Closure of Bonus Floor Provision City centre Public Accessways by private Owners: 2 Emily Place

Adam Parkinson made this Official Information request to Auckland Council

The request was successful.

From: Adam Parkinson

Dear Auckland Council,

The public stairs between 2 Emily Place and 14 Emily place that join Emily Place with Beach Road, have been closed off, apparently by the owners of 2 Emily place, and replaced with an aggressive, hostile sign.
These stairs form a very popular and convenient access between Emily Place and beach Road.

This set of stairs, referred to as ‘through-site access’ was created via the
operation of ‘bonus floor provisions’ of resource consents. This is a way for developers to increase the floor space of a private development by providing public access or public benefit from the change.
Sometimes we get toilets, sometimes art, sometimes paths and or stairs linking popular streets.

You can see more detail in Vernon Tava's excellent map : https://vernontava.com/2017/06/20/bonus-...

These bonus floor arrangements are part of creating amenity for cities, and for residents who live here, are particularly useful and important.
They provided building owners with taller, bigger buildings in a contractual exchange that gives back to the city, and to residents.

Building owners who no longer want these amenities (even though though get to keep their extra floor space of course) come up with all sorts of made-up excuses to get rid of them, paying for 'experts' to back them up.
Slowly but surely all of our bonus floor provision amenities are being closed off.

I am requesting all correspondence between the relevant building owner who has closed these stairs off and council, including any reports and any decisions, relating to this matter. If the building owner has provided expert reports to council, I am also requesting any documentation as to how Council has independently peer-reviewed or sought independent advice in relation to those reports.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Parkinson

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From: Official Information
Auckland Council

Kia ora Adam,

 

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the public stairs between 2
Emily Place and 14 Emily Place.

 

Your request has been passed onto our Compliance team who are currently
investigating this matter. They will be in touch with you directly and
provide a response regarding the outcome of their investigation.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Norma Tinai I Privacy & LGOIMA Business Partner
Democracy Services
Ph 09 301 0101
Auckland Council, Level 25, 135 Albert Street, Auckland
Visit our website: [1]www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

From: Adam Parkinson <[FOI #11434 email]>
Sent: Friday, 11 October 2019 8:31 AM
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Closure of Bonus Floor Provision
City centre Public Accessways by private Owners: 2 Emily Place

 

Dear Auckland Council,

 

The public stairs between 2 Emily Place and 14 Emily place that join Emily
Place with Beach Road, have been closed off, apparently by the owners of 2
Emily place, and replaced with an aggressive, hostile sign.

These stairs form a very popular and convenient access between Emily Place
and beach Road.

 

This set of stairs, referred to as ‘through-site access’ was created via
the  operation of ‘bonus floor provisions’ of resource consents. This is a
way for developers to increase the floor space of a private development by
providing public access or public benefit from the change.

Sometimes we get toilets, sometimes art, sometimes  paths and or stairs
linking popular streets.

 

You can see more detail in Vernon Tava's excellent map :
[2]https://vernontava.com/2017/06/20/bonus-...

 

These bonus floor arrangements are part of creating amenity for cities,
and for residents who live here, are particularly useful and important.

They provided building owners with  taller, bigger buildings in a
contractual exchange that gives back to the city, and to residents.

 

Building owners who no longer want these amenities (even though though get
to keep their extra floor space of course) come up with all sorts of 
made-up excuses to get rid of them, paying for 'experts' to back them up.

Slowly but surely all of our bonus floor provision amenities are being
closed off.

 

I am requesting all correspondence between the relevant building owner who
has closed these stairs off and council, including any reports and any
decisions, relating to this matter. If the building owner has provided
expert reports to council, I am also requesting any documentation as to
how Council has independently  peer-reviewed or sought independent advice
in relation to those reports.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Adam Parkinson

 

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References

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1. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/
2. https://vernontava.com/2017/06/20/bonus-...
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