Grenada North
A suburb whose star is yet to rise. Perhaps an opportunity?
Overview
Grenada North could well be called “the suburb that time forgot”. Created in the 1970s on a levelled hillside southeast of Tawa, its planned extension southward to connect with Grenada Village never occurred. This, along with the development of unappealing commercial warehouses at the entry to the village, has left the suburb languishing for 50 years. However, it’s very affordable for first home buyers and well orientated for the sun, with easy access into Wellington via the nearby motorway link. One wonders when Grenada North’s star will finally rise.
Best Suited To
First home buyers on a strict budget.
Population Profile
The locals here tend to be younger, and working class, many with family ties to the locality. Maori make up 29% of the population (Wellington average 8%) and Pacific Islanders make up 18% (Wellington average 5%).
Statistics show that locals are more likely to work as technicians or trade workers, machinery operators and drivers, or labourers. Many of those who live here are likely to work in the warehousing businesses set at the entry to the suburb.
Typical Homes
Most homes in the area date from the 1980s. They are typically single level, have cementboard cladding, tile roofing, and are generally of low-cost construction. While the architectural style and building materials were not of the best quality, they do last if they have been looked after. Homes here often have basement or detached garaging.
Amenities
There are no retail shops within Grenada North itself. This is a chicken and egg thing: the suburb is so small that its limited number of people doesn’t generate enough demand for shops to survive, Conversely, with no shopping services, the suburb is deemed less preferable to nearby, Tawa. Luckily for those in Grenada North, (and possibly a saviour for its future), a Countdown supermarket has been built just across the urban motorway. This will no doubt help employment in the area and should, we hope, provide an impetus for regeneration.
There are no schools in Grenada North. The nearest primary schools are located in Tawa (St Francis Xavier and Tawa School), both about five minutes’ drive to the west. The nearest secondary schools are Tawa College to the north, or Onslow College to the southwest.
Grenada North Park hosts cricket, football, and other sport during the year. The park consists of large playing fields that are somewhat exposed to the weather and are known to be poor draining.
Real Estate Trends
This is a compact suburb with sales few and far between over the last 24 months. Of the six sales that occurred, the highest recorded is at $900,000, and the lowest at $517,000. Looking back over sales since 2021, prices generally appear to fall between $500,000 and $800,000 for typical, three bedroom homes.
Best Streets
Unfortunately, somewhere other than Grenada North.
House Prices
Three bed house, from $500,000.
Four bed house, from $600,000
Travel Times
Central city – driving 12 minutes non-peak, 25 minutes peak.
Airport – driving 25 minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving 15-20 minutes via Ngauranga Gorge.
Weather
Grenada North faces west and north. It is somewhat exposed to weather from the prevailing northerlies, but it gets all day sun. The suburb is quite sheltered from the south.