The Star: February 15, 2024

The Star Thursday February 15 2024
10
NEWS
• By Chris Barclay
ONE OF Christchurch’s highprofile
earthquake-damaged
historic properties is a step closer
to returning to its old self on
Oxford Tce.
Scaffolding around the
heritage-listed Old Municipal
Chambers building adjacent to
the Worcester St bridge is due to
be removed in three to six weeks
to reveal a multi-million dollar
project funded by the city council
and its partner, development
company Box 112.
Ratepayers initially
contributed $10 million to
restoration costs while last
October the city council
approved an interest-free $2
million loan for the Christchurch
City Trust, a charitable trust set
up by Box 112, to complete the
project.
In another sign the restoration
is nearing completion, the top
floor of the brick building is
available for lease, with the tenant
likely to move in by July.
The council and trust’s partnership
spans 50 years with the
trust receiving the income so
it can repay the council loan
required to strengthen and refurbish
the building.
The trust also has to carry
out significant ongoing annual
maintenance for the building,
which served as the headquarters
of the city council from 1887 to
1924.
Designed by Samuel Hurst
Seager (1854-1933), the building
is the first Queen Anne-style
construction in New Zealand and
the only remaining example of the
architectural style in the city.
It holds a category 1 listing
with Heritage New Zealand.
The restoration project started
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Chambers restoration nears completion
GRAND OLD DAME: The Queen Anne-style old Municipal
Chambers on the corner of Oxford Tce and Worcester St
in 1890.
in May 2021, more than a decade
after the building sustained
significant damage during the
Canterbury earthquakes.
In 2015, the city council
decided to fast-track repairs and
did some weatherproofing but
by the following year escalating
costs forced them to explore
other options, culminating in
Box 112’s involvement.
RESTORATION: The old Municipal Chambers building has
been undergoing a post-earthquake rebuild since May,
2021. PHOTO: CHRIS BARCLAY
Colliers New
Zealand commercial
real
estate agent Tom
Lax said the
building already
has three tenants
leaving a 140 sq
m area of the Tom Lax
top floor and a
smaller section
on the ground floor available.
“I suspect there’ll be quite a lot
of interest. There’s a real lack of
stock in the CBD,” he said.
Lax said the building’s heritage
status meant the top floor was
probably best-suited to office
space for a tenant happy to occupy
it as is.
“You’re not going into there
and doing a heap of work like
you could with conventional office
space,” he said.
The city council’s acting head
of parks Rupert Bool was pleased
the project was reaching fruition.
“It’s great to see the building
getting used and it is positive to
see heritage buildings activated,”
he said.
Sorry we’re in your way
New water pipes on
Memorial Ave
We’re replacing old underground pipes on Memorial
Avenue between Ilam Road and Roydvale Avenue.
To do this work quickly we need to reduce Memorial Avenue to one lane
in both directions around our work sites. Expect delays at peak times.
We’re also working in the area upgrading roads, including the Nor’West
Arc cycleway, between Memorial Avenue and Ilam Fields. There will be
lane closures around our worksite. Detours will be in place.
We know roadworks are disruptive for you, so our contractors are
working on these projects at the same time so we can get out of your
way sooner. All work has been planned to keep traffic flowing.
Avonhead Rd
Withells Rd
Roydvale
Ave
Burnside Park
Grahams Rd
Avonhead Rd
Memorial Ave
Waimairi Rd
Grahams Rd
Burnside
HS
Ilam Rd
Ilam
Fields
Jellie
Park
Greers Rd
Ilam Rd
Creyke Rd
University
of Canterbury
Wairakei Rd
Clyde Rd
Ilam Rd
Fendalton Rd
Stay updated on upcoming work
ccc.govt.nz/IlamWorks
Intersection
safety upgrades
Odour control
works
Nor’West Arc
cycleway
Water pipe
replacement
Road
resurfacing
Thanks for your patience as we work in your area.