Invercargill CBD historical elements questioned at HWCP Management consent hearing
Monday, 25 March 2019
The Cambridge Arcade facade will be saved as part of a major Invercargill CBD project, although those behind the project have been quizzed on why more historic elements can not be accommodated.
A resource consent hearing for HWCP Management Ltd's estimated $190m inner-city development started in Invercargill on Monday.
The block which HWCP Ltd plans to demolish and build a largely under-cover retail precinct is between Dee St and Esk St, and bordered by Kelvin and Tay streets.
Dr Hayden Cawte and James Burgess both spoke at the meeting of behalf HWCP Ltd.
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Cawte spoke to the historical elements of the redeveloped block while Burgess talked about the design elements.
HWCP Ltd originally planned to retain the Thompson Building facade on Kelvin St as part of the project.
However, through the consultation process it was decided to concentrate on Esk St, in terms of retaining historical elements.
The facade of the building, which is currently home to the Bonsai sushi food outlet, as well as the former Southland Times, had already been earmarked to be retained.
The Cambridge Arcade front has been added, with HWCP highlighting it would be used as a similar purpose in regards providing an entrance to a retail place.
The retention of a historic facades has been estimated at $1.5 million each to complete.
The hearing panel, chaired by John Maassen with Gina Sweetman and Jane Black the other commissioners, showed a particular interest in the historical aspects to the block.
Maassen asked Cawte why HWCP initially deemed it appropriate to retain the Thompson's Building facade on Kelvin St but had now removed it from the plans.
Cawte indicated that Heritage New Zealand officials had indicated it would be good to retain heritage elements on both sides of the block but has since changed their stance.
Instead it was decided to concentrate on Esk St in regards to heritage, Cawte said.
That prompted Maassen to quiz HWCP on why more Esk St historical elements could not be accommodated.
'How the elements can't be used to incorporate other facades is a little bit hard for me to understand.'
Burgess, speaking on design later in the day, said they had included the historical pieces which they believed would best fit the plans.
'We tried to work with these buildings but they were blocking a lot of the potential of the development.
'It is sad to see those buildings go but we are getting a much better outcome with what we are proposing,' Burgess said.
Sweetman asked Burgess if the proposed development was comparable to what was already in Invercargill.
'It's incomparable. It's a game changer for the CBD. There's elements which fit in with the streetscape but this is a significant development we are doing in the CBD and we should be proud of that.
'The balance of Invercargill is broken down building stock.'
Other tweaks to the original plans include the inclusion of a child daycare centre in the block, while the car park has been shifted.
It was originally planned the 850 to 1000 car park space would sit above the anchor tenant, which will be situated behind the Southland Times building facade.
The car park has been shifted to the centre of the block.
HWCP Ltd also talked at the hearing about the retention the Bank of New South Wales building on the corner of Tay and Dee streets.
It was being viewed as a potential site for the Southland Regional Development Agency offices.
The hearing will continue on Tuesday with submitters to speak of the resource consent application.
Wednesday is also set down for further submitters to speak.