Imagine a new-look Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green with a restaurant, shops, housing, and a village square. Horowhenua District Council has received a proposed concept for redeveloping this part of the Levin Town Centre and before making any final decisions, wants to know what the community thinks of the idea.
Background
The Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green is a significant and strategic location within the Levin Town Centre. The establishment of the township of Levin came as a result of the Muaūpoko-owned heartlands being subdivided by the Māori Land Court in 1886.
Opened in 1956, the Levin War Memorial Hall has served as a place of community gatherings and meetings and was home to the shrine of remembrance, which listed the names of 50 men who fought for our freedom, until it was moved to the Levin RSA in 1971.
Last year, recognising the significant investment required to upgrade and maintain the hall, which would otherwise come at a cost to ratepayers, Horowhenua District Council sought proposals that could breathe new life into the Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green area as a whole.
This project would be an important part of the Levin Town Centre Transformation Project which aims to design and create an attractive and vibrant urban town centre environment that supports economic growth, fosters community engagement and promotes sustainable development, ultimately enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors in Levin.
The Levin War Memorial Hall
History
The Levin and District War Memorial Hall was opened in 1956. The opening included the unveiling of the Shrine of Remembrance, with a roll of honour listing the names of 50 men who fought for the freedoms many of us enjoy today.
The hall served as a place for community gatherings and meeting, although in 1971 the Shrine was moved to the Levin RSA building after observations that people attending functions were not treating it with the respect it deserved.
What changes are being proposed?
At present, the hall has two community spaces, toilets, a kitchen, and a foyer area that the community can book to use. When the hall is not in use it is locked up and is not accessible to the public.
It is currently owned, managed and maintained by Horowhenua District Council. The proposal would see the War Memorial Hall and Village Green land sold to a developer, who will then fund and own the proposed development.
Imagine if the War Memorial Hall had space for shops and a restaurant. The proposed concept, which Council is seeking feedback on, would encourage greater use during both the day and evening. It includes a restaurant, craft brewery and retail spaces, as well as the retention of the Freyberg Room for community use, attracting more people to this part of the town centre.
Before any plans are finalised, Council would like to hear how you think this would change how people interact with this piece of our town centre and how this might impact the future of the Levin War Memorial Hall.
Why is this change being proposed?
While the hall has served Levin and the district well for many decades, it is now showing its age with major upgrades required for the toilets and kitchen to meet current standards. It has also been deemed an earthquake-prone building and work is required to strengthen the roof. An estimate for this work in 2014 was cost-prohibitive at the time for Council, and the decision was made to hold off.
Ten years later, this work is still required to be done so in 2024 Council, recognising the investment required to retain and bring this building up to standard, began an expressions of interest process. The process sought proposals that could breathe new life into the Levin War Memorial Hall while respecting its past and community value and did not require funding from Council for the development.
This project is one of many that could help make the Levin Town Centre a more desirable place to visit, which will be even more important when the Ōtaki to North of Levin Highway is completed by the end of 2029.
A Village Square on the Village Green
History
The Village Green comprises three blocks of land. As recently as 1975, this land had several houses on it.
Eventually, these were removed, and the Village Green became an open space area. The green is next to the skatepark, and the War Memorial Hall sits at the eastern edge.
What changes are being proposed?
The land is currently owned and maintained by Horowhenua District Council. A developer has offered to purchase this land from Council in conjunction with the Levin War Memorial Hall.
They propose creating a village square, providing a space that encourages people to spend time, mix and mingle, and support the surrounding activities.
Before any plans are finalised, Council is keen to hear how you think this would change the way people interact with this part of our town centre, and your thoughts on how this may impact the future of the Village Green.
Why is this change being proposed?
While providing an open space within the town centre, the Village Green is used infrequently for outdoor events and election signage.
While people can walk through this space and spend time in it, we would like to see more people taking the time to enjoy it.
The changes proposed would see a high-quality public space being developed that would encourage increased use with people able to walk and sit in the area and provide the opportunity to bring new activity to this part of the town centre.
Reintroduction of housing on the Village Green
What changes are being proposed?
The land is currently owned and maintained by Horowhenua District Council.
The developer has offered to purchase this land from Council in conjunction with the Levin War Memorial Hall and construct a three-storey apartment building comprising 18 apartments to complement the development. This part of the plan makes it commercially viable for the developer and having people living in the town centre provides a range of benefits including a busier, more vibrant town centre.
It is important to note that the drawings are concepts only and the configuration and the orientation of the apartments could change.
Before any plans are finalised, Council is keen to hear how you think this would change the way people interact with this part of our town centre, and your thoughts on how this may impact the future of the Village Green.
Why is this change being proposed?
In addition to the village square on the Village Green, the developer is proposing to reintroduce housing on this site.
While this might seem like an unusual change for our town centre, we have seen in other cities that the introduction of housing into a town centre increases vibrancy, safety and security by people using the space and surrounding areas outside of the usual business hours.
It is not a new concept in Levin either – there was actually housing on the Village Green as recently as 1975.
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Kōrero Mai | Have Your SayBefore any plans are finalised, Horowhenua District Council wants to know what the community thinks of this proposed development opportunity. Feedback is sought on three key areas of the plan: - The Levin War Memorial Hall.
- A Village Square on the Village Green.
- The reintroduction of housing on the Village Green.
While giving feedback, it is important to consider the alternative to this plan which would be maintaining the status quo and Council continuing to spend rate-payer money maintaining the hall and deciding its future. Feedback closes at 5pm on Monday 17 March 2025. |
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Click here to view form.
Imagine a new-look Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green with a restaurant, shops, housing, and a village square. Horowhenua District Council has received a proposed concept for redeveloping this part of the Levin Town Centre and before making any final decisions, wants to know what the community thinks of the idea.
Background
The Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green is a significant and strategic location within the Levin Town Centre. The establishment of the township of Levin came as a result of the Muaūpoko-owned heartlands being subdivided by the Māori Land Court in 1886.
Opened in 1956, the Levin War Memorial Hall has served as a place of community gatherings and meetings and was home to the shrine of remembrance, which listed the names of 50 men who fought for our freedom, until it was moved to the Levin RSA in 1971.
Last year, recognising the significant investment required to upgrade and maintain the hall, which would otherwise come at a cost to ratepayers, Horowhenua District Council sought proposals that could breathe new life into the Levin War Memorial Hall and Village Green area as a whole.
This project would be an important part of the Levin Town Centre Transformation Project which aims to design and create an attractive and vibrant urban town centre environment that supports economic growth, fosters community engagement and promotes sustainable development, ultimately enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors in Levin.
The Levin War Memorial Hall
History
The Levin and District War Memorial Hall was opened in 1956. The opening included the unveiling of the Shrine of Remembrance, with a roll of honour listing the names of 50 men who fought for the freedoms many of us enjoy today.
The hall served as a place for community gatherings and meeting, although in 1971 the Shrine was moved to the Levin RSA building after observations that people attending functions were not treating it with the respect it deserved.
What changes are being proposed?
At present, the hall has two community spaces, toilets, a kitchen, and a foyer area that the community can book to use. When the hall is not in use it is locked up and is not accessible to the public.
It is currently owned, managed and maintained by Horowhenua District Council. The proposal would see the War Memorial Hall and Village Green land sold to a developer, who will then fund and own the proposed development.
Imagine if the War Memorial Hall had space for shops and a restaurant. The proposed concept, which Council is seeking feedback on, would encourage greater use during both the day and evening. It includes a restaurant, craft brewery and retail spaces, as well as the retention of the Freyberg Room for community use, attracting more people to this part of the town centre.
Before any plans are finalised, Council would like to hear how you think this would change how people interact with this piece of our town centre and how this might impact the future of the Levin War Memorial Hall.
Why is this change being proposed?
While the hall has served Levin and the district well for many decades, it is now showing its age with major upgrades required for the toilets and kitchen to meet current standards. It has also been deemed an earthquake-prone building and work is required to strengthen the roof. An estimate for this work in 2014 was cost-prohibitive at the time for Council, and the decision was made to hold off.
Ten years later, this work is still required to be done so in 2024 Council, recognising the investment required to retain and bring this building up to standard, began an expressions of interest process. The process sought proposals that could breathe new life into the Levin War Memorial Hall while respecting its past and community value and did not require funding from Council for the development.
This project is one of many that could help make the Levin Town Centre a more desirable place to visit, which will be even more important when the Ōtaki to North of Levin Highway is completed by the end of 2029.
A Village Square on the Village Green
History
The Village Green comprises three blocks of land. As recently as 1975, this land had several houses on it.
Eventually, these were removed, and the Village Green became an open space area. The green is next to the skatepark, and the War Memorial Hall sits at the eastern edge.
What changes are being proposed?
The land is currently owned and maintained by Horowhenua District Council. A developer has offered to purchase this land from Council in conjunction with the Levin War Memorial Hall.
They propose creating a village square, providing a space that encourages people to spend time, mix and mingle, and support the surrounding activities.
Before any plans are finalised, Council is keen to hear how you think this would change the way people interact with this part of our town centre, and your thoughts on how this may impact the future of the Village Green.
Why is this change being proposed?
While providing an open space within the town centre, the Village Green is used infrequently for outdoor events and election signage.
While people can walk through this space and spend time in it, we would like to see more people taking the time to enjoy it.
The changes proposed would see a high-quality public space being developed that would encourage increased use with people able to walk and sit in the area and provide the opportunity to bring new activity to this part of the town centre.
Reintroduction of housing on the Village Green
What changes are being proposed?
The land is currently owned and maintained by Horowhenua District Council.
The developer has offered to purchase this land from Council in conjunction with the Levin War Memorial Hall and construct a three-storey apartment building comprising 18 apartments to complement the development. This part of the plan makes it commercially viable for the developer and having people living in the town centre provides a range of benefits including a busier, more vibrant town centre.
It is important to note that the drawings are concepts only and the configuration and the orientation of the apartments could change.
Before any plans are finalised, Council is keen to hear how you think this would change the way people interact with this part of our town centre, and your thoughts on how this may impact the future of the Village Green.
Why is this change being proposed?
In addition to the village square on the Village Green, the developer is proposing to reintroduce housing on this site.
While this might seem like an unusual change for our town centre, we have seen in other cities that the introduction of housing into a town centre increases vibrancy, safety and security by people using the space and surrounding areas outside of the usual business hours.
It is not a new concept in Levin either – there was actually housing on the Village Green as recently as 1975.
|
|
|
Kōrero Mai | Have Your SayBefore any plans are finalised, Horowhenua District Council wants to know what the community thinks of this proposed development opportunity. Feedback is sought on three key areas of the plan: - The Levin War Memorial Hall.
- A Village Square on the Village Green.
- The reintroduction of housing on the Village Green.
While giving feedback, it is important to consider the alternative to this plan which would be maintaining the status quo and Council continuing to spend rate-payer money maintaining the hall and deciding its future. Feedback closes at 5pm on Monday 17 March 2025. |
|
Click here to view form.
