Demolition signifies start of New Lynn's urban renewal

Demolition of old shops outside New Lynn’s newly-opened transport interchange today signals the start of urban renewal in the historic town centre.

Following the official opening of the New Lynn Transport Interchange this morning, Waitakere Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse drove a digger bucket into the old shops to make way for construction of modern new buildings.

The demolition signifies the next stage of the council’s New Lynn Transport Oriented Development project, which is using the $300 million transport and roading investment to encourage the full redevelopment of New Lynn within a one kilometre radius of new interchange.

Waitakere City and Infratil Investment Property Ltd have agreed terms for a joint venture that will successively renew the centre of New Lynn. Plans include two multi-level buildings across the former bus station land and a portion of adjoining land on Totara Avenue.

One building will feature ground level retail shops and two levels of commercial real estate above. The second will be a tower complex featuring one level of retail and three levels of carparking to service business tenants and commuters. There are also plans for the tower to include a future residential development of up to 10 storeys.

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says the council entered into an agreement with Infratil to ensure any new developments in the heart of New Lynn were quality urban design builds in-fitting with its vision for a vibrant new regional town centre.
Mayor Harvey’s council is also working closely with Fletcher Building and the owners of the old Crown Lynn site on a second stage of urban renewal.

In the meantime, work is due to commence in the new year on the construction of a major extension of Clark Street to Great North Road to bypass Totara Avenue and the redevelopment of the Totara Avenue and Todd Triangle Reserve retail area into a pedestrian-friendly shared space.