Driving out local market

Reporter Andrew Campbell's revealing article about the failure of the Blake Lofts apartment development in Mt Maunganui (‘Apartment development fails', November 6), highlights a problem in providing reasonably priced housing in this city.

Blake Lofts was a well-planned and designed private development of moderately priced apartments, which met a clear need in the housing market. Many people (including prospective buyers) will be disappointed that this development will not go ahead , due to an offer for the site made directly to the landowner behind the developers back.

Maybe getting a higher price for the site is more important for some than developing it for apartments that people can afford.

This is an example of the free market at its worst. No wonder there is a shortage of reasonably priced housing in Mt Maunganui. Do we want the place to become unaffordable for the locals?

P Nixon, Brookfield

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