MARKET SITE SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17846, 29 July 1921, Page 6

MARKET SITE SCHEME.

CHIEF FEATURES OUTLINED.

PAYABLE IMPROVEMENT.

PROPOSALS IN DETAIL.

The Queen Sitreet widening and old city markets remodelling scheme, which has been adopted by the City Council, was referred to at some length in the report presented to that body last evening by the special committee of chairmen. This committee submitted that the proposals were in harmony with sound progress and emphasised the duty of adequately dealing with the dilapidated area, which would come into the possession of the council in 18 months. The committee outlined the chief features of the Queen Street widening and old markets remodelling scheme. They were:-— (1) 'Die demolition, as the leases fall due, of the old buildings, many of which, particularly in the back areas, were insanitary, including the old market building. (2) The widening of Queen Street by 30ft. from Wellesley Street West to the present market entrance. This would be a greatly increased traffic facility, particularly for the' tramways, and the present opportunity should not be lost. (3) The remodelling of the whole area on modern lines, the leasing of the land when cleared, with the retention of the central area for municipal purposes, and the erection thereon of a municipal building to meet the rapidly-growing needs of the council. The Town Hall Building. The present provision in"the Town Hall was inadequate for the sections of the staff already working there, who were much overcrowded. The other sections of the staff, such as the tramways and electricity (two large departments) were located elsewhere in the city. It was also desirable to provide for the Drain age Board, which, in 1916, had to be' removed from the Town Hall on account of the lack of accommodation there.

The scheme involved a gr<jat consolidation for all the council's staff, which would permit of better work still, and would provide much needed improved I facilities to the public in all branches. ilt would also enable the proposed new ! offices for the electricity department to i be cut out of the Quay Street scheme of i extensions. This would mean from £8000 •ot £10 000, which could be looked upon •as merged into the consolidated scheme as outlined. It would enable the transfer of the tramway department from the present offices, costing £425 per annum, with a lease of 13 years to run, and which, if vacated, would be sub-leased at a profit. The scheme also involved the vacating of the present offices at the Town Hall and the letting of them, wl'ioh the council was advised could readily be done, continued the report. The revenue from this would be a credit against the interest on the Town Hall loan, and would amount to £1000 per annum more than the departmental charges at present, which would alone provide interest on the Town Hall loan to the capital sum of £25,000. The latter was a 4 per cent. loan.

Revenue Would Cover Cost of the Loan.

A leading feature of the proposals was the retention of the present council cham-' ber as a public facility for letting similarly to the Town Hall and concert chamber. There had always been a steady demand for» the council chamber, but it had not been practicable nor desirable to let it while used as such; for it' must be retained for numerous civic purposes. Two other rooms would be retained as likely to be useful in conneection with the public halls. The soundness of the old market site remodelling scheme was shown, said the committee, by the fact that the revenue would, when the scheme was completed* cover the cost ftf the loan, and Auckland would have a magnificent city improvement into the bargain. It was not proposed to float the loan until the money market was favourable, and the council might be depended upon to take advantage of the first favourable opening after the authority was voted. It was proposed that this loan should be consolidated with the other amounts, but the total would not necessarily be issued, at onse. It would probably be sold in more than, one line, as the money was needed, and the proceeds as raised credited to the loan purposes for which it was authorised. No Increase in Rates. The estimated cost of the proposed new municipal building was £90,000, on which interest and sinking fund would be £6300 per annum, rents (departmental) £6400, and additional rent for the vacated Town Hall £1000 per, annum. Competitive designs would be invited for the building in order that the council might have the benefit of the best architectural abilities available, and thus ensure it being worthy of the city. The scheme would mean no increase "in the rates, but. involved the use of a valuable endowment falling to the city, with considerable increment in ground values, of which advantage would be taken, for the double object involved. In conclusion the committee said it was unthinkable that such a block in the heart of the city should be left longer than necessary in its present unsatisfactory condition, or that the council should be left with its detriments scattered and an all-round inadequacy of accommodation. All these weaknesses the scheme was designed to correct. The report closed- by stating that the estimated ground rentals for the whole of the old market site, when remodelled, was £10.129 per annum. The report was adopted.