you in Napier flyin?

[flyin_higher]

The big G! Well, Greenmeadows, lol. Auckland Rd. And it was funny cause we moved back down here from Auckland. I'm working at the city council for the summer, but i'm usually at Massey in Palmy studying during the year.

[rustawilliams]

do you have an MSN?

[rustawilliams]

OK, here's a run down on Napier at the moment.

The new arterial route between Church Road and Prebensen Drive is ready and the opening ceremony is on the 22nd of December. This opens up a lot for Napier and allows for more expansion.

Titles on the first stage of the Lagoon Park development are coming through and second and third stages are being planned. Lagoon Park will eventually be a whole new suburb about the size of West Taradale which will greatly increase Napier's growth. Also, the Kent Terrace development for the higher socio-economic class of us is levelled and building has begun. The retirement home/residential housing development at the end of Church Road is done and houses just need to come up.

Ahuriri Quadrant is planned and starting to be sold to be hopefully done around 2007/2008. The West Quay Apartments are looking in good shape with them now being recognisable as a sizeable development with most framing done and work starting on the finer details. The apartments on the northside of The Hill (Northridge Apartments) are basically done and are going for about 1.1 million each causing a frenzy especially for the developer. Capital gain of 60% on that one.

The new building referred to earlier in the CBD is going ahead with plans done and approved. The Regional Council building is done and is currently being used and the NCC continue to preserve the Art Deco Quarter.

Meanee Road Intersection is to be done in the 2006/2007 summer so the biggest deathtrap in Napier is solved. Earthworks are being done in January so the area will be closed during that time.

I am sure Spotila and flyin will add and correct any mistakes so I can edit anything I got wrong.

rustawilliams

[flyin_higher]

Sounds pretty good and accurate. Juat add in those amendments i gave you. :cheers:

[Nick]

Nice pictures of Napier city.Im in Auckland for a month,studying, starting today.If I get the chance I might just pop down there over the course of a weekend.

Whats the easiest way to get there?

[flyin_higher]

Well, you can either take a bus, fly or drive. Flying takes 1 hour, and if your book online at www.airnz.co.nz the fares can be reasonably cheap. Bus takes about 8 hours, but is very scenic. Otherwise driving down (perhaps car hire) takes about 5-5 1/2 hours, and with that you can make up your own itinerary.
:cheers:

[property_boy]

hey nick... where ya studying? i'm doing a summer paper at auckland uni starting tomorrow (5th).

it is a nice drive to napier from auckland... head down to taupo and then turn off there, think it is an hour and a bit from taupo.

[spotila]

ok so I got my digicam today. 4MP, 2x optical zoom, it's a nifty little thing. I'm still learning to use it, so I'm the noobiest of the noob. I tried my hand at the panorama feature, it came out better than I had hoped, but still far from decent lol. Here's napier from Churchill Drive (NEAR YOUR HOUSE RHYS, STALKING MMHMM).

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/pano1.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Napier is looking Very Lush ! LOL wish I had a Stalker !

[spotila]

gimme name, address, age, distance of preference and mothers name. I'll have one on you in 2 days.

[Marky Mark]

:) gimme name, address, age, distance of preference and mothers name. I'll have one on you in 2 days.

Well he would have to be pretty cute though Spotila ! So you have contacts in Melbourne as well ? Hmmm I think I would like that !

So have you pitched some of Rusta's undies off his clothes line yet, He He? :)

[spotila]

yah my sister is in melbourne atm, I'll get her to hook you up :~)

rusta doesn't wear undies :O!

[Marky Mark]

yah my sister is in melbourne atm, I'll get her to hook you up :~)

rusta doesn't wear undies :O!

Or in Training for the Commonwealth Games ?

Not even any Frilly Nickers LOL ? :)

[Nick]

hey nick... where ya studying? i'm doing a summer paper at auckland uni starting tomorrow (5th).

it is a nice drive to napier from auckland... head down to taupo and then turn off there, think it is an hour and a bit from taupo.

Flyin high.Thanks for the tips.Its a bit far I guess.But an option if I take a whole weekend off,which may be hard considering how busy I am with this course.

Property boy.Im doing my English CELTA course,studying to be an English teacher for student's whose first langauge ain't English.Funny that? I can't spell to save my life and have been an English teacher in Japan for 7 years.Ouch!!!

[flyin_higher]

Hey cool pano spotila! Nice to see u have a digicam now too;)

[rustawilliams]

Just stumbled upon this. Thanks guys, I didn't even ask for a stalker.

Contrary to popular belief (???) I do wear underwear though there is a question mark over spotila. Really weird having someone so close.

Just for a bit of background on where spotila took the photo. I believe it is 'lover's circle' because so many people bring their girlfriends (or boyfriends) there for a bit of city-lit lovin'. Who did spotila have with him? Is lovin a digicam illegal?

Been busy all week with work so have not been round lately. It is hard work so am absolutely wasted even after 2 days rest. Should pay for U2 though, hehe.

Oh well, will post in another week, good to see the thread alive again. Take some more photos spotila. Lover's circle is good at night.

[spotila]

alright i might pop up there later on.

[spotila]

hmmm that didn't work too well.

[flyin_higher]

What didn't work too well?

[spotila]

my effort at a night shot. It didn't work so badly that I didn't even bother posting it ;D

[flyin_higher]

lol, well, never mind. Do you have a tripod?

[atkinson1]

Awesome bro. Hey if ya want to do good night shots you can get a good tripod new for about $80. It's worth it in my opinion. You can have all sorts of fun lol

[flyin_higher]

Yea that reminds me I need to get one of those myself.

Here's a couple of random Napier shots anyway...
Napier CBD, with the new(ish) waterfront pathway/cycleway in foreground
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/40610024.jpg
You can see my work in the foreground of this pic, its the big grey-roofed building, just behind the large, square shaped white roofed building (middle foreground)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/41750031.jpg
And this is the new Parklands Estate subdivision..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/HohepaSiteVisit005.jpg

[spotila]

Nice pictures. I took a few today but I'm finding it really hard to get interesting shots in Napier. And nah I don't have a tripod yet, been using anything flat I can find lol.

[flyin_higher]

Yea all the good spots have been shot from- you have to think outside the square, lol. Although we aren't known for our array of high rise buildings;) Architecture yes, skyscrapers, no.

[spotila]

re open the prison!

[flyin_higher]

ok, and you can be the first 'guest', hehe


Anyway, they are finally getting on to redeveloping the old No5 Woolstore on West Quay. Resource Consent has recently been approved
Architects are Craig Craig Moller (guys who did skytower)
http://www.ahuriri.co.nz/images/No5Ext.jpg
http://www.ahuriri.co.nz/images/No5Int.jpg
http://www.ahuriri.co.nz/images/No5Elev.jpg
Its going to be a mixed use development, with commercial offices, residential apartments and some retail space.

[spotila]

excellent. Now all we need is some 8 - 10 story apartment blocks out there. Ahuriri skyline.. that'll be the day.

[spotila]

A couple I took this evening.

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/pano31.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/pano41.jpg

[rickster2k]

Nice Pano's there Spotila! :)

Where is the looking West? I'm presuming the 2nd one is looking up towards the new motorway and Westshore, and the 1st across West Quay?

Sorry if my bearings are screwed, I didn't actually visit Napier when i was in NZ, pity i didn't, looks nice ;)

[spotila]

Yes the 2nd one is almost exactly east (as the sun is setting). The new expressway is on the other side of the bridge you can see in the distance. The first one is looking across to west quay from westshore.

For a southhampton boy you know a lot about Napier :o

[rickster2k]

Hehe, i just looked on multimap.com and guessed really, I was trying to work out the orientation of Napier.

Don't really know much about Napier, but as you might have guessed, I spent a month doing a sort of round-trip across NZ about a year and a bit ago - and loved the place, although the closest i got to Napier was probably Rotorua!

Hopefully I will be visiting NZ again in the not to distant future :)

Btw, its Southampton with only one 'h' ;) - the main city on the central South Coast of England. Not many 'scrapers thou, our tallest is about 70m!

[spotila]

sorry it was late ;)

[spotila]

and some more I took last week.

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20330.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20334.jpg

The devils office (flyins)
http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20336.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20337.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20340.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20341.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20348.jpg

[rustawilliams]

Whoa, awesome. I am still undecided on the begley properties building and what it does for the skyline. It is pretty ugly but doesn't look bad from emerson street.

Keep the digicam pics coming!!
rusta

[flyin_higher]

Those last few pics you took are great spotila! Good perspectives too, those ones from the hill! Really shows how much of a seaside city Napier is. :cheers:

[spotila]

And a few night shots. I'm still learning to use the camera at night, and it doesn't help that it's not the best for night shooting anyway.

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20421%20(Large).jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20427%20(Large).jpg

scroll----->>>>
http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/napiernightpano1.jpg

[flyin_higher]

That last one is real cool, very nice, even has the moon! Good work :cheers:

[spotila]

the groundwork is well under way for the expressway/meanee road interchange, huge piles of dirt and stuff all over the place. I'll keep you (especially you flyin) updated.

and I just noticed the hospital is there twice in that ahuriri pano further up the page D:

[spotila]

I stopped and took some pictures on the way home today. Here's the progress on the interchange, still in the earthworks stage:

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20010.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20012.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20013.jpg

http://www.spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20014.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Ya up late Spotila , you been out Stalking Again LOL :)

[kota16]

Thanks for the shots of Napier spotila. I missed it on my previous visits to NZ, I love all the pastel colours and beauty. I even feel I could live there. cheers, kota

[aucklandman]

wiked shots, napier looks like a planners dream :)

[spotila]

Ya up late Spotila , you been out Stalking Again LOL :)

:yes:

[Marky Mark]

:yes:

http://www.millan.net/anims/giffar/stalker.gif

[rustawilliams]

I was coming home on thursday around 5:10 and to my absolute shock traffic was backed up from the meannee road intersection right over the bridge to the pakowhai road intersection. Even worse I had to go that way. I think we should provide free lunch for the workers so they get a move on!!

rustawilliams

[spotila]

I found a thread on SSP that has a bunch of NZ photos in it, including heaps of Napier:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=98843

[Davee]

Good fine Spotila!!

[rickster2k]

Those photos are sh*t hot!

Pretty much like my travels in NZ, except the other way around; i started in Christchurch and finished in Auckland.

That guys Milford pictures came out better than mine, it was really cloudly when i went and there was mist hanging around the mountains, it was also raining :(.

Also didn't managed to get Mt Cook in the pic at Lake Pukaki because of the low cloud, i only got the bottom of it - damn you cloud! ;)

[Davee]

Does anyone know of this for the Twin Cities? I'm not sure if we have a Hastings site? (Can't be bothered looking - the server is so, so, S-L-O-W), so I thought it would be best here.

The Durney Centre - Hastings 2005.

http://www.loxoarchitecture.com/loxo_images/projects-commercial/durney.jpg

[flyin_higher]

Oh what! Hastings can't get that, Napier should damn it :bash:
lol, the twin city rivalry is still alive and well;)

[spotila]

:(

[Davee]

Sorry guys.

Tell us a bit of the Twin City rivalry.

Should we have a seperate Hastings site, or tag it on with Napier. I see the two as one. Makes a greater urban area with a twist. Perhaps, build a new 'city centre' in the middle of the two?

[spotila]

The rivalry isn't too bad, certainly not enough to allow hastings to have its own thread. I have lots of friends in hastings and it makes the regions population larger so I don't think it's too bad. As for a city centre in the middle.. well that'll never happen cause of all the rich agricultural land between the cities. That would be really weird though.

[spotila]

new napier pics!:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=326067

[rustawilliams]

This is dead. I know Napier can't be this boring. Should get a digicam for my birthday so I will go on a rampage but come on. 16 days.

And Hastings??? Since when did we associate with people from Hastings. Only Hastings people would live nowhere near a natural attraction and then build a boring grid on top of it. Absolutely Positively Hastings would just not work. Also, Spanish Mission is nothing to Art Deco.

So come on Napierians. Get a move on!!

(Please take this with a bit of sarcasm)

[Davee]

Central Christchurch is built on a grid pattern, inland from the sea.
One of its popular local and international tourist attractions is a whole quircky street built in the Spanish Mission style.

I think we should explore Hastings a little more - or are you Napier boys trying to hide a hidden gem from us??

[rustawilliams]

Christchurch is different. Hagley Park is amazing and they have the Avon. Spanish Mission is a bit outdated and doesnt hold value. I'll explore Hastings for you (posting pictures and stuff) but don't expect much.

[Davee]

Excellent, look forward to seeing it. I think the whole twin city thing is such a cool twist in urbanetics.

[flyin_higher]

Napier and Hastings are an interesting comparison Napier is the more urbane cosmopolitain city, while Hastings is more just a large farming service town with nearby Havelock North as the wealthy, upperclass hillside village. Msot people of the younger variety in Hawkes Bay always pick Napier asthe 'funkier' of the two cities.

[rustawilliams]

TOP STORY: Beach `master plan' swells to 980 homes

08.04.2006
JONATHAN DOW

Consultants have almost doubled the number of houses they propose be built at Ocean Beach.

A total of 980 homes would be on 782 sections in the final version of a "master plan" for development at the beach prepared by charrette consultants Roberts Day Australia and Roberts Day. The development would be split into two villages and a hamlet covering a total of 75ha at the southern end of the beach.

The consultants said Ocean Beach had the potential for 540 houses when they presented a draft plan at the charrette they ran at Ocean Beach last October.

The consultants' master plan, which was released yesterday, is one of four options outlined in a working paper to be adopted by the Hastings District Council at a meeting on Tuesday.



Feedback on the working paper will lead to a draft plan change for Ocean beach that will be made public in September.

Council consultants have proposed an intermediate development option that would lead to 158 sections restricted to certain areas. The new private road to the Haupouri Station woolshed would become the legal public access.

The other two options outlined in the working paper are protection ("no development") or to retain the status quo. Under the protection option local government or the Crown would buy the land at Ocean Beach. The landowners would not be forced to sell, so that option would depend on finding a willing seller and buyer.

The status quo, where the existing district plan would stay in place, could lead to the ad hoc development of between 53 and 108 sections along the length of Ocean Beach in the next 10 years.

The council's intermediate development option proposes the dune area to the north of the development be part of the Department of Conservation's "protected natural areas" programme and the surf club reserve be expanded by one hectare. The Waipuka Incorporation and Pukepuke Tangiora Estate land would be raised to guard against inundation by the sea.

Ocean Beach land-owner and developer Andy Lowe said it was too soon to comment in detail. He did not want to prejudge the plan or the consultation process that would follow.

Haupouri Station owners Warwick and Juliet Hansen said they were impressed the most intensive settlement option covered only 8 percent of Ocean Beach and kept 8km of beach free of houses.

Bruno Chambers, a member of anti-development lobby group Future Ocean Beach, said the charrette consultant's plan "flies in the face of public opinion".

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said he was surprised at the number of houses proposed "although the consultants were asked to come up with a maximum level of development. So that's as high as it can go."

He said he expected some public opposition to that plan but people should realise it was only one of four options to be considered.

"There's always going to be middle ground," Mr Yule said

----------------------------------------------------

This definitely looks like an interesting project. 900 or so houses could make a new suburb.

Should natural resources such as beaches be exploited for money???

[rustawilliams]

TOP STORY: Prime Ahuriri site on market

07.04.2006

A prime chunk of waterfront land in Napier looks set to attract huge national interest with a leading property consultant predicting it may set a sales record.

The 4880sqm Moana Pacific Fisheries site, which has its frontage on Ahuriri's Waghorne Street and backs on to seaside Hardinge Road, went up for sale from today as the company, under the umbrella of Aotearoa Fisheries, scales down its Napier operation.

The company will relocate to Turner Place in the Onekawa industrial area.

The Ahuriri site is effectively the last large chunk of potential residential land near the centre of the Ahuriri district, and the biggest stretch of seafront land - about 70 metres of it.



The man charged with spearheading the sale has no doubts it will create huge interest from developers.

Derek Harries, of international property consultants and real estate agents CB Ellis of Auckland, said demand for such property was high.

"We expect interest to be from local developers as well as those outside the region," he said, adding that one Australian firm had already shown early interest.

He said two or three local developers had also "put their hands up".

"That is such a great area. Some quality developments have been built in the area and set a high standard."

He was not prepared to put a figure on what it might be worth. However, recent transactions for desirable land had ranged from $400 a metre to $900 a metre. Based on that, a site the size of Moana, going for the top dollar, would reach $4,390,000.

Late last year Aotearoa Fisheries announced it had been negotiating with Auckland-based Antons Seafoods to form a joint-venture operation.

While staff numbers at the new Onekawa plant would be downsized, Aotearoa Fisheries chief executive officer Robin Hapi said workers at Moana Pacific would be offered positions within the group.

In the same area as the Moana Pacific Fisheries site is the redevelopment of the site of one of Napier's earliest hotels, the Crown in Ahuriri, into a new five-star hotel.

Developer David Mackersey today said renovations of the old building on the site, expected to include conference facilities and three studio units, were nearing completion.

Work on a new 24-room building, was on target to be completed in October.

------------------------------------------------------------

Heres hoping for a big apartment complex!!!

[Marky Mark]

Will mean more development for this Prime area of Land ! Napier is hugging the foreshore just beautifully ! :)

http://www.ahuriri.co.nz/images/ironpotconcept.jpg :)

[spotila]

We have more pictures people! I've been without the internet for nearly a month but I'm back and I bring pretty pictures. Enjoy.

First up, some of Hastings. The day was murky sadly, so they turned out ok considering.

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20009.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20014.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20015.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20016.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20017.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20018.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20019.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20020.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20021.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20022.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20023.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20024.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20025.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20026.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20027.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20028.jpg

And now, more of Napier. These weren't all taken on the same day.

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20066.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20067.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20069.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20071.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20072.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20073.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20625%20(Large).jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20661.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20662.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20664.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20665.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20666.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20667.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20668.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20669.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20670.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20672.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20673.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20674.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20675.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20676.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20678.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20682.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20685.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20686.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20687.jpg

This one is my favourite:
http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20689.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20690.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20692.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20693.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20694.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20695.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20697.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20698.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20699.jpg

^_^

[spotila]

Oh and some from Te Mata Peak:

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20452.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20453.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20455.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20456.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20457.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20458.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20461.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20462.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Hastings/Picture%20463.jpg

[mtb_nz]

wow nice pics there dude... i will have to go and visit the area sometime soon and take a few pics for myself

[Davee]

Great pictures Paul, great to have you back, thought you'd been a BIT quiet!!
Does the trains really go through the middle of the town centre in Hastings? Napier looks fantastic at night. Clouds certainly make the twins look different!!

Any chance you could get a photo shoot around and inside St Johns Cathedral, such an interesting design, would love to explore it.

[rustawilliams]

Awesome pics!!! The pic of the HB Regional Council make the building looks awesome.

Not to steal your thunder but, David, the trains do go through the centre. The almost made train tracks look good as they have turned where they intersect in the CBD into a mall and you have to go right around the tacks to get to the other side. A good show of Hastings city planning.

Obviously Paulie still has some punch in him.

[spotila]

Few more pics I took, I was really impressed with these ones.

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20249.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20250.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20253.jpg

[flyin_higher]

Latest progress of the West Quay apartments in Ahuriri>>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Wgtnpix_april060002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v45/Flyin_higher/Wgtnpix_april060003.jpg

[Marky Mark]

Wish I could find an enlarged Photo of this ... Beautiful ! :)

http://data.realenz.co.nz/edi/_1446/photos/H6381-3.jpg

[spotila]

Just a quick update on the old IRD building being converted to apartments:

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20056.jpg

http://spotyo.orcon.net.nz/Napier/Picture%20057.jpg