AMBITIOUS SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1926, Page 10

AMBITIOUS SCHEME

AUCKLAND CIVIC SQUARE

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Although the recommendations of the Civic Centre Commissioners will not be placed before the special committee of the City Council till next week, it will be found that the ambitious scheme they favour embraces some radical proposals. It is understood that the report proposes the retention of the present Civic Square area, but goes very much further than the 1925 proposals. At present facing the Civic Square, on the eastern side of Queen street and running from Wellesley street east to Eutlaud street, and back to Lome street, is a large block of freehold business premises, and behind them is a triangle running up from Lome street to Wellesley street, and including the shops on the Wellesley street front and other business premises on other frontages. This area is owned by the City Council, but is leased to business firms for varying terms. The recommendations, it is understood, propose the resumption of tho leased area and the acquisition of the freehold block fronting Queen street. This block, extending from the Pacific Buildings to the Wakefield street corner, consists of fairly old buildings now used as shops. It is proposed to deal with the area and the present Civic Square site jointly. The exact details of the proposed treatment are not available, but the main idea is to create in the heart of the city an attractively planned open space which, with Albert Park and Myers Park, will form a continuous open space through the heart of the city.

It is proposed to convert tho existing Town Hall into a departmental building entirely, in order to centralise all the various departmental offices. The recommendations Vill also include the acquisition of an additional area at the rear, of the present Town Hall to provide for future extensions. What will np doubt bo considered a radical departure is the Commissioners' suggestion that.the Art Gallery in Wellesley street should be transferred to the new War Memorial Museum at the Domain. This would necessitate another story being added to the museum, which is already completo in architectural details, but it is understood that the Commissioners have been advised by the architects that the suggested addition to tho museum can be mado without affecting the beauty or the stability of the building. With, the Art Gallery removed to the museum site, the Commissioners propose to give the whole of the <VVellesley* street building to the Public Library.