PHOTO: ROSA WOODS/STUFF The 1960s era bank building sits on the site of the former council chambers in the Upper Hutt CBD.
An unoccupied bank building in Upper Hutt’s CBD is being converted into transitional housing as New Zealand’s housing crisis worsens.
The former Westpac Bank is undergoing a transformation into a centre that owner Ron Vink hopes will be housing up to 10 men by the end of September. The facility will be run by Te Whare Tane Trust of which Vink is the chairman.
Vink, who has 40 years of experience in the property-development industry, bought the two-storey building which has been unoccupied for the last two years in February after witnessing the growing need for housing through his property management business.
“We’re finding when we have a flat to let we have 20 to 30 potential tenants coming to look at a flat or house. It’s a major issue and it’s not going to change for some time.”
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