LARGE MODERN HOTEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19062, 6 July 1925, Page 10

LARGE MODERN HOTEL.

PLAN FOR OUTHWAITE BLOCK. THREE STREET FRONTAGES. CENTRAL HOTEL INVOLVED. LICENSE MAY BE TRANSFERRED. The erection of a large, modern hotel on the magnificent site bounded by High, Victoria and Kitchener to bo commenced at an early date if present plans come to fruition. Tho project has yet to be finalised, but has reached a fairly advanced stage. ■ The proposal of the promoters is to transfer the license of tho Central Hotel, on the opposite comer of High and Victoria Streets, to the new hotel. The Central property may then bo sold, and , has already been the subject of inquiries by prospective buyers. The site of the proposed new hotel is a large one, having 160 ft. of frontage to Victoria Street and about. 100 ft. on both High and Kitchener Streets. The latter frontage has a beautiful outlook on to the green slopes of Albert Park. It is also stated that the hotel would not have to be built up many storeys before the upper floors of the northern face would overlook the Waitematu Harbour. It is obvious that the site is ideal for hotel purposes. Its central situation, the splendid outlook in two directions, and its removal just outside the roar in the canyon of Queen Street have been leading factors recommending the hotel idea to the promoters. Underground Motor Park. At present the site i 3 occupied by a number of smn.ll shops and a garage. Several of those buildings have associa* tions with tho beginning of the city. The various properties were acquired by the Outhwaite family, and it is this consolidated site over which the promoters of the new venture possess a lease for a long period. The leases of the present occupants expire on December 31 next. If the tentative proposals are carried out, it will be a very fine hotel, which will arise on the block. Although the utilisation of tho site is still under discussion, it is fairly certain tho hotel idea will prevail. Ono of tho plans provides for a great garage underground, with an entrance in High Street. Tho proposal is to use this almost solely as a parking place for motor-cars, tho promoters believing that such provision would bo payable with the great growth in the number of cars and the restriction and disadvantages of street parking places. Such a garago would necessarily have to be fireproof and almost a separate unit of the building to rise above it. Most of the ground floor would bo ? liven up to shops and the 360 ft. of street rontage would allow for a great mauy of these. G nest Rooms in Suites. The chief conception is tho hotel itself. The proposal is to make it of the first class, built according to the most modern idea 3 of hotel construction to cater for the growing demand for superior accommodation. Tho plan would provide for suites of rooms—bed and bathrooms, or bed, sitting and bathrooms as provided in the best hotels of tho Old World. Visitors coming to Auckland almost invariably telegraph for a suite, and there exists at present no hotel which can fully meet the demand. Bathrooms are chiefly lacking in requisite numbers. The opinion is confidently held that there is a demand for this class of accommodation which would keep the hotel providing it busy the year round. It is well known that even at times of normal pressure visitors to Auckland are often forced to accept quite second-class accommodation. The few better-class hotels are quickly filled, and even these are not able to provide comforts on tho scale to which many overseas visitors are accustomed. Separate bathrooms are considered by many of these not merely a convenience but an everyday necessity. Cost About £200,000. A building such as the promoters have in mind would probably cost near to £200,000 and, as a commencement could not be made until next year, it would bo the eve of another licensing poll before it could be completed. The insecurity of tenure in regard to the license is, of course embarrassing, but it is argued with reason that, license or prohibition, hotel accommodation would still be needed. The hotel business in the United States has not been killed by prohibition. And it is argued that the class of hotel contemplated would be least affected by prohibition, being least dependent on a bar trade. Th 6 lease of the site is in the hands of a recently-registered company, the Victoria Street Properties, Ltd. Before it can proceed with the project, it will have to go on the market for a large amount of capital. It, was registered with a capital of £20,000 in £IOOO shares, the subscribers being Messrs. H. S. Elliott, B. Goldwater, G. Hodgson, A. H. Court, J. Pascoe, G. L. Thorburn and J. R. Self, one share each.