Developer keen to rescue Auckland's 130-year-old former orphanage

Thursday, 8 February 2018

The United Church of Tonga is at a stalemate with Auckland Council over the destiny of 134-year-old Carlile House in Ponsonby. (Video first published in 2018)

An Auckland developer who specialises in refurbishing heritage buildings says he'd leap at the chance to rescue Carlile House.

The decrepit 130-year-old orphanage stands empty and unused on Richmond Road in Grey Lynn.

Talks around the building's fate have reached deadlock, as protections under the Unitary Plan and a dearth of funds from Auckland Council mean it can neither be repaired nor demolished.

The 3822 sq m property was recently valued at more than $2.7 million.

Carlile House is closed to the public and slowly deteriorating in the elements.

* Where others see a crumbling decrepit house these sisters see their lives' memories

* Lonely house high on a hill has a lively past

The original timber fittings are surprisingly well preserved.

* Council shuts down Auckland boating club plan to sell historic building**

The United Church of Tonga, which owns Carlile House, previously said it may legally challenge the building's protected status, in order to knock it down and build a church facility in its place. It said it wasn't able to pay the estimated $10 million restoration costs, and the council hadn't been forthcoming with the money either.

United Church of Tonga deputy chair James Prescott said demolishing the building might be the best option for the church.

Developers have successfully re-purposed historic buildings in Auckland in the past.

For example, the Mount Eden Borough Council Chambers building, built in 1912, and the Mount Eden Fire Station, built in 1925, recently underwent a $15 million transformation into six luxury apartments.

Property developer Nigel McKenna inside his 'Chambers and Station' development.

That project's director, Nigel McKenna, said he'd 'love to have the opportunity' to work on Carlile House. McKenna has led conversions of heritage buildings up and down the country.

'I'm quite passionate about it,' he said. 'We don't have a lot of heritage buildings and the ones we have, we need to try and preserve and keep.'

Ghost stories abound about the 130-year-old building.

From the Magistrates' Courthouse on Kitchener St to the Customhouse on Customs St West, McKenna said each building had presented unique challenges. And none of the projects had been subsidised by council.

'They're complicated to do. They're very expensive to bring them seismically up to the current code. But complicated and hard is quite different to impossible. I've not yet come across one that I can't make work eventually,' he said.

Squatters have left their mark on the building.

'With the right design solution, with the right approach, they can be made [commercially] viable.'

He said he'd be 'happy to talk' to the current owners to further investigate the possibility of refurbishment.

Housing strategist Leonie Freeman also wanted to see a thorough investigation into how the landmark could be preserved.

'The next step with this property is to get the church group, the council and developers that have specialised in heritage buildings together in a room,' she said.

'What are some real options to retain the heritage building but to make it commercially viable for all the parties? If we do nothing, nothing's going to change.

'We've got heritage listings on these properties for a reason, and I think we really need to explore it.'

Commentator on Auckland planning issues, Ben Ross, said the council and the church were 'in a pickle no matter which option they choose'.

'The Unitary Plan Zone for the site is Single House Zone, meaning any intensive development like terraced housing and apartments is ruled out,' he said.

'So you wouldn't get maximum return back without a plan change, which locals would fight.

'Ideally, given its location, I would have the area re-zoned to Mixed Housing Urban to allow the place to be fully bowled and either the church or a private developer to develop something else in its place,' Ross added.

'Maybe church-based social housing, so its history and legacy could continue on, updated for the 21st Century.'

Auckland Council would not discuss options for the property, instead reiterating that it wasn't possible to knock it down.

'We don't have anything further to add on this,' said a spokesperson. 'As the building is protected under the Unitary Plan as a category A building it is not possible to lodge an application to demolish it.'

Auckland architect Nigel Hosken said from a land development perspective, Carlile House 'presents significant challenges'.

'It would not pass the first land development test and therefore would never be considered further,' he said.

A developer would need to possess the site and the current owners were not likely to be willing sellers, he said. Also, the Single House Zone on the land limited the density, bulk and height of any further buildings.

Local residents might also oppose intensive development.

'Any change beyond the permitted activities in the Unitary Plan should expect to be publicly notified. In this instance even a well-supported proposal could struggle to obtain consent.'

He would prefer to see the building restored and put to use.

'There have been other examples in Auckland where council have supported historic buildings' retention and restoration. However, as a ratepayer I would expect council to receive in return for any expenditure some form of tenure, and the building become available for public use in some form.'

Designed as a live-in academy for disadvantaged boys, Carlile House was built as the Costley Training Institution in 1886. Since then it has changed hands many times and inspired local ghost stories.

It has been an orphanage, a headquarters for evangelical Christians, a remand house, a secondary school and a hostel for Tongan workers.