Clever Coast conversions: Jim the Builder
A surge in demand for long-term residential accommodation on the West Coast is reshaping how buildings are used in town centres like Greymouth.
Instead of new builds on the fringe, developers are increasingly turning to smart repurposing of existing structures to meet the market. One standout example comes from local firm Jim the Builder, known for their high quality, end-to-end building services. The firm recently completed two adaptive reuse projects in Greymouth.
The first was the conversion of the historic Oddfellows Hall into three self-contained one-bedroom apartments. The second transformed a former high-bay bus painting building on Willis St into another trio of homes, with the neighbouring 120-year-old paint shop demolished to create car
parking (pictured).
“There’s real momentum on the Coast right now for high-quality accommodation close to town,” says Jim the Builder managing director Andrew Clark. “The owners of these sites didn’t want to see solid buildings go to waste, and we were able to deliver modern, warm homes with a strong sense of place.”
Each unit features full insulation with 6×2 framing, tiled bathrooms, premium fittings and covered outdoor areas – crucial in Greymouth’s rainy climate. Jim the Builder managed all consents and delivered the projects as turnkey solutions.
“The brief was for quality accommodation that was highly insulated, with high-spec tiled bathrooms and covered outdoor areas, as it is known to rain on the Coast occasionally!”
These projects signal a broader trend: thoughtful redevelopment by builders with strong local knowledge who can unlock the potential of underused spaces to meet the Coast’s housing needs.
