PARKING STATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 18

PARKING STATION

CIIRISTCHIJBCH SCHEME NEW BUILDING IN CITY SYSTEM OF STAGGERED FLOORS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday A large new car parking station is proposed in the city at a total cost of about £30,000. A Christchurch company holds an option over about half an aero of land in Worcester Street West, and with a right-of-way from Hereford Street. The option has not yet been exercised, but working plans have already been prepared. The price of the property is said to be slightly less than £12,000, and the cost of the building is expected to be £IB,OOO. The building will have a capacity of 310 vehicles, with ample space still left for moving cars. The main principle is that of staggered floors. It is unusual in that while tho floors aro 10 feet apart the drive up each ramp is only five feet. From tho basement the floors alternate in each half of the building. In the front half of the building each floor will bo five feet below the corresponding floor in the rear section. Thus the four floors will be on eight levels. The short climb up each ramp will mako the installation of a lift quite unnecessary, and congestion is to be avoided by the spiral movement of ascending and descending cars. These will all travel in tho same direction, parting at tho up and down ramps. The building, of reinforced concrete, will include full offices and motor service equipment situated between tho two big doors, one of which will be for cars entering tho station and the other for cars leaving. It is claimed that with these two doors and tho spiral movement of traffic within the building the 310 cars which it will be able to hold will be capable of removal within 15 minutes. The foundations are designed to carry three more floors, which would carry the top of tho building to the city limit. It is expected that the option over the land will be exercised "within the next few days and that the clearing of the land will begin soon.