City Scene - September 2001: Like father, like son

September 2001

Vote - Local election on 13 October

Boring means a bit less mess

Walkabout for Queen's visit to city

Competitions galore for Neighbourhood Week

Variety of heritage events

Like father, like son

A father and son, both called David Taylor, flank a bust of Tommy Taylor at the opening of the housing complex named after him. David, senior, is a grandson of Tommy Taylor.

Relatives of Tommy Taylor, a former Christchurch Mayor and MP, turned out with many others for the opening of the City Council’s $2.95 million Tommy Taylor Courts in Waltham.

The 25-unit housing complex, on the corner of Brougham Street and Waltham Road, was officially opened by the Minister of Local Government, Sandra Lee.

The Council pioneered local authority housing in 1938 with the building of 16 units in Barnett Avenue, Sydenham.

The Council, the country’s second biggest landlord, now has a portfolio of more than 2650 units in 111 complexes around the city, with a capital value of $115 million.

In 1996, the Council reviewed its involvement in public, rental housing and decided to continue and, indeed, expand activities to meet the needs of the elderly and disadvantaged sectors of society.

As a result of the review, the Council has since built four complexes, at a total cost of $10 million. It has also forged partnerships in the provision of public housing.

Tommy Taylor won the Christchurch mayoralty in 1911 but he died after only a few months in office.