most of the houses on the arch hill area date from around the turn of the 20th century and many are small workers cottages or wooden villas; sections are often tiny and without off-street parking. as arch hill faces south away from the sun it is and always was a less desirable location than either neighbouring grey lynn or kingsland. some light industrial commercial premises have replaced parts of the housing stock with one & two storey commercial properties and more recently apartment complexes have been built.