More housing solutions for Rotorua on the way

Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities is entering the final stages of the purchase of the multi-unit Boulevard Motel at 265 Fenton Street.  This will provide people and families with Transitional Housing alongside wraparound support, including help to find a more permanent place to live.  
  
The 0.66 hectare site, purchased for $8.1 million (incl GST), also offers longer-term redevelopment potential for more new warm, dry and healthy public housing in Rotorua.   
  
Darren Toy, Kāinga Ora Regional Director Bay of Plenty says the purchase is good news for those in need of housing.  
  
“Around 80 people and families, will soon have a warm, dry and safe place to stay, including fenced play area and green space, following upgrade work to convert this property.  
  
“Further down the track we are also looking at redevelopment, for longer term public housing, of this well located site which is close to transport and services,” says Darren.  
  
The first people and families are expected to start moving in from late September/early October, following some upgrade and maintenance work to reflect its new use for transitional housing and in line with its new resource consent.  
  
The units will be managed by experienced local provider of housing and support services, Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust, with 24/7 onsite support available.   
  
This purchase also follows the recent purchase of around two hectares of vacant land on the corner of Ranolf Street and Malfroy Road where medium density public housing will be built.  
  
These purchases and land development is part of the Kāinga Ora programme across the country to increase land supply to allow the delivery of more warm, dry and modern homes.  
  
Redevelopment work will also be starting next month at the first of a number of existing Kāinga Ora sites in Rotorua where 29 new warm dry homes will be built, with the first expected to be ready for people to move into from May 2022.  

Editor's update - The motel purchase price is in line with the market valuation provided by an independent valuer.