CIVIC SQUARE PLAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 6

CIVIC SQUARE PLAN

IMPORTANT_DISCUSSION , Council Meets Mr. Hammond POSITION FOR THE LIBRARY A decisive atop towards the carrying out of the Hastings Borough Council’s plan of converting into a civic square the area bounded by Karamu road, Russell street, Lyndon road, and Eastbourne street, was made yesterday when the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, and members of th® council conferred on the proposals with Mr R. B. mend, Dominion Town Planner. The chief point at issue was whether or not tho proposed new library, respecting the erection of which the council has not yet arrived at a decision, shall be built in the square instead of on its former site in Market street south. Though no formal decision was made yesterday, it may be taken as more or less decided that the library will bo built in the square, and that the old site will be used in somo manner for revenue-producing purposes. The revenue thus produced would be used for the purposes of the new library. ALTERNATIVE SITES. Yesterday’s discussion centred main* ly about the problem of deciding in what part of the square it would be best to build the library, and the majority of the meeting, from whieh Councillors A. 1. Rainbow, S. J. McKee and G. McCormick were unavoidably absent, appeared to agree with Mr. Hammond that the most suitable site would be at the Lyndon road and Russell street corner, facing Russell street. The alternative proposal was to build it at the Karamu road corner, and Mr. Hammond pointed out a num. ber of objections to that suggestion, or rather what he considered points more in favour of the > .her site. He told the meeting, however, that the a4* tentative of tho Karamu road corner had been put before him unaware*, and that he would like to have time to consider it. The area of the whole square, including tho property now owned by tho estate of tho late Mr. A. A. George, is 1.78 acres, and the building of tho new library at tho Lyndon road and Russell street corner would make necessary the removal of tho Cenotaph, probably to a position between the Women s Rest and the library, ut to a site fronting Karamu road. REMAINING SECTION AVAILABLE. His Worship informed a “Tribune” reporter during the meeting that according to a legal opinion received tuu week tne council, in default of its being able to buy the late Mr. George s property at a figure which it consiucrs reasonable, has the power to take it under tho provisions of the Public Work* Act. In outlining his scheme, Mr. Hammond said it was vitally necessary to have an architecturally balanced scheme which would conform with existing architectural aspects and with the general purpose* of a civic centre. In drawing up a scheme, it was necessary to consider whether tliu square should be designed without buildings, or with buildings of a civic character. The existence of the Women s Rest ruled out the former alternative, although it might be possible to isolate the Women s Rest architecturally by means of well-defined paths and planting. So far as he knew, be added, Hastings was the first town in New Zealand to set about the adoption of a civic planning scheme, and the town had a great opportunity of earning some worthy distinction. In explaining his preference, at least at the moment, for the Lyndon road and Russell street corner (not having seen tho other proposed site sufficiently > Mr. Hammond said it was easily accessible, and near to a spacious park-ing-area in Lyndon road. Also, the site was visible from many points, and would become an architectural focal point. CONTROLLING ENVIRONMENT. If the sehenlo were gone on with, be added, it would be desirable that the council should exercise sonic fairly rigid control over the design of adjacent buddings. In most other countries where civic planning had been adopted, the civic authorities took every safeguard against the intrusion of undesirable architecture, and had invoked suitable legislation to give such powers as they needed in that direction. Tbo council already hud that power under the Town Planning Act. He did not think there was any power otherwise. Mr. Hammond went on to express the opinion that the erection of the new library on the Karamu road corner would give a cramped effect, and would not present so favour able an angle of view as it would if it were at the other corner. It was mentioned by Mr. S. Ashcroft that Mr. Rainbow considered it would be fairer to business interests in Karamu road if the library were erected on the Karamu road corner. Tho existence of the Women's Rest in Russell street had no doubt improved the value of Russell street as a shopping area, and he felt that it would be fairer to put the library on the other corner, so that any advantage that its existence might create would be distributed. After some discussion of the plans, the meeting adjourned to the site, and made a thorough examination of the various aspects of the matter.