CIVIC CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 56, 3 September 1938, Page 11

CIVIC CENTRE

AUCKLAND SCHEME

TOWN HALL BLOCK

An entirely new plan for the suggested administration block in the vicinity of the Town Hall to provide accommodation for the Auckland City Council staffs was submitted to the City Council on Thursday night, states the "New Zealand Herald."

In explaining the project, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, produced sketch plans which showed that involved in the scheme was a proposal to alter the alignment of Grey's Avenue to linlc it with Fergusson and Myers Streets before its junction with Queen Street, so that a new building could be erected on the site provided by the closing of the lower end of Grey's Avenue. The plan also contemplated the formation of an open space or plaza to the north of the new building, capable of accommodating from 10,000 to 12,000 people on civic and State occasions. Originally it was proposed that a four-storey building should be erected on city property in the block bounded by Grey's Avenue and Fergusson and Myers Streets. It was, however, decided that the scheme could not be proceeded with at present on the score of cost. • - ■ ~ It was explained by Mr. Tyler that the original plan for a building across Grey's Avenue from the Town HaU would not have given all the staff accommodation required. The proposal now made was to divert 'Grey's Avenue ,by swinging it towards the north. This would involve the acquisition of the Market Hotel and some properties adjoining. The new building would be boldly designed and would join the present Town HaU at its apex. ESTIMATED COST. There would be a spacious ground floor on the frontage facing Myers Street, and this would accommodate the treasury, the valuer's staff, and the traffic staff, as well as the main entrances with stairways and lifts. Jhe first floor would contain a new and much more spacious council chamber, rooms for the Mayor and Mayoress, and ample accommodation . for the Town Clerk and his staff. Two floors above would be set aside for the cityengineer, waterworks engineer, sanitary staff, and other departments. It was estimated that the cost of the i new structure would be £125,000 and j the acquisition of the properties required and the lay-out of the surroundings would cost another .£35,000, so that the scheme would involve a total expenditure of about £160,000. In a -report the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, recalled that when the previous schemes were under consideration he had not overlooked the possible setoffs by way of revenue derivable from the letting of the present Town Hall.. The net cost of the more attractive scheme was still ilkely to be beyond the capacity of the ratepayers at nresent. However, the existing situation would not allow any council to lose- sight of this project indefinitely. The Mayor's report was adopted ana the proposal was referred to the Fifiance Committee. It was explained by the Mayor that the scheme was ot such magnitude that the commit^J report could not be available for some weeks. -