HWCP Management Ltd's Invercargill CBD plan under spotlight
Sunday, 24 March 2019
The spotlight will this week be shone on Invercargill's proposed multi-million dollar CBD project as the company behind the development attempts to gain resource consent.
A resource consent hearing for HWCP Management Ltd's estimated $190m inner city development is set down for three days, starting on Monday.
The hearing panel will be chaired by commissioner and lawyer John Maassen with the hearing to be held at the Invercargill City Council.
Gina Sweetman (planner) and Jane Black (urban design) are the other commissioners on the panel.
HWCP Ltd will present its case on Monday, before submitters who have asked to speak will have their say on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Eleven individuals or organisations who submitted in writing late last year have asked to speak at the hearing this week.
A letter from H&J Smith Ltd in support of the inner city project has been included in HWCP Ltd's resource consent application.
Although the Southland retail outlet has raised concerns through the submission process.
In H&J Smith's written submission it wrote the proposal lacked assessments of the economic effects of the CBD project during and leading up to demolition and construction.
Representatives of H&J Smith are set to speak on Wednesday morning as part of the resource consent hearing.
Other people who have asked to speak include Auckland-based retired planner Duncan McKenzie, who previously worked for Heritage New Zealand, Southland Chamber of Commerce Neil McAra, Nelson-based property developer Gaire Thompson, and innercity retailer Ben Fokkens.
The block which HWCP Ltd plans to demolish and build a largely under-cover retail precinct is between Dee Street and Esk Street, and bordered by Kelvin Tay Street.
The first element of the application is the demolition of a number of buildings, including two category two heritage buildings.
Thirteen buildings which have class two heritage protection in Invercargill's district plan are proposed to be demolished, while the facades of three class two buildings will be retained.
The second element is the redevelopment of the site.
Plans for the development include food outlets, office space, apartments, a large anchor retailer and boutique shops, a medical centre, and multi-level carpark.
HWCP Ltd is a joint venture between the Richardson Group and the Invercargill City Council.