CIVIC CENTRE PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 14

CIVIC CENTRE PLAN

MAY BE ABANDONED HALL TOWER TO COME DOWN? MIX PORTICO ALSO An interesting discussion is expected - at au early meeting of the City Council upon the question of the civic centre plan and upon another equally' interesting question, the advisability ot taking down the tower and portico of the Town Hall. There appeared to be a growing feeling among councillors, a "Post" reporter was told by one of them today, that the civic centre plan should be abandoned, not only because the city could not think of facing the cost for many years to come, but because of doubts of the suitability of the Town Hall to carry the additional stories which are a part of the plan brought down by the architects and in a general way—certainly not in detail—approved by the council. Though when the scheme was last before the council only one voice was raised against the scheme, he added, it would be found that when the next discussion took place that that one voice would be backed up by several others. EEPORTS ON TOWER AND POETICO. ' The position regarding the suggested demolition, of the tower and portico is an interesting one. During the inquiry into the question whether the City Council should take over the Central Fire Station and land for inclusion in a civic 'centre scheme evidence was given as to the strength of tho Town Hull in relation to possible earthquake shocks and to carrying additional stories, tho general idea, as indicated in a sketch plan laid before tho commissioner, being to add tlireft or four more stories, so that the hall would conform with a new structure covering tho whole of the block at present occupied by the Town Hall, the Education Board buildings, and the Central Library. The point was not made a prime point; generally the witnesses who gave evidence in favour of the civic centre scheme as brought down by the architects appointed by the former council were of tho opinion that tho hall could be amply strengthened. Very shortly after the Hawkes Bay earthquake, it is understood, .a. report was made' by the council's officers not at all in- the same strain. In short, the opinion was given that the Towtt Hall could not be regarded as a building possessing great resistance to earthquake shocks. Two other city-owned buildings were also unfavourably reported upon. The next step taken by tho council, that is, the predecessor of tho present council, was, the reporter -was told, to refer this report to the panel of architects which dealt with the civic centre scheme. Their report reached tho council some time ago, and was discussed in committee recently. No doubt it will be discussed in .open meeting when the matter is next raised, and when the question whether tho tower and portico should be removed is settled. There seems to be little doubt, the reporter was informed, that the tower and heavily-columned portico, built long before modern steel frame construction was adopted, will bo taken down, but at present the council has no money for the work. In other respects the position is.regarded :s somewhat complicated, and councillors are 'not yet in possession of all the points necessary before a decision can be made in regard to the prosecution of any scheme involving construction bn the Town Hall or Fire Station blocks