TOWN HALL SITES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27587, 18 February 1955, Page 10

TOWN HALL SITES

Special Committee Likely MOVE BY CITY COUNCIL

The only action likely to be taken on the town hall site by the Christchurch City Council on Monday evening is the appointment of a special committee to investigate all questions of areas of land required to be purchased, and their estimated costs, and the architectural problems of the three contemplated sites. The information will be necessary before the council can be expected to vote on the proposal that the citizens of Christchurch be given the opportunity of voting on their choice of cne of three sites: the approved civic centre block (partly occupied by the Municipal Chambers), the Limes block, and Latimer Halk

The first issue on which citizens may be asked to vote is whether or not they want a town halt Christchurch is the only major, centre without a town hall, yet some councillors feel that the people have not declared that they want one. If the hall issue goes to a poll on May 21, all citizens will probably be allowed to vote; but if a proposal to raise a loan is ultimately submitted only ratepayers will vote. The Local Government Loans Board may require a poll to be taken. The decision to hold a poll on a loan involving the rateable property as security may be made by the local authority itself or on a petition signed by 5 per cent, of the ratepayers, a poll must be held. The plan approved some years ago by the City Council for a civic centre on the Municipal Chambers block, bounded by Manchester, Worcester, and Gloucester streets and Latimer square, envisaged shops and commercial offices in sections of the block. The town hall was to have its frontage on Latimer square. The total area of that block is 4 acres 1 rood 5 perches, of which only 1 acre 37 perches is at present owned by the City Council. The council’s property are the chambers, the Civic Theatre, a two-storey brick building now being converted into offices for the Metropolitan Planning Authority, and the adjoining section, let in lots for private parking. Missed Opportunity

Among substantial buildings on the block which would be difficult to fit into a modern architectural scheme for a civic centre are those occupied by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) (13.3 perches), Haines Motors, Ltd. (1 rood 10.4 perches), Hannaford’s building, and the Trades Hall (16.7 perches). The City Council missed an opportunity of adding to its property when Haines Motors, Ltd., bought the two-storey brick building at the corner of Manchester and Gloucester streets. The building has undergone substantial changes since it was bought. The City Council has an agreement with the South Island Motor Union to be given the option to purchase a small hall in Worcester street when the insurance office no longer requires it, and another property facing Latimer square was recently offered to the council. Although market valuations have still *2 be obtained for all the property in the Municipal Chambers block by the council to assist in placing the full facts of the “sites” argument to the an ®? ima te is that at least' £lOO,OOO would be needed to purchase the properties to complete civic ownership. Besides the council, 20 owners are involved, apart from the National Broadcasting Service, whose buildings, and the proposed extensions, could fit into a civic centre scheme. Size of Limes Block

~^ e Limes block has an area of a little more than two acres, of which three-quarters of an acre comprise the land on which the building of a newspaper office has been mooted. The special committee will have to gain the latest information on prices likely to L ave -1° be pai< * * or tbe Properties if the citizens cast a vote favouring the an( l a ls° whether the owners are StV 0 - or civlc Purposes. As with the Municipal Chambers block, the alternative to negotiation for purchase is the taking of the land by the rouncil under the Public Works Act. Although attractively situated overlooking the Avon river and Victoria square, the Limes block is considered by councillors and officials who have given thought to the future building ° f ? t 2 wl J ha!l to be too small for a civic centre. It is also of pyramid shape, tapering to the corner of Colombo and Kilmore streets. Although it 81^tl?e !F ace ! or a town it would be inadequate for a civic office!’ embracing the administrative -Th® Church Property Trustees 1947 bought The Limes, occupying half “ ® Cre ’ and leased the property to a company f° r use as a hospital As their intention was to build diocesan ??a C sed. an adjoinin ® si - e was also pur-

A. separation of the civic and administrative functions of the City Council by having a town hall on a site away from the chambers does not h® fa J vo SJ ed ’ In Auckland, and Dunedin, the town hall and the administrative offices are contiguous. A feature of the present Municipal Chambers is that all departments, except the sole trading deP a rtment, the M.E.D., are housed c«^ t 5 eon <? roof - The offices are now cramped. Since the chambers were built in 1924, the work of the council S, ~ cr< ;? sed . enormously and, with the growth of the city, the need for earl X expansion of accommodation is

Prospective Date The third site—Latimer square Has come into prominence in discussions only recently. The full area of Lat i mar . s< iuare is four acres, one rood, 24 perches, smaller than Cranmer square, which is not divided bv a roadway. Latimer square is partitioned by Worcester street, running east and west. The idea of the Latimer square enthusiasts on the City t 0 use only the northern nalt of the square as a site for a town hall. The purchase of residential properties on the western side of the square, and in the Municipal Chambers block, has been suggested to give a spacious approach to the town hall. Lattner square is a reserve. While most councillors are thinking of three possible sites, a fourth might enter into discussions. The block bounded by Cambridge terrace, Montreal, Cashel, and Worcester streets was a few years ago mentioned in a report on zoning as a possible cultural centre. The council has vested in it SSj an T d R On wl l ich the Canterbury Public Library stands, and a considerable area m the block is a Post and Telegraphic Department yard. The C ? n £S rbui Z Club occ upies the corner of Worcester street and Cambridge bk£k e hp7 1 i e big f e ? drawback to the it US M £ or civic Purposes, it has been pointed out, is St. Elmo Courts, a lofty block of flats. In the preliminary skirmishes before the “battle of the sites,” the question of the prospective date of buildappears to have been forgotten. When the council approved of the Municipal Chambers block the future” was spoken of. The feeL mg m council circles is that the citiE er :, w lll want to know whether the ouilding is to be done in five, 25 or 50 years.

Councillors are divided on the sites question. The City Council was a Citizens’ council when the Municipal Chambers block was approved in principle, and at least one councillor has switched his choice to Latimer square If a referendum is held in May, when the Christchurch Transport and Drainage Boards’ triennial election will be held, the City Council may, by arrangement, use the polling booths arranged by the boards and provide staff on the separate, sites issue. A difficulty will be the rolls. Neither the Drainage nor Transport Board rolls are identical in territory nor in division of areas. The printing of those rolls, at a total cost of about £7OOO, is now under way, and the preparation of ’separate revised and supplementary rolls by the City Council in the available time would

be almost impossible. The other rolls may have to be used and a careful check would be necessary to ensure that the voters were qualified. Tne council will also have to obtain an assurance from the Government that its expenditure on the referendum will be validated.