The Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1971. Civic centre plans

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 20

The Press WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1971. Civic centre plans

The plan now approved by the Christchurch City Council for the administration building next to the Town Hall is a big improvement on the proposal that was before the council 18 months ago. The earlier scheme had serious shortcomings; it scarcely did justice to those features of Victoria Square which commended this as the best site for a civic centre. Many will think that the building still encroaches too closely on the Avon River—an offence of which the Justice Department was suspected when it was planning the new court buildings. Nevertheless, the five-storey building should harmonise better with the surroundings and with the other civic buildings than the 14-storey tower. By restoring the car park beneath the paved square west of the Town Hall, the council will abide by a policy it imposes on other builders. Perhaps the best news from the council’s meeting on Monday was the decision to proceed with negotiations to buy property that is needed to complete the civic centre area. The earlier plan carried with it a strong suggestion that the extension of the civic centre site to Kilmore Street and Durham Street would be long delayed. This would have made nonsense of the proposals of Professor Gordon Stephenson. His vision of the enlarged square was enthusiastically welcomed by people in and near Christchurch who sought guidance as to the best site for a civic centre. Now that the way is being cleared for the council to leave its Manchester Street headquarters, the time might also be ripe for the council to negotiate an exchange of land with the Salvation Army, which has its Christchurch citadel on land hard by the proposed administration building. The Salvation Army’s present site appears to be put at a considerable disadvantage by the new buildings in the area. An opportunity to move to a more favourable position would probably be welcomed by the organisation.