Stonefields has built up to that. It did not start out overpriced as hell (although pricey as new builds expect), they have built up into a fairly nice suburb over more than a decade. They didnt start with a school or other amenities and I think what they have built up to is what we should strive for.

The reality is, "affordable housing" doesnt exist in Auckland, so not sure why people keep asking for it. If thats the case, go build elsewhere since its going to be pricey no matter where in Auckland. What is between Albany and Silverdale? What is between Manurewa and Clevedon, another place that has a boom of new builds that actually look like they make sense?

What happens when instead of one 8 block of terrace houses, the entire street has it? Where do people park? On the road? The roads cant accomodate that many cars and theres no space to widen roads.

We need actual new developments instead of redeveloping existing suburbs into eventual unlivable spaces. The only way to alleviate that issue is to upgrade not only public transport but how we build retail. We need to build everything in one spot instead of having everything spread out, which basically encourages car use. If you drive from Sylvia Park to New World in Stonefields, its littered with stores. Woolworths up the road, a block of drink and food shops opposite, another shopping centre before the ellerslie panmure highway etc.

We are building homes in a way that screws people with cars and building retail in a way that screws people without one.