Dispute stalls urgent reinforcement work

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 4

Dispute stalls urgent reinforcement work

A dispute over the ownership of a threestorey building in Hereford Street means that urgently needed earthquake strengthening will not be done until after a High Court hearing. The Christchurch City Council buildings engineer, Mr Bryan Bluck, said that the building, which houses shops and Scandals Restaurant, would collapse in a moderate earthquake unless the strengthening work was done. At a council town-plan-ning hearing yesterday, Mr John Irving, counsel for the owners, said the building was sold, subject to an agreement in May last year, under an unconditional contract of sale. Since then, the council had issued a notice requiring the strengthening

to be done. Mr Irving said the purchasing company, Mainstay Properties, Ltd, had said that it was not aware of any conditions from the council in respect of the building. The agent for the sale had said he told Mainstay of the strengthening requirements* said Mr Irving. " "’ “When the date for settlement came up, the purchaser refused to settle and now it is a matter for the High Court,” he said. The building, at 111 Hereford Street, was built in 1875 and remodelled in 1931. Mr Bluck said the remodelling had probably made the building more of an earthquake hazard because brickwork on the

ground floor had been removed and replaced with steel. With regard to the building’s age, present use, and the condition of the stone and brickwork, Mr Bluck said he felt the building’s ultimate load capacity would be exceeded in a moderate earthquake. - Mr Bluck said that because of the condition of the building he did not. think the Scandals Restaurant licence should.; be renewed when it ’came before the council in June. He said that the building was not secure and suitable for the purpose . The committee, which comprises Councillors Helen Garrett, Louise Moore, and Alex Clark, reserved decision.