Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Auckland Council Votes to Sell Square

The Auckland Development Committee, of Auckland Council, on 15th May 2014, voted 14-7 to sell "in principle" part of Auckland City's downtown civic square (aka Queen Elizabeth Square), because of an "opportunity" that has arisen associated with an adjacent property development by Precinct Properties. This video is Joel's reasonably raw reporting (from his notebook) of who said what at that meeting, and his reflections on the quality of debate and decision-making.

2 comments:

Larry of Puhoi said...

QE Square ... the AC discussions are "about par" for similar LG deliberations. Witness the Council purchase by Rodney Council (circa 2004?)of the Mad Butcher Orewa Block, then later the Warkworth Inn. Both were bought in haste on a whim without any integrated developments in mind to I believe show that Council (Ra Ra)could "effectively deal with commercial (private) property" ... sound familiar Joel?
Footnote. This tranche of property was sold about five years later (with no complementary development having taken place meantime) at a book loss of, from memory $5M or roughly 50% of the total purchase cost. GoFigger.

Anonymous said...

Well done, Joel, this is a great video and commentary. What a sham of a process, and what a circus of democracy. Dushko B.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Auckland Council Votes to Sell Square

The Auckland Development Committee, of Auckland Council, on 15th May 2014, voted 14-7 to sell "in principle" part of Auckland City's downtown civic square (aka Queen Elizabeth Square), because of an "opportunity" that has arisen associated with an adjacent property development by Precinct Properties. This video is Joel's reasonably raw reporting (from his notebook) of who said what at that meeting, and his reflections on the quality of debate and decision-making.

2 comments:

Larry of Puhoi said...

QE Square ... the AC discussions are "about par" for similar LG deliberations. Witness the Council purchase by Rodney Council (circa 2004?)of the Mad Butcher Orewa Block, then later the Warkworth Inn. Both were bought in haste on a whim without any integrated developments in mind to I believe show that Council (Ra Ra)could "effectively deal with commercial (private) property" ... sound familiar Joel?
Footnote. This tranche of property was sold about five years later (with no complementary development having taken place meantime) at a book loss of, from memory $5M or roughly 50% of the total purchase cost. GoFigger.

Anonymous said...

Well done, Joel, this is a great video and commentary. What a sham of a process, and what a circus of democracy. Dushko B.