Next generation of affordable housing coming to Mabel Howard Place
The South Island’s biggest community housing provider is investing in new warm, dry and affordable housing at Mabel Howard Place, Christchurch.
Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust will replace the old, cold complex with modern homes designed to comfortably serve our city for decades to come.
The redevelopment is part of ŌCHT’s long-term programme to grow and improve community and affordable housing in Christchurch.
The programme has so-far delivered more than 400 new community and affordable rental homes in more than 20 communities across our city.
ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney says renewing older complexes ensures there will be more, modern homes for decades to come.
"Mabel Howard Place has served Christchurch well for nearly 60 years, but there comes a point where our responsibility shifts from maintaining ageing buildings to investing in the next generation of homes.
"Our community deserves more than old, cold housing that’s becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.
“By redeveloping now, we're investing in homes that will remain warm, healthy and fit for purpose for many decades to come.
“That's a better outcome for the people who live in them and a better investment for our community."
ŌCHT is Christchurch’s largest non-government provider of community housing to people in waiting for a public home on the Public Housing Register.
ŌCHT has built more than 400 new community and affordable homes across 20 communities since it started its building programme in 2019.
It is also part of the Housing First Ōtautahi collaboration tackling homelessness. It is the largest non-government housing provider for kaewa in the Housing First programme.
Persistent high demand makes it even more important to invest in housing that will continue meeting community needs well into the future, Ms Kearney says.
"We share our community's desire to see more people living in quality, affordable homes.
“We're looking forward to welcoming new households to Mabel Howard Place and seeing another thriving community grow there for many decades to come."
Mabel Howard Place was decommissioned in July. Every household has been successfully relocated to other ŌCHT communities.
Supporting tenants through that process was a priority.
"We recognise moving home is a significant event for any household and we're incredibly grateful to our tenants for the understanding, patience and support they've shown as we've planned for the future of Mabel Howard Place.
"Many people called this community home for years and helped shape the neighbourhood it became. While it's never easy to leave a place that's been home, we're pleased we've been able to support tenants into other homes while we prepare to build the next generation of housing on the site."
The project is in its design phase. The project team has been tasked with delivering a new affordable housing community that responds to our city’s changing needs.
The site will be secured in the coming weeks and the old units will be removed soon. Until then, the vacant buildings will be used by Police and emergency services for operational training.
We’ll post more about the redevelopment as the design and consenting process progresses.
