NORTH SHORE HISTORY: WITH DAVID VERRAN
The Takapuna central carpark 1964 - 2000 By David Verran
When North Shore Motors sold part of its land to Takapuna City Council in early 1964 for the central carpark, it also sold land to Woolworths for a new department store. Part of that site is now occupied by the restaurant Madam Woo. Takapuna City Council took out the Takapuna Central Off-Street Parking Loan to purchase the carpark site in 1964 which was for 25 years and fully paid off in 1989. Nevertheless, the use of local parking meter revenue to help fund that loan repayment lasted only until mid-1969, after which time that revenue went instead to Council’s general accounts. From 1st April 1973 all the loan repayments came solely out of the special rate on the Takapuna business area, T 2856 courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection. This photograph was taken on 7 July 1994 and which was also geographically expanded shows the corner of Northcroft and Huron, with part of the old gasometer site on the right and the Warehouse retail store on the left. because of the growth of retail shops outside of the ‘golden triangle’ formed by Anzac Street and Hurstmere and Lake Roads. In April 1992, the Takapuna Central Carpark Flea Market took over Council records also describe a Takapuna car fair before 1990, with the remainder of the carpark and expanded into the parking spaces at a Saturday fair held from 4th September to 9th October 1971 and at the side road near what is now Citta at 10 Como Street, the 58-space least another in April 1973. Huron Street gasworks parking area and even the pavement in Como By the 1990s, the central carpark had 260 spaces, along with Street. However, North Shore City Council then banned street trading 28 long-term rental parking spaces at the rear of what is now the and limited the market to the central and Huron carparks. Monterey Cinema. In 1994 there were even more ambitious, if ultimately unfulfilled, Nevertheless, there were ongoing discussions on future plans for a $25-million shopping centre on the central carpark site, development of the site. For example, in 1971 there was talk of a carpark along with a 250-space carpark on the old gasometer site on the building on the central Takapuna site. However, when Shore City corners of Auburn, Northcroft and Huron streets. This provides shopping centre opened on 23rd October 1974, it had its own carpark an interesting point of comparison with the current plans for the building. The two lower levels of that carpark were used for the Shore Waiwharariki/Anzac site. The new Toka Puia carpark on Northcroft City Flea Market until 1991, when Shore City decided to maximise its and Huron streets has 420 spaces over ten levels. parking spaces for the newly introduced Sunday shopping. By the 1990s, the market was open until noon on Sundays and Takapuna Sunday Markets Ltd was registered on 21st September had gained much popular support. In 1997, that was demonstrated 1972 and managed the Shore City Flea Market. From mid-1989 that by strong opposition to requests that the market move elsewhere company also managed the Takapuna Central Carpark Flea Market, in Takapuna or at least close by 10am. Suggestions that the nowon the southern part of the central carpark which was separated off iconic market instead move to a temporarily closed Hurstmere Road from the parking area to the north by ropes. This was every Sunday, between Lake Road and Anzac Street were not regarded as an option weather permitting, and initially from 7am to 10am, but not operating at that time. The market is now to be accommodated on the new at Christmas time as the local businesses prioritised Christmas Waiwharariki/Anzac Square. shopping. Bill Jenner and Fred Keith were the long-time managers of both markets, and the market is still with that family. david.verran@xtra.co.nz
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