NAPIER CRITERION BLOCK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 47, 7 February 1928, Page 8

NAPIER CRITERION BLOCK

COUNCIL’S PROPOSED SCHEME. ARCHITECTS’ ASSISTANCE. Recently the fact was made public that the period of leases of tenants in the Criterion Hotel and adjacent blocks, Napier, were almost up, aal that it was proposed to havo the cxisiting buildings removed, prepaiatory to the Napier Borough Council having a suitable block for hotel, shops and other businesses erected on proper up-to-date lines. The matter was brought up at the mooting of the council last evening by a letter from an architect, who, acting on behalf of seven architects practising in Napier, made the sag gestion that ho, or delegates, meet a committee, set up by the council, t n go into the question of a competition among architects for the plans of rhe proposed block and to decide or a professional adjudicator to advise the council on the merits of the plans submitted in such a competition. “The council must havo the assistance of these gentlemen as we arc dealing with a matter that will be a commitment for a long time,” commented the Mayor (Mr J. Vigor Brown), who expressed the opinion that if carefully investigated, ways and means of relieving tho burdens of the ratepayers, might be found. “There is uo reason why tho council should not make money out of the blocks” he remarked in moving that the suggestion of a conference bo acted upon. Cr F. Rice suggested that the coun cil “get in as early as it could.” “We have no intention of being hard on the present tenants and ample warning will be given” added the Mayor. His motion was carried unanimously.