February 24, 2019
Paint peeling as notorious apartments farewelled
A former resident of a notorious Auckland central apartment block is welcoming its impending replacing with an ambitious public housing development.
Jamine (Jah-Myne) Morgan spent almost two years in the Housing New Zealand block at 139 Greys Avenue, after years in a series of private boarding houses.
Speaking at a farewell ceremony for the building, he says the experience there was good and bad, but towards the end the 60-year-old building was showing its age.
"You go up to the laundromat and you could actually peel the paint. I used to say to the guys up there, this wall is coming off," he says.
Another former resident, Jason Toi, says in his eight months living at 139 Greys Ave eight people died there, including a woman who allegedly jumped from the roof.
The 79 apartments will be replaced with two towers with 200 state homes and 76 private homes, 24/ on site support services and around 3000 sqm of floor space for communal, support services, a Housing New Zealand office and commercial space.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com