Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 5732 |
| Work Detail | A Timaru icon will be lost forever if the demolition of the Hydro Grand Hotel is allowed to go ahead, opponents of the Bayhill Developments project say. Preserving the 104-year-old heritage building was a major theme of many submissions opposed to the project. Bayhill Developments Ltd director Allan Booth said the decision to demolish the building he bought in 2013 had not been made lightly. A range of reports indicated the cost of refurbishment would not stack up with the potential economic benefits the company hoped to accrue from the investment. However, those opposed to the development say more effort should be made to preserve at least part of the hotel. The Timaru Urban Renaissance Network (TURN), the Timaru Civic Trust, and several individuals all oppose the proposal over heritage concerns. TURN's submission states the development would "impact negatively on Timaru's historic heart". "The development is not a landmark building. It is an 'anywhere' building. The current Hydro Grand, despite its dilapidated state, is a 'somewhere' building. "The small-scale, heritage buildings in Stafford Street are also 'somewhere' buildings and collectively they characterise down-town Timaru as a unique place to live, work and play." TURN is also calling for an urban design panel to be established by the Timaru District Council. The panel should be comprised of architects, urban designers, heritage advocates, property owners, and "down-town business people", the group says. The panel should have affected party status on all design and appearance matters in any resource consent applications, it says. A submission on behalf of the Civic Trust says the development would have "significant adverse effects on the surrounding environment, including, but not limited to, the loss of existing heritage fabric". The trust opposes the demolition of the Hydro Grand, and says the developers have not properly established there are no "re-use alternatives". "Any replacement building should reflect the historical architecture of the Hydro Grand Hotel and compensate for the loss of the heritage building." Reports commissioned by the developers suggested the cost of repairing and strengthening the earthquake prone building to 66 per cent of the building code could top $14 million. As it stood, the building was assessed as being at 10 per cent of the building code standard. Retaining and incorporating the facade in alternative, pared-down hotel designs was considered but ruled out. Costs estimates for that could have topped $30 million. |
| Country | New Zealand , Australia and New Zealand |
| Industry | Hotel & Hospitality |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/83907563/hydro-grand-hotel-demolition-opposed-by-heritage-groups |
