Major housing project near Hamilton’s heart

STORY ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED STUFF.CO.NZ – WRITTEN BY AARON LEAMAN ON 05/10/20

A major new subdivision within walking distance of Hamilton Lake will lift the bar on infill housing in the city, its backers say.

Earthworks for Jack’s Landing,​ a four hectare development on Quentin Drive, is planned to start in November, marking the start of one of the city’s largest infill housing projects.

Once complete, the 110-house development will include a mix of dwellings, from duplexes and townhouses, to stand-alone homes.

Stage one of the development will feature 46 houses. Section sizes will be about 300 sq m.

Jack’s Landing is a collaboration between residential construction companies Golden Homes, Holah Homes and Anthem Homes who have together formed Quentin Residential Ltd. [image Tom Lee/Stuff]

The development will include a children’s playground, boardwalks around planted green spaces, and a hard surfaced play area.

The site is best known as the long-time base of Jack House Transit. The business served as inspiration for the subdivision’s name – Jack’s Landing.

Infill housing has come under increasing scrutiny recently as residents and city leaders express concern about the impact such developments have on established suburbs.

Gardner said the size of Jack’s Landing has afforded developers certain advantages.

“We’ve got four hectares so that means we’ve been able to master plan it to create a sense of community, with connections to Innes Common at the lake, as well as boardwalks around the waterways,” he said.

The subdivision is located 300 metres from Hamilton Lake Domain and is a 1.5km walk from Waikato Hospital.

Quentin Residential project manager Brett Maley​ said its earthworks programme includes the extension of Quentin Drive through the site. The first houses are expected to be completed by September, 2021. Stage two of the project starts in 2022.

Quentin Residential project manager Brett Maley says earthworks for Jack’s Landing will start in November. [image Tom Lee/Stuff]

Jack’s Landing received approval under the Special Housing Area legislation which directs a portion of the house and land packages must be deemed “affordable”. At least 10 per cent of the subdivision’s houses will be sold for no more than 90 per cent of Hamilton’s average house price as of June this year.

A two-bedroom dwelling will be priced at $565, 000 while a four-bedroom detached house has been tentatively priced at $875,000. All dwellings will include a garage.

Maley said house and land packages will be marketed soon and expects strong interest from staff at Waikato Hospital.

“If you’re a doctor or a nurse you’d be able to walk to work from here, so that will save people transport costs,” he said.

“This is really exciting for Hamilton because there aren’t many big developments that are ready to go right here in town.”

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said housing projects, such as Jack’s Landing, are much needed, given the city’s fast growing population.

Stage two of Jack’s Landing includes land currently occupied by Jack House Transit. [image Tom Lee/Stuff]

The city council estimates Hamilton needs to build 1250 new houses each year for the next 10 years to meet market demand.

“We haven’t tackled our housing shortage, especially in types of homes, so I think it’s really good this development addresses a range of housing types,” Southgate said.

“What’s so exciting for me is it’s so close to town, close to the hospital, and also it’s close to the beautiful amenities around the lake.”

The council has been talking to the development community and asking them to consider how they can help build communities.

“I know people are a bit nervous of some infill, and some of those residents were, in the first place, a bit nervous about this [development],” Southgate said.

“But I think once they see that it can deliver really good, high-quality outcomes that can enhance the area, I think they’ll be happy.”