"promise[d] to create community open space in the old asphalt schoolyard known as Matauranga [school]" Gentrification has been ongoing in Aro Valley from the 1970s, boosted by urban-renewal planning (the Comprehensive Urban Renewal Area or CURA) after the rejection of a proposal to turn the valley into a main arterial road route: it became a desirable suburb, seen as close to the centre of Wellington and boasting notable community spirit. The Aro Valley Community Council was established in 1978 and was followed by the building of the Aro Valley Community Center. In 1974, the Aro Street public toilets were the scene of a Russian spy drama, when economist, historian and writer Bill Sutch was caught and charged with attempting to pass classified information to the Soviet Union. (Sutch was later acquitted.) Aro Valley contains the largest collection of unaltered working-class homes in Wellington, some built by local tradesmen for employees, many put up by professional builders and developers as speculative investments. Many of the buildings used as shops along Aro Street and a number of houses on Aro Street and Holloway Road are protected by designation on Wellington City Council Heritage List. Many of Aro Valley's older houses have serious problems with damp and mould, particularly those on the shadier side of the valley. One study found that as many as 40% of Aro Valley houses were damp. Despite this, Aro Valley remains a popular location for students to live due to its proximity to the University. As of 2021, 59% of homes in Aro Valley were non-owner occupied (rentals) and the median rental price was $631. Between 2017 and 2021 the median sale price for a house in Aro Valley increased from $680,000 to $1.15 million. Demographics Aro Valley statistical area, which includes Highbury, covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Aro Valley had a population of 3,762 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 141 people (3.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 330 people (9.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,410 households. There were 1,890 males and 1,875 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 27.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 303 people (8.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,764 (46.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,440 (38.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 258