An artist’s impression of what Zion Church and Habit for Humanity’s completed joint Zion Church’s former Racecourse Rd building is currently fenced off. Photo: Jeremy Smith housing project could look like. Image supplied
Work to remove Zion Church’s former building from nearly a hectare of Racecourse Rd land to make way for an ambitious $10 million social housing project could begin next month.
The latest move comes after the church, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, announced plans in June 2022 to make the land available for 40 affordable homes.
Two buildings currently occupy the site – a larger 1100 square metre building in which the congregation met and a smaller 200 square metre space.
There are already plans for the smaller building to be repurposed for future use in another part of the Waikato.
With the project – which pastor Phil Strong said was first discussed around 2017 – in mind, Zion moved to its new multipurpose Churchill St facility in June last year.
When the church shifted, it was gifted what was a former community room space at Habitat for Humanity’s Palmer St site so it could run its Sunday children’s programme at its new site.
On Monday, Strong told The News the housing project had been granted resource consent.
Zion Church pastor Phil Strong
Describing the next steps “more as aspirations rather than concrete plans just yet”, Strong said there were several key discussions to be had – including two key considerations of funding and construction.
As yet, no firm completion date has been set, he said.
“When the church elders first sat down to discuss the concept of undertaking a project which would meet a key need in Te Awamutu, the need for affordable housing began to surface as one of the most pressing.”
The affordable housing project will therefore be made up of a combination of one, two and three bedroom homes priced with first home buyers in mind, as well as rent to buy dwellings.
Rent to buy arrangements are agreements which give a property’s tenant the right to buy the home at the end of a pre-set rental period.
Some stipulate a percentage of the weekly rent goes towards building equity in the property.
Strong said the houses would be built with varying tenant requirements in mind, and how many first home buyer and rent to buy houses will make up the development is a “balance which will be discussed soon”.
“Resident wise, it would be wonderful to see a mix of single people, couples or young families, that’s something we see as paramount and have kept in mind while planning the project.”
Strong said he hoped the completed development would foster a “strong sense of community” among residents.
Zion Church’s former Racecourse Rd building is currently fenced off. Photo: Jeremy Smith
