Onehunga Train Station Progress At Last!

in Trains by Jon C — April 13, 2010 at 10:33 pm | 10 comments

At last, some good news on the Onehunga train station front!

Signs of demolition starting of the former ITM building at 109-111 Onehunga Mall, where the station will be sited.

By dark, at least parts of the roof had been lifted off and some side windows taken out.

There is action also on the proposed plaza and shopping mall, which will be part of the station.

A major issue has been outstanding funding issues.

The  plaza entrance from Onehunga Mall (and pedestrian access from both Princes St and Nielson St) is planned for the station as is a small temporary park and ride but, while these are important components of the overall design, there is no funding for either.

The idea floated last year was for the site to be used in the “medium term” for the mix of ground floor retail and upper level residential with the station on the southern section and a park and ride on the northern section.

ARC officers say they’re now liaising with ARTA to address outstanding platform design issues and specifications for the proposed plaza and park and ride facility.

It’s hoped they will be able to be in a position to present these designs and discuss those funding implications to an ARC committee meeting, possibly next month.

Early designs showed a significant gradient in the southwest corner to the platform and moves began to see whether a gentler gradient can be achieved to ensure ease of access for pedestrians.

The building of Onehunga station hasn’t been a smooth ride.

A report to the ARC last September announced that the ARC had commissioned Boffa Miskell to prepare a draft development framework for the site. It asked for a visible high quality entrance to the station, via a public space/walkway/plaza from Onehunga Mall.

This included the need to create street activity, pedestrian traffic, vibrancy and security near the station.

The proposed configuration on the site arising from the station location created two key building platforms (the largest platform bordering Princes St and Onehunga Mall and a second triangular platform bordering Onehunga Mall and the station platform.
It also resulted in an area to the south east of the site that has very limited development potential due to the lack of access, its landlocked, the level is below Nielson Street and over bridge, and the presence of the power pylon.

They ended up with three different options:

All the options anticipate retail frontages at the ground level on Onehunga Mall and flexibility for retail on Princes Street, or workshop/offices, and residential development on upper levels. The possibility of office or other commercial development (e.g. entertainment) is also considered.

The options are:

• Four story developments on the two corners but elsewhere restricted to a three-story walk-up residential typology. The least intensive of the development options, it is within the current District Plan limit.

• Development up to the level that would be allowed by the volcanic sightline plane protecting the view of One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) from the SH20 approach to the Mangere Bridge. This translates to five-storey development on most of the frontages, with a 6-storey building on the corner of Neilson St. These would be served by lifts and are likely to be configured by a greater number of smaller-sized apartments.

• Predominantly four and five-story development, this option also includes an 18-storey residential tower on the corner of Neilson St. Apartments are also wrapped round a third side of the central courtyard with a frontage along the vehicle lane.

The draft development framework identifies the second option , as the preferred option, the essential features of which are:

• an open plaza descending diagonally to the centre of the rail platform from Onehunga Mall

• retail tenancies fronting Onehunga Mall, including café/leisure frontages along the sunny side of the entry plaza

• a metro food store-type activity at platform level, alongside a carpark beneath the northern frontages of the site (and accessed down a lane from Princes St at the north-east corner of the site)

• 4-6 storey development above the shops, probably built between party walls, and dimensioned to allow flexibility in use as either apartments or offices

• a variety of day and night activities - shops, offices, apartments, cafes, and possibly cinemas or other night-time leisure facilities to ensure the interest, activity and safety of the station precinct at all times.

The report admits that there are challenges because of a number of factors  - the recession, some specific constraints of the site, and the planning rules and implementation mechanism for the mixed-use zone connecting this new transport hub to the restored foreshore.

But whenever it can all fall into place, the resulting impact for the area will be huge.
In December, a noise issue arose.
The ARC was told that responses from the local Onehunga community were generally supportive, in principle, for the resumption of rail services to Onehunga, but there is “considerable concern about the effects of the rail station and the running of services from neighbours of the site.”

ARTA says it was investigating the issues, such as noise and vibration, and a representative of the ARC’s transport committee met troubled residents of Onehunga’s 65 Princes Street.

Work on the Penrose and Te Papapa platforms for the Onehunga link is continuing.

Tags: ARTA ITM Onehunga Onehunga train line Onehunga train station