NEW BUILDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26227, 10 August 1946, Page 8

NEW BUILDINGS

PREMISES IN CITY RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSALS Some of Dunedin’s oldest buildings are at present being reconstructed, and in the process some spots which have been an eyesore tor long enough will be removed. Since the disastrous Carlton Hotel fire, which swept half a block between High street and Rattray street in 1942, the remains of the building formerly occupied by Messrs N. and E. S. Paterson, Ltd., have presented a grim and uninviting appearance, with boards fronting the footpath. The firm has had the lease of a temporary building on the opposite side of fhe street in the meantime, but it has now .to vacate these premises, and has been granted a permit to erect a building on the original site of Paterson’s premises. The permit, however, is for the erection of a building large enough only to accommodate the present staff. The new building, which will be in reinforced steel concrete structure, will be two storeys high, with offices on the ground and first floors. The walls and floors will be part of a main structure to be erected later, but the interior fittings will be more or less of a temporary nature. Inquiries for Accommodation A representative of the firm told a Daily Times reporter yesterday that it controlled a section with a frontage of 50 feet and a depth of 150 feet, but the only permit the authorities would grant was for the provision of office accommodation for the present staff. Thus, the building to be erected will have a frontage of only 30 feet, with a depth of 48 feet. An endeavour was made to obtain a permit for a much larger building, he added, but the firm was unsuccessful in its efforts The existing foundations' from the street level down are being used in the new structure, and the work of demolition is now in. hand. Although building operations have not actually started, there have been numerous inquiries from returned servicemen as to whether a portion may be let, since there is a great dearth of shop and office accommodation in Dunedin. Unfortunately, because of the limited scope of the permit, it is impossible to meet these inquiries. The firm’s representative said that if there were any criticism regarding the erection of the building, it could 'be answered by the fact that one of the principal reasons why the permit was granted was that the firm had undertaken considerable work in housing development for the Housing Department and other sub-divisional work of an urgent nature. It was also committed to complete the training of a number of returned servicemen in surveying. Messrs Mitchell Bros., Builders, Ltd., are the contractors. Warehouse Premises Further reconstruction work is taking place in Dowling street, where the fronts of two of the oldest buildings in the city are being modernised. These are the Garrison Hall, which is to be occupied by the Government Housing Department, and the entrance to the old building occupied by Sharland and Company, wholesale druggists. The front portion of Sharland and Company’s building had outlived tts usefulness, and with the passing of time the floors and the roof had suffered to such an extent that reconstruction became necessary. The contractors for the work are Messrs William McLelland, Ltd., and the architects, Messrs Mason and Wales.

The improvements consist of the construction of a modern flush front to a two-storied building, and with the removal of a number of the old inside partitions valuable warehouse space will be acquired. / new staircase will give an easy approach to the warehouse, and the opportunity is being taken to incorporate the latest amenities for the staff.

It is expected that the work will be completed by October, and while the building will not be elaborate, it will be a solid structure which will meet the company’s requirements for many years to come.