New retail and housing development opens

New retail and housing development opens

A new housing and commercial development now open in Karori will bring a new lease of life to the town centre, at a time when the retail sector is struggling. Rowena Fry talks to some of the shop owners on our own ‘K Road’.

The new housing and commercial property development at 235 Karori Road has now launched. The project, developed by Stratum Management, includes 20 townhouses and three commercial units.

The development at ‘Campbell Corner’ came about when the Wellington City Council merged the site of the old St John Church with the adjoining property at 6 Campbell Street, in order to “achieve quality urban-design results” as part of the Karori Town Centre Redevelopment Project.

According to the developers, five of the properties have sold already, and two of the commercial tenancies have been secured.

The new opening is a positive sign during a difficult economic time for the community.

Karori retailers The Local spoke to told us people are spending less time and money in shops on discretionary items.

Welly Collective branch in Karori Mall is now closing after 10 months. Co-owner and co-founder Libby Dearnley echoes others’ experiences due to both the price of fuel and job insecurity. “We received great community support in terms of feedback, kind comments, and appreciation for what we do, but without the sales to match the enthusiasm it was not a sustainable location for us.”

Richele McKenzie who owns Florence Boutique in Marsden Village for 17 years, recently sent out a plea on social media: “Come in and check out our bargains, and save us from our worst trading week this year!”

Nearby, Goblin Games appears to be almost bucking the trend. A staff member suggests that because people have less money to spend on going out, a board game that can be used many times over is gradually becoming the go-to for entertainment. Families especially are choosing to spend quality time together old-school style.

This shift in spending reflects a broader message for Karori’s businesses: when residents choose to spend locally, carefully considered purchases can make a meaningful difference.

Bill McDonald, manager of the Karori Business Association, says that while it is always sad to see local favourites like Welly Collective close, there are still plenty of reasons for cautious optimism in Karori. “Our best asset is our community. Karori has a population of over 15,000. If local residents choose to spend more of their weekly budget locally - whether grabbing a meal, shopping for groceries, buying gifts, or using local services - we can protect the heart of our suburb.”