Feeling like royalty in Prince Street
For Bruce and Leonie, moving into a brand new Manawatū Community Trust unit has been a swift and painless process.
The combination of a well-timed enquiry with the Trust and the completion of the Prince Street units, meant they were packing up their old life in Carthew Street within two months.
“We were happy at our other rental but our health issues meant it was no longer suitable,” says Bruce.
Leonie’s limited mobility and the number of steps in and around the house began to severely limit daily living and personal care.
Fully accessible, Prince Street has exterior ramps and floor level showering, Leonie says she is enjoying the freedom to move around and no longer feels like a prisoner in her own home.
“We are exactly the people that the Trust is building for, and they have been tremendous,” says Bruce.
They have had plenty of help moving house with their extended family pitching in, packing and unpacking for ‘Nana and Poppa’. Boxes are still stacked in various rooms, but the couple are happy to take their time settling in.
“We’ve had to downsize each move we’ve made,” says Bruce. “So we are down to the essentials and the special treasures.”
To add to the excitement, the couple celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on the day they moved in.
“We are very happy here,” they say. “it’s warm and quiet and we are making the most of the comfort. It will very soon feel like home.”
Built on time and on budget by local contractors Colspec Construction Ltd, the 68-square-metre units are designed to be practical, low-maintenance, and energy efficient. Each home meets Healthy Homes requirements and H1 Energy Efficiency Standards, supporting warm, comfortable living.
The Prince Street development reflects MCT’s continued focus on its core purpose - helping to address housing need in the Manawatū by delivering high-quality, accessible homes for those who need them most.
The $1.6 million project has been supported by grant funding and Impact Investment financing from the Central Energy Trust.
