Change in store for Chch skyline

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 5

Change in store for Chch skyline

Another office development has been proposed for central Christchurch.

J. Ballantyne and Company, Ltd, yesterday announced plans for a $7 million, six-storey office block above its existing three-storey store at the corner of Colombo Street and Cashel Street.

Foundations strong enough to take the block were put in place in the 1960 s when the present store, which has one underground level, was built.

An area at the Lichfield Street end of Bells Arcade, adjacent to the south end of Ballantyne’s building, will be redeveloped to provide carparking for tenants and better goods access for Ballantyne’s. The new building, to be called Dunstable House, was designed by the Christchurch architects, Warren and Mahoney, designers of the existing building.

The block will be set back from the store and will have a continuous frontage along the Cashel Street mall and a broken frontage along Colombo Street. Construction will be steel frame with exterior finishing in a style similar to the existing store. Each of the six floors will be 933 sq m. Lifts serving the block will be separate from the store, which is serviced by escalators. Mr Campbell Ballantyne, managing director of Ballantyne’s, said the development of the building acknowledged the intention of the Christchurch City Council to foster the even development of the central area round Cathedral Square. “It also responds to the drive by the City Council and others in the area to provide more parking and to maintain the impetus of development round the City Mall, helping to ensure a vital heart is maintained in the city.” Mr Ballantyne said the company would be standing in the way of progress if it did not develop the site.

Work was likely to start about June next year but this was dependent on people wanting the space, he.said.