Gordon Wilson Flats facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gordon Wilson Flats |
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The flats in 2015
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| General information | |
| Address | 320 The Terrace |
| Town or city | Wellington |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°17′28″S 174°46′13″E / 41.29109°S 174.77040°E |
| Named for | Gordon Wilson |
| Completed | 1959 |
| Closed | 2012 |
| Owner | Victoria University of Wellington |
The Gordon Wilson Flats are a tall building in central Wellington, New Zealand. They were finished in 1959 and used to be homes for many people. The building was owned by Housing New Zealand, a government group that provides homes.
Today, the building is owned by Victoria University of Wellington. It is currently empty while the university decides what to do with it. The flats were named after Gordon Wilson, an important government architect who passed away during the building's final year of construction.
Contents
Early Years: Homes for Many (1959–2012)
Construction of the Gordon Wilson Flats began in 1957. The building was completed and ready for people to move in by 1959. For over 50 years, these flats provided homes for about 130 people in central Wellington.
Safety Checks and Concerns
In 2010, engineers started to worry about the building's safety. They found that parts of the outside walls might fall off, especially during strong winds or an earthquake.
Housing New Zealand, the owner at the time, was very concerned. They decided it was best to move everyone out to keep them safe. An official said the building was "corroding," meaning it was slowly getting weaker over time.
Empty Building and New Owners
In May 2012, all the people living in the flats had to leave. Housing New Zealand gave them only seven days' notice. This short notice made it very hard for many residents to find new places to live. Some people, especially those with health issues or refugees who didn't speak English well, found this process very stressful.
At first, Housing New Zealand said they wanted to fix up the building. They knew Wellington needed more homes and preferred to upgrade the flats. However, in 2014, a local Member of Parliament, Grant Robertson, worried that the building might be sold instead of being used for homes again. Many people who help find homes for others also pointed out that Wellington had a shortage of affordable housing.
Sold to Victoria University
In February 2014, news spread that Housing New Zealand was talking about selling the flats to Victoria University of Wellington. Both sides kept quiet about the deal. Grant Robertson again expressed concern that affordable homes were being removed from the city centre.
In September 2014, it was officially announced that Victoria University had bought the building. The university wanted the flats because they are very close to its main campus. The Vice-Chancellor, Grant Guilford, said the university would decide whether to knock down the building after talking with the community. He mentioned that if people agreed the building should go, it would fit the university's plans. It was later shared that the university paid over $6 million for the property.
Future Plans and Heritage Status
In 2015, the university asked the Wellington City Council to change the rules for the area. They wanted to change the land use from "Inner Residential" (homes) to "Institutional" (like a university campus). They also asked to remove the flats from the city's list of important heritage buildings.
Experts told the council that the Gordon Wilson Flats were very important for their design. They said the building showed a special style of architecture and was one of the last large government housing projects of its kind.
In April 2016, the Wellington City Council allowed the university to change the land use. This meant the university could knock down the building and build something new, possibly student apartments. Some neighbours worried about the noise from future student housing.
However, in July 2016, a group called the Architectural Centre appealed this decision. They went to the Environment Court, a special court that deals with environmental and planning issues. In August 2017, the court agreed with them, saying the building should keep its heritage status. This meant it was still protected as an important historical building.
In July 2020, the university shared new plans. They still wanted to change the land use and knock down the flats. Their idea was to build an outdoor entrance area and new teaching and research facilities.
In February 2021, the Gordon Wilson Flats were officially listed by Heritage New Zealand as a "Category 1 historic place." This is the highest level of heritage protection, meaning the building is considered to have outstanding historical or cultural importance.
