DISCUSSION | Quake Damaged Buildings [Archive]

Svartmetall

September 5th, 2010, 01:09 AM

and the Government has a disaster relief fund ......

Just to elaborate on my previous post where I said to you that the EQC will cover private property, not public property, I did a bit more digging. Apparently the disaster relief fund from the EQC will pay out $150,000 of the damage sustained to any private property and then household/contents insurance will be expected to cover the rest if the policy covers earthquake damage. I hope everyone in Chch has comprehensive insurance.

Is it possible for people from Chch to tell us if any major public buildings were damaged as those have to be funded separately. Poor Chch... It's good of you, Syd and Craig, to consider going down to add a bit of money to the pot, though!

Hey, guys! I'm so sorry for you all. I hope things can get back to normal sooner than later.
Will be thinking and praying for you all there. I would have thought that the northern island would have had this happen before the south island would. Go figure...
Anyway, I wish everyone a speedy recovery. :) Cheers, my friends.

South Island is quite earthquake prone - you just need to look at the large earthquake recently such as the Fiordland earthquake of 2009 - 7.8 on the Richter scale!

Rooty

September 5th, 2010, 08:01 AM

No worries sweet pea .... very sad indeed but let's look on the positive side - lots of work will be created, lots of construction, people shopping to replace the damaged goods - a spit and a polish.
This accelerated fear of the big one is a good thing. I'm hoping this will ironically turn out the best thing ever to happen to heritage preservation in Chch.

Earthquake or no, we're gradually losing what makes Chch feel like Chch. A 7.1 Earthquake is no match for the lack of will and an inability to find the money to preserve what we've got, drawn out over decades. The former is noticeable, the latter isn't. Anyone over 30 and familiar with Chch as a kid can point to numerous buildings and say "a more impressive building used to be there". Chch is progressively growing uglier, and less grand too. Just south of the square we've got the ANZ building, Mid City Centre, Frontrunner building, and R&R Sport building (the surf/snow/skate one), which are all eyesores not befitting of our main street.

Kiss the Rain

September 5th, 2010, 08:55 AM

Lets hope that this will mark the rebirth of chch CBD.

spongeg

September 5th, 2010, 09:35 AM

Not really, I've not heard any more stories about looting since those few drunken morons took a few things straight after the earthquake hit. Apparently police presence is very obvious to discourage looting too.

thats good

trust the media to make it sound like mayhem had broken out down there :ohno:

flyin_higher

September 5th, 2010, 10:19 AM

I thought this was apt for Chch.... (this was written after the Napier Earthquake 1931)

I never understood how a man could dare
To watch a city shaken to the ground
To feel the tremors, hear the tragic sound,
Of houses twisting, crashing everywhere,
And not be conquered by despair.

Although his buildings crumble to a mound
Of worthless ruins, man has always found
The urge to build a stronger city there.

Within my soul I made my towers high.
They lie in ruins, yet I have begun
To build again, now planning to restore
What life has shaken to the earth; And I in faith
Shall build my towers towards the sun
A stronger city than was there before.

SYDNEY

September 5th, 2010, 11:23 AM

Examples of the wonderful architecture in CHC .... let's hope that they are still standing .....

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291778/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291785/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291927/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122312902/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122312918/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122313046/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122271221/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291017/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291020/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291033.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291034.jpg

Marky Mark

September 5th, 2010, 12:18 PM

there would have been many deaths ......thinking of you all .....such a loss of Architecture ....its in in all the news here in Paris , just wish they would get the population right ......shocking news .......I hope the storm is not as bad as they say , thats coming :ohno:

metroman

September 5th, 2010, 01:04 PM

This is very sad for Christchurch, my prayers really go out to everyone back home.

drosophila

September 5th, 2010, 05:13 PM

Sad to see all the damage and what a relief no one was killed. We can only hope that ChCh follows the lead of countries like Germany that were destroyed after WWII yet rebuilt their oldtowns in the style that they had been before. The worst would be if this is used as an excused to bulldoze ChCh's heritage and replace it will cheap crap as has happened in Auckland over the years.

yousername

September 5th, 2010, 05:17 PM

Milan's dignity.

Davee

September 5th, 2010, 09:36 PM

This accelerated fear of the big one is a good thing. I'm hoping this will ironically turn out the best thing ever to happen to heritage preservation in Chch.

Earthquake or no, we're gradually losing what makes Chch feel like Chch. A 7.1 Earthquake is no match for the lack of will and an inability to find the money to preserve what we've got, drawn out over decades. The former is noticeable, the latter isn't. Anyone over 30 and familiar with Chch as a kid can point to numerous buildings and say "a more impressive building used to be there". Chch is progressively growing uglier, and less grand too. Just south of the square we've got the ANZ building, Mid City Centre, Frontrunner building, and R&R Sport building (the surf/snow/skate one), which are all eyesores not befitting of our main street.

Bingo!

What everyone has writen above makes so much sense....................Sydney, your picutres made me cry...................

I love CHC soooo much xx

MattTheTubaGuy

September 5th, 2010, 09:40 PM

the southern star appears to be ok. I went to Unlimited a couple of years ago, so I wanted to see how it was. by the time I got in to the city, some wasn't cordoned off any more, so I could clearly see it from Colombo Street.
the music centre has a little bit of damage, but not too bad. the Repertory theatre facade is an absolute wreak, hopefully the theatre itself isn't too bad.

those aftershocks are really irritating!

Milan Luka

September 5th, 2010, 10:51 PM

Examples of the wonderful architecture in CHC .... let's hope that they are still standing .....

[CENTER]http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291778/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122291927/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122312902/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122313046/original.jpg

Like many people I got to look around immediately afterwards before the cordons came in. These photos were taken in the area that I got to see I can tell you that every single one of the buildings in these photos is damaged in some way. They are still standing yet have big cracks in them, masonry and glass fallen. Even the 15 story Westpac building, mostly hidden in the first photo its supporting columns are cracked all the way through to the roof. Surveyors are going through the city non stop putting red/yellow/green stickers on every building. Fingers crossed they are salvagable.

Milan Luka

September 5th, 2010, 10:56 PM

http://www.pbase.com/enigma35/image/122312918/original.jpg

Was very wierd walking down this street. Many of those very shopfronts were completely exposed. Everybody was just looking stunned. The glass doors were either opened or destroyed. I am amazed there was no looting. Maybe people are better than we give them credit for.

Milan Luka

September 5th, 2010, 11:29 PM

Sydney I think this was the building you were asking about in another thread. The one with the M's in the windows.

Also, heres Cranmer Court and some of the Arts Centre. :cry:

^^
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/4956558358_2df3eb992f_b_d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4955914145_30ef18a99f_b_d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4955942939_dcff3d653d_b_d.jpg
above photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hadevereux/

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 12:24 AM

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cripes::cripes:

SYDNEY

September 6th, 2010, 03:55 AM

Bugger ... I am speechless. I watched them removing the chimneys on Cranmer Court - very gently so that they can re-use the bits and bobs to reconstruct the building - that in itself is good news :)

@ Luka ..... I have replied to you in the Urban Showcase thread :)

@ Davee - don't worry sweety, I also shed a few tears ... we all share a great love for a very special city.

P.S. Also, it will be nice if some of the Cantabrians went and thanked the people for their well wishes in the International / Aussiescraper threads.

jarden

September 6th, 2010, 04:02 AM

Although it is very sad to see a lot of heritage buildings go. It will give the building firms a boost as they all said there has been no work for them at all in Christchurch for at least a year now except for Hawkins which seem to win all the tenders these days. They wont be compalining too much any more they can re hire all the 1000s of tradies that have been laid off as there will be work everywhere all over town for years to come. I just hope the earthquake commision funds are forth comming very fast.

hellospank25

September 6th, 2010, 04:21 AM

^^ It is very true indeed, If you look at history cities go through economic booms after a war or a natural disaster

Rooty

September 6th, 2010, 06:34 AM

There's too much doomsdaying in this thread.

News article today (on CBD heritage/character buildings):
"While a very small number of buildings have extensive damage, further assessment will determine whether they can be restored."
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/experts-inspect-heritage-buildings-after-earthquake/5/61740

Yesterday:
No buildings had been condemned but six in the inner city were regarded as unsafe.

''A large number of heritage buildings have suffered a variety of damage. We don't want anyone taking any preemptive action because they think a building is unsafe. What we want to do is protect those buildings as much as we can. We've told people not to pull anything down even if it's only a character building.''
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4096832/Quake-devastates-Christchurchs-heritage

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 10:31 AM

Thanks Sydney for your post - your right, lets thank all for their support and look forward.

Rooty is right - it's time to rebuild the broken infrastructure and see CHC up and running again - that doesn't take away from the pain and shock that is so evident - but it now must be mixed with a strong realistic aproach to what needs to be done - something Kiwi's have always been good at.

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 10:50 AM

Guys - is New Regent Street OK? Any news?

Fantastic Mr. Fox

September 6th, 2010, 12:14 PM

Guys - is New Regent Street OK? Any news?

Hard to tell, the entire street is blocked off (and with big fences, not just police tape) A couple of the facades look a bit wonky, but not too bad considering.

The more interesting story is around some of the bigger newer buildings in town, I'm hearing interesting stories about the westpac building and about th copthorne on durham - early days, but both appear to have serious problems that may not be fixable.

PwC hasn't been reopened/cleared yet, but being such a large building I guess they're taking their time. I did notice random cracked windows in PwC though, some as high as about 16/17 floors up.

Paulsy

September 6th, 2010, 12:28 PM

With all this talk of the central city its easy to forget that there are many many peoples homes that have been absolutely trashed. TV3 news was looking at many tonight in areas like Kaiapoi and some of the damage was horrific - whole streets seemed affected. Sobering stuff and so very sad to see. :ohno:

Indictable

September 6th, 2010, 12:57 PM

Also Avonside - those sand and mud volcanoes.. it's terrible the shape kaiapoi is in!

My neighbours where I am in Bryndwr have a liquefied lawn, it's seeping into ours, coming through the concrete :S

Svartmetall

September 6th, 2010, 01:07 PM

I wonder, due to the nature of the "bedrock" of Chch, how much damage there will be to the foundations of the buildings.

Milan Luka

September 6th, 2010, 01:57 PM

Davee no idea on New Regent Street sorry. I can tell you in my neck of the woods the Coffee House (our lunch spot) and also St Elmos court have cracks. The original girls high has lost some of its brickwork too. Did go to St Albans today, so sad to see the Egyptian church and also the one in Merivale so damaged. The shopping centre in both those suburbs are a mess too.

Amazed by the sand thats creeped up in odd places all over St Albans too.

As Mr Fox said I also heard that the Copthorne may not make it.

Also yeah paulsy, its strange how some areas are unscathed and others badly affected. I am aware of whole streets in Kaiapoi, Avonside, Bexley which look like they will be written off.

Sorry for the bad news.

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 01:58 PM

My parents are in Bishopdale, dad was saying they have not to much damage.

My brother and family are in St Albans, its a mess there.

Nan is in town - on Caladonian Rd, she's in a modern build and is OK.

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 02:04 PM

Hard to tell, the entire street is blocked off (and with big fences, not just police tape) A couple of the facades look a bit wonky, but not too bad considering.

The more interesting story is around some of the bigger newer buildings in town, I'm hearing interesting stories about the westpac building and about th copthorne on durham - early days, but both appear to have serious problems that may not be fixable.

PwC hasn't been reopened/cleared yet, but being such a large building I guess they're taking their time. I did notice random cracked windows in PwC though, some as high as about 16/17 floors up.

The positive things about this is that - maybe, some of these horrid buildings will be replaced with better buildings that reflect a modern city in sympathy with the historic centre which CHC is known for - thus correcting the mistakes made in the the 1980's...........I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.......

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 02:06 PM

Hey Luka - we'll have lunch and breakfast and tea again at the Coffee House - it's place like that which are so special :)

Davee

September 6th, 2010, 10:19 PM

Three buildings I would really like to see damaged beyond repair

The Central Police Station

The Ugly thing behind the Old Post Office

The ANZ Building in the Square

Please someone tell me they have to come down - I wish! I bet they are the 3 strongest bastard in the CBD :(

piles

September 6th, 2010, 11:06 PM

Metallica Christchurch Shows Likely To Go Ahead

http://libel.co.nz/blog_posts/1649-m...ly_to_go_ahead

Metallica's two sold out Christchurch shows seem likely to go ahead as planned, despite the city suffering a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Saturday morning.

The band are booked to play the Garden City on September 21st and 22nd at the CBS Canterbury Arena which is operated by Vbase. Billboard Biz is reporting that the company's CEO Bryan Pearson sent a statement to clients informing them that it does not appear that either the CBS Canterbury Arena or AMI Stadium have sustained structural damage. An engineers assessment of the venues will be confirmed on Wednesday.

Metallica are to be supported by Fear Factory and the Sword for the two sold out shows.

MCR_17

September 6th, 2010, 11:47 PM

http://s03.flagcounter.com/count/0NBu/bg=FFFFFF/txt=FFFFFF/border=FFFFFF/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/ (http://s03.flagcounter.com/more/0NBu)

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 12:07 AM

Just been talking to my sister in law - she was saying how quickly things are returning to normal, even in St Albans where she lives. Most of the kids are going back to school tomorrow.

She works in the CBD at the Westpac Centre. Gossip from her boss - which kinda tellys with ML - is that the Westpac building is F..ked big time and that it may have to be pulled down. As she said, it's gossip, but hot gossip. Her department is now working in shifts out of temporary offices at the Palms.

Watch this space..........

MattTheTubaGuy

September 7th, 2010, 03:47 AM

shit
this is being demolished (http://maps.google.co.nz/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Christchurch,+Canterbury&ll=-43.532016,172.639621&spn=0,0.002411&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-43.532058,172.639654&panoid=0eQCYxeYiWsWDU1nxxJbMw&cbp=12,138.45,,0,-30.24):bash:
according to this (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury-earthquake/4102159/Canterbury-quake-Cathedral-cracks) and this (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1009/S00183/quake-building-demolition-and-heritage-advic.htm)

also this building (http://maps.google.co.nz/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Christchurch,+Canterbury&ll=-43.536422,172.639726&spn=0,0.002411&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-43.536418,172.639667&panoid=T_k4gn3oiSpLSGcVu2RzjQ&cbp=12,132.68,,0,-5.91)

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 04:26 AM

1905-2010 :ohno:

New Zealand Express Company

When completed was the tallest building in the country.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc6/IMG0005.jpg

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 04:29 AM

Last nights strong tremors have apparently caused cracks in the Cathedral. No idea on the severity of them.

Went past the Basilica today. Looks OK. Brickwork and masonry has fallen from the schools offices and also the convent. Look like they might be ok also.

The clock tower in the railway station has a massive crack. No idea on its health either.

KingKong1

September 7th, 2010, 04:32 AM

Surely they can do something to save these buildings. What a loss the MLC Building is. :ohno:

metroman

September 7th, 2010, 04:40 AM

Anyone know how the tram feared?

Cartel

September 7th, 2010, 04:45 AM

Nooooooooo I love that building. I just went down and talked to somebody there, they're strapping the inside of it at the moment and it's going to come down over the next couple of days... what a huge loss for the city. :( Some things really are worth trying to save surely... wait and see what happens with the Anglican cathedral... :(

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 04:46 AM

^^ Cartel. Been thinking about you. Can you tell us anything about Sol Square? Im going to need a drink (or 20) after all this has died down.

@ metroman. No idea about tram. Im certain it'll be ok though. Dont think any cracks opened in the ground in the cbd so certain the lines havent buckled. Even if that had happened, apparently its an easy thing to fix. The main south rail line has been fixed already.

Cartel

September 7th, 2010, 05:01 AM

^^ It's not looking too flash mate. Huge cracks through some of the bars, when walls are just old brick you don't have much chance in a shake like that, hopefully the area will be saved though... not aware of anything being torn down just yet... all appendages crossed eh!

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 05:27 AM

^^ Damn, thats what I feared.... Hoping I'll still have Lichfield Lanes to play in.

Also, while Ive stated publicly so often how much I dont like the Westpac Building....

The word is that theses downtown buildings are also gone too. Structurally unsound.

Copthorne Hotel Durham Street.

http://directrooms.com/new-zealand/img6/hotel-picture/hotel-8284-69003.jpg

http://directrooms.com/new-zealand/img6/hotel-picture/hotel-8284-69003.jpg

Westpac HQ, Cashel Street Mall

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/113117031_f9419f4621.jpg?v=0

buildemhigh

September 7th, 2010, 05:36 AM

are you saying they are a chance of being pulled down? not the worst news id have thought... lets hope the cathedral is ok!

SYDNEY

September 7th, 2010, 05:42 AM

OMG .... I am feeling so sorry for you guys and it is a great loss for NZ as well :cry: ....

Two heritage buildings in central Christchurch are likely to be demolished this afternoon due to earthquake damage, says Christchurch City Council. Manchester Courts, a seven-storey building on the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets, is a category one historic place built in 1905-1906 that up until Saturday's earthquake, housed offices. It was formerly known as the New Zealand Express Company Building and at the time of its construction was the tallest building in Christchurch. According to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust register, the building "is significant as one of the earliest attempts at the Chicago skyscraper style in New Zealand". Cecil House, on the corner of St Asaph and Manchester Streets, is a two-storey neo-classical style building constructed in 1877 that now houses the Country Theme furniture store. The council says specific times for demolition are not yet known.

Demolition brings emotional response: News of the scheduled demolitions provoked an emotional response from people on Twitter. "It's one of the single best, and architecturally most important buildings in the city," Cheryl Bernstein wrote in a tweet about the Manchester Courts building. "It's one of the great buildings I always point out to visitors to the city," she wrote. "I feel like bursting into tears." Robyn Gallagher said the building's demise would be a loss "not just for Christchurch, but for New Zealand."

Fyturis

September 7th, 2010, 06:31 AM

Damn, Hopefully most of the less damaged buildings can be restored.

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 07:52 AM

^^ Cheers man.

Hopefully many can be restored. Cant think that far ahead yet. Its like each our we find out something else has been demolished. Theres always the hope an exact replica can be put back in its place, as mention by Alfie; Dresden, Warsaw, Ypres etc. For now no-one can think that far ahead. If its unsafe in its current state its gotta come down. The main thing right now is to have the city centre open for business again.

Some things have been lost on the peninsula too;

Duvauchelle Hotel. Apparently oldest pub on the island. Always tried to stop here for meal on way to Akaroa.

:ohno:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/3598879067_3880c9e491.jpg

Cartel

September 7th, 2010, 08:53 AM

There's going to be somthing on TV1 tonight about what could happen to all our old beauties, (right now actuall) for all those interested. Or on tvnz.co.nz at 19:00 NZST for those overseas.

Milan I have also heard rumours about Westpac HQ, hard to imagine, that thing looks like a solid bitch.

By any means, if the government are prepared to fork out $1.6b to a finaince company, they sure as hell better be contributing whatever it takes to restore CHC and it's sattelites, regardless if it costs twice is much, over 10% of NZ live in CHC & surrounding mid Canterbury, and even more of the national economy.

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 10:18 AM

1905-2010 :ohno:

New Zealand Express Company

When completed was the tallest building in the country.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc6/IMG0005.jpg

Do you know - out of spite to the NZ Historic Places Trust - I would want the building rebuilt with all modern materials. It so against their policy to do that - but f..k them - and infact any building of historic significance - I'd love to see rebuilt - they could be a new living testament to what was there before hand.

This is just one example of the pain we will all feel from this earthquake :ohno::ohno:

Cartel

September 7th, 2010, 10:29 AM

KaneD

September 7th, 2010, 10:41 AM

Yesterday and today I went into the exclusion zone to check over some computer systems at clients in the CBD. I've also talked to a couple of property managers in the Chch commercial property market and unfortunately things are getting a little grim.

1) PriceWaterHouseCoopers Centre - 20 Floor Tower in Armagh St

This building is labelled Green - Unrestricted Access permitted.

2) Forsyth Barr House - ~18 Floor Tower in Armagh St

This building is Yellow. Two people I've talked to including a client who works in the building say that engineers opened an access door to the lift shafts on around the 10th floor and closed it again and promptly left the building deciding that it was bad enough to decide to not risk going higher. It is expected that the building will be repaired.

3) Westpac Building ~ 15 level building in Cashel St

This is Yellow - Apparently this building has moderate structural issues and fractures with the support pillars on the outside of the building. It's not known how severe but due to the size of the building, it is likely that it will be repaired.

4) Chch Cathedral (Anglican)

This has a good size crack in it that has developed over night. Presumably the significant iconic status of the building would attract a "we must repair this at all costs" funding status.

5) New Zealand Express Company Building - Manchester St - 7 levels

This is labelled - RED... condemned and all entry is prohibited. This 1906 icon on Manchester St is one of the few 'nice' buildings of any significant size on this street. This will be possibly one of the saddest losses to the Chch skyline. When completed in 1906, it was NZ's tallest "office skyscraper". It has severe structural problems with the pillars supporting it and a decision will be made tomorrow for certain but is looks as though it will be consigned to the history books. Rest in pieces....

6) Copthorne Durham St - ~12 levels?

Classified Yellow - Restricted use order which allows access for staff to recover, repair and perform minimal operations. Public access is not permitted. The building has cracks in the basement and will likely be fixed.

7) St Johns Church - Hororata

Possible to repair but due to the likely ongoing problems and overall weakening, it will certainly be demolished.

This is so sad... of course this is only the tip of the iceberg as there are many dozens of other buildings that have been damaged which may well prove to be fatal.

Hopefully experts won't get to hasty in sending the 'dozers in to finish them and that they will use due diligence in ensuring that a sensible decision is made whether to retain or demolish

Lets hope that this will inspire developers to rebuild the city to a new level of standards in both earthquake resilience, but also architecturally. Christchurch stood to lose a lot on 4 September, lets hope our fathers do what they can to protect what we still have.

flyin_higher

September 7th, 2010, 11:51 AM

A sad day for the city of Christchurch, especially regarding the MLC Bldg :(

Like all of you guys, I sincerely wish that whatever replaces these soon-to-be-demo'd buildings is of a high architectural standard, and can be future landmarks for the city.

Cartel

September 7th, 2010, 12:07 PM

This is so sad... of course this is only the tip of the iceberg as there are many dozens of other buildings that have been damaged which may well prove to be fatal.

Hopefully experts won't get to hasty in sending the 'dozers in to finish them and that they will use due diligence in ensuring that a sensible decision is made whether to retain or demolish

.

This is what I'm most concerned with. Does any one know what is in to deal with these situations.... we have had several historic buildings go under the digger... is it only the engineers that currently have a say on this?

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 02:49 PM

They had better rebuild this one Davee, and Cranmer courts, like Milan did say we have so many amazing old buildings here, but can't afford to lose ANY more than what we already have, now and over the years. With all the effort that people have already put in to saving them before all this shit...

Hear, Hear Cartel..............we CANNOT afford to loose heritage buildings, the knock on effect, for the people and visitors of this city..........well, I don't even want to think about it :ohno:

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 02:51 PM

KD - thanks for that insightful update.......do keep us posted on any news you get, factual information is so much better for the moral than gossip!

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 03:04 PM

KIWIKAAS

September 7th, 2010, 03:13 PM

Really sad about the beautiful historic buildings.
Hopefully the funds can be generated to rebuild/retore the architectural gems of Christchurch.
Shame the the westpac centre isn't on the demo list.

eastadl

September 7th, 2010, 03:15 PM

Im not even a kiwi, but every time I look at this thread I feel like Im gonna cry. I hate seeing history wrecked

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 06:21 PM

Im not even a kiwi, but every time I look at this thread I feel like Im gonna cry. I hate seeing history wrecked

Hey you - sister city links and you have been here...:cry:

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 06:24 PM

http://file2.stuff.co.nz/1283823155/875/4103875.jpg

St Paul's RC Church in Dallington - not a gem, but an important place for the community - the school attached is also damaged and may need to be pulled down and rebuilt :(

Davee

September 7th, 2010, 07:07 PM

As Cartel and KD have pointed out, this beautful church of St John's Hororata has extensive damage. I can't find the picture I saw of it, but the bell tower is collapsed and crashed through the lower part of the nave.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/selwyn/P7240251.jpg

http://www.blogaboutnz.com/wedding/images/st%20john%20hororata.jpg

Sacred Heart, Have Mercy....:cripes:

I found it on Wikipeadia...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Damage_from_the_2010_Canterbury_earthquake_in_Hororata.jpg/800px-Damage_from_the_2010_Canterbury_earthquake_in_Hororata.jpg

Haydss

September 7th, 2010, 11:03 PM

Hi guys, wow, nasty aftershock this morning an hour or so ago, only 5.1 on the scale but centred closer to the city and very shallow at 6km. Felt like the worst since the 7.1 and more breakage in our house in beckenham. Scary as....

So i'd say the list is set to get much bigger thanks to it. Rumours of cracks appearing in previously untouched hotel rooms etc. Looks to have been centred in the heathcote valley in a possibly DIFFERENT fault line.

Milan Luka

September 7th, 2010, 11:22 PM

Been evacuated again. Bookcase nearly took out my son. Cracking has appeared in our building.

Homeless.

Our street has been closed. Looks like St Elmos Court is in serious danger, saw things falling off it.. Police emergency vehicles everywhere.

Haydss

September 7th, 2010, 11:52 PM

Sorry to hear that ML

Davee

September 8th, 2010, 12:43 AM

Luka - I'm so sorry to hear this........so so sorry...just take care of Alex.

I've just been on the phone to my mum, she phoned just after the big jolt, crying - she's at home on her own......I feel so useless..........hang in there everyone.

Haydss

September 8th, 2010, 01:25 AM

Reports are coming out that there may be cracking in the Lytellton Road tunnel and it has been closed while it is checked. The state of emergency in CHCH has been extended by seven days.

CULWULLA

September 8th, 2010, 01:31 AM

really sad state of affairs

Indictable

September 8th, 2010, 03:40 AM

My roof has been pulled outta place...

Svartmetall

September 8th, 2010, 03:49 AM

Fantastic Mr. Fox

September 8th, 2010, 06:38 AM

KIWIKAAS

September 8th, 2010, 09:00 AM

That's nasty ML. I hope they put you 2 up somewhere good in the meantime :(

Davee

September 8th, 2010, 10:35 AM

That's nasty ML. I hope they put you 2 up somewhere good in the meantime :(

I hope you get some decent sleep tonight ML and that you can get back to your place sometime soon. You live in a great place and great spot - I look forward to having a beer with you while admiring the views. Thinking of you and all the others :)

Davee

September 8th, 2010, 10:38 AM

My gossip on the Westpac Building is that it will be able to be repaired, but the bank's lease is up in 12 months and has now decided to move to a new building.

So, all those that missed out on BNZ now have a chance to secure Westpac - who occupy a much larger amount of floorspace. We'll wait and see...

Interesting stuff. Who would want to move into a earthquake damaged building like that I wonder?

Where would Westpac go? Where is the BNZ now? Could this mean the Press sites and Victoria Square sites may get the development they are after?

However, the loss of such a major tenant in such a big building will be a real blow for the City Mall area...

Nuwanda

September 8th, 2010, 12:20 PM

Svartmetall

September 8th, 2010, 12:27 PM

Get the government out of the way!

The roads are full of private contractors from all parts making their way to ChCh to aid the rebuild.

Yes, it's all for money, but that is the correct impetus, and that's what will rebuild this wonderful city.

I'm encouraged by PM Key's desire to forego building consents. I say make it permanent! Would anyone really notice if we tore up the RMA in the confusion? Fuck 'em all. Build!

Erm, if they forego building consents then you could end up with disasterpieces in the middle of your city. Isn't it best to have a measured, considered and thoughtful approach to rebuilding rather than simply a lick-of-paint and slapdash and improperly thought out rebuild?

May I point out that the private sector which you are setting so much store by does not necessarily have the city's best interests at heart.

Davee

September 8th, 2010, 02:17 PM

Spot on Svarty - the rebuilding of CHC is a positive opportunity to take a relook at the city. NZ is full of ugly, uninspiring box building shit. He is a chance to take a leaf out of some of the wonderful urban regeneration that you see all over Europe for example.

Nuwanda - I could disagree with you more :ohno:

inhenriq

September 8th, 2010, 07:49 PM

KaneD

September 8th, 2010, 10:34 PM

Terrible loss for Christchurch. But over here in Chile, in some of my architechture university classes, we've been wondering; how come you've had so many relatively newly built buildings having so much damage, like the office tower that someone in this thread hates and thought it wasn't that much of a bad news. We ask because NZ is a shaky country and one would have expected, specially since you are way more developed than we are, that developers would build strong constructions to withstand a 7.0 earthquake. 7.0 is a strong tremor, but not that strong of an earthquake.

But after all, we are very happy over here you had our same luck as it was in the middle of the night, and thanks God you didn't have any casualties or a tsunami. Just very sorry for all the personal loss many of you may be going through, and the heritage loss you are now facing.

Regards. Nacho.

Actually, what one hears on the news/websites and what one sees as reality is often quite different. Obviously it is in the media's interests to show all the carnage because human nature is such that we like to look at negative events on the TV.

In reality, of all the buildings built in the CBD that are built in the last say 40 years are generally fine. Of importance, it is worth noting that there are NO BUILDINGS in the CBD under 40 years old that have been condemned to demolition.

There is a lot of confusion circulating around the town about buildings that are damaged because the current emergency response in the CBD is that if there are cracks in anything structural, then the building MUST be evacuated until engineers certify that the cracks aren't a significant problem.

Cracks were found in the Forsyth Barr tower, the NewsTalk ZB tower and a number of other modern buildings and as a result, they've been evacuated and assessed. As a result, some have assumed that "The building has been evacuated so it means that it has damage beyond repair and the building will demolished" - Not true at all.

At this stage, the ONLY significant modern building that seems to be a problem is the Westpac building. That isn't to say that is is condemned. All it means is that engineers have identified a number of issues that need to be investigated further and probably remedial action taken. It actually doesn't really even mean that the building is in a worse state than other buildings because the building has quite a different structural design than most other buildings and it could simply be that further checks need to be done. With the large number of buildings to check, they just need to move on to the next building and then come back to the Westpac building later.

When I walked around the exclusion zone on a job on Tuesday, it was actually remarkable how many really really old buildings including ones that have not had ANY structural strengthening done in decades which have stood up without any damage at all.

In all, the vast majority of buildings are limited to superficial damage and have been given the Green placard (All clear for unrestricted use). Most of the rest of the buildings are safe to enter for restricted use (Yellow Placard) and can be entered to retrieve valuables and company documentation, or have minimal staff working in to perform critical functions. Presumably these buildings will have minor issues that will be repaired. Only 5 percent of buildings have been given a Red Placard which means that the building must not be entered because there is real risk to life. These buildings have structural damage or other issues that make it unsafe to enter - This DOES NOT mean the building will be flattened. It is expected that at least half, if not more will be able to be repaired. From my observation, ALL red buildings are old buildings.

Perhaps it is because our buildings are so robust and have withstood the quakes so well that we resulted in NO loss of life. Sure the time of day would have helped immensely but it is hard to suggest that our buildings are poorly built in any way.

On the residential building front, the vast majority of damage (if any at all) that people have suffered is brick chimneys falling down. Again, most of these chimneys are on older buildings. There are a number of large brick fences around too that have been damaged.

There are a good number of residential buildings, including some brand new ones that hare probably written off. Again, this doesn't mean that they are poorly designed and poorly built, it has much to do with TWO things:

1) The land the building is on - Out here in Rolleston where most houses are under 10 years old, most land is a big old river bed - very hard and stony. Almost all buildings are untouched. In Bexley, a suburb in town, the suburb is on a historically very swampy bit of land. Most of the houses, all new, will be demolished. That is because the land has subsided and liquified at varying amounts across each section causing the foundation and walls to break apart.

2) The way the earth moved - In most areas, the earth moved in one piece underneath their houses. In other areas, the earth twisted in two different ways underneath them. You can see evidence of this in Kaiapoi (nearby town to Chch) where two identical houses - one next to another. One is fine because the earth moved in one piece. The other will be demolished because under one half of the house, the earth moved one direction, the other half of the house, it moved the other direction. As a result, the house was ripped apart. In all honesty, I don't see how ANY house no matter how well it's built would withstand that.

Davee

September 9th, 2010, 09:35 AM

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1284008407/056/4113056.jpg

Cartel

September 9th, 2010, 10:39 AM

Me older sister has been given her last few hours in her gorgeous old home.. condemned is the word they used.

KaneD

September 9th, 2010, 11:02 AM

^^ That is so sad Cartel... I feel very sorry for anyone who will lose their home as a result of all this.

Cartel

September 9th, 2010, 11:06 AM

Me too man, although happy go lucky only one person died, there's a hell of a lot of people out there that aren't actually doing too well right now, losing your home or business is not cool in the slightest.

Svartmetall

September 9th, 2010, 12:27 PM

Me older sister has been given her last few hours in her gorgeous old home.. condemned is the word they used.

Sorry to hear that mate. :(

Davee

September 9th, 2010, 01:26 PM

My roof has been pulled outta place...

How's your parents Roof Indy?

Cartel - sorry to hear about your sisters home - I hope they resettle in a lovely home soon.

Luka - how's everything going in at yours.

The rest of you - are you all ok - any damage??

Milan Luka

September 9th, 2010, 11:00 PM

Hey Cartel sorry to hear about your sisters home.

Davee, ours is relatively ok. Many cracks appeared on Wednesday mornings big one (?). Going up to Hanmer for a couple of days respite. Wont move out unless told its unsafe to stay. Assessors are coming on Monday to suss it out. I think we'll be ok, reckon the cracks just look worse than they actually are.

Davee

September 9th, 2010, 11:41 PM

My goodness - the damage at the University of Canterbury :ohno:

inhenriq

September 10th, 2010, 03:07 AM

Actually, what one hears on the news/websites and what one sees as reality is often quite different. Obviously it is in the media's interests to show all the carnage because human nature is such that we like to look at negative events on the TV.

In reality, of all the buildings built in the CBD that are built in the last say 40 years are generally fine. Of importance, it is worth noting that there are NO BUILDINGS in the CBD under 40 years old that have been condemned to demolition.

There is a lot of confusion circulating around the town about buildings that are damaged because the current emergency response in the CBD is that if there are cracks in anything structural, then the building MUST be evacuated until engineers certify that the cracks aren't a significant problem.

Cracks were found in the Forsyth Barr tower, the NewsTalk ZB tower and a number of other modern buildings and as a result, they've been evacuated and assessed. As a result, some have assumed that "The building has been evacuated so it means that it has damage beyond repair and the building will demolished" - Not true at all.

At this stage, the ONLY significant modern building that seems to be a problem is the Westpac building. That isn't to say that is is condemned. All it means is that engineers have identified a number of issues that need to be investigated further and probably remedial action taken. It actually doesn't really even mean that the building is in a worse state than other buildings because the building has quite a different structural design than most other buildings and it could simply be that further checks need to be done. With the large number of buildings to check, they just need to move on to the next building and then come back to the Westpac building later.

When I walked around the exclusion zone on a job on Tuesday, it was actually remarkable how many really really old buildings including ones that have not had ANY structural strengthening done in decades which have stood up without any damage at all.

In all, the vast majority of buildings are limited to superficial damage and have been given the Green placard (All clear for unrestricted use). Most of the rest of the buildings are safe to enter for restricted use (Yellow Placard) and can be entered to retrieve valuables and company documentation, or have minimal staff working in to perform critical functions. Presumably these buildings will have minor issues that will be repaired. Only 5 percent of buildings have been given a Red Placard which means that the building must not be entered because there is real risk to life. These buildings have structural damage or other issues that make it unsafe to enter - This DOES NOT mean the building will be flattened. It is expected that at least half, if not more will be able to be repaired. From my observation, ALL red buildings are old buildings.

Perhaps it is because our buildings are so robust and have withstood the quakes so well that we resulted in NO loss of life. Sure the time of day would have helped immensely but it is hard to suggest that our buildings are poorly built in any way.

On the residential building front, the vast majority of damage (if any at all) that people have suffered is brick chimneys falling down. Again, most of these chimneys are on older buildings. There are a number of large brick fences around too that have been damaged.

There are a good number of residential buildings, including some brand new ones that hare probably written off. Again, this doesn't mean that they are poorly designed and poorly built, it has much to do with TWO things:

1) The land the building is on - Out here in Rolleston where most houses are under 10 years old, most land is a big old river bed - very hard and stony. Almost all buildings are untouched. In Bexley, a suburb in town, the suburb is on a historically very swampy bit of land. Most of the houses, all new, will be demolished. That is because the land has subsided and liquified at varying amounts across each section causing the foundation and walls to break apart.

2) The way the earth moved - In most areas, the earth moved in one piece underneath their houses. In other areas, the earth twisted in two different ways underneath them. You can see evidence of this in Kaiapoi (nearby town to Chch) where two identical houses - one next to another. One is fine because the earth moved in one piece. The other will be demolished because under one half of the house, the earth moved one direction, the other half of the house, it moved the other direction. As a result, the house was ripped apart. In all honesty, I don't see how ANY house no matter how well it's built would withstand that.

thanks for your answer!

Milan Luka

September 14th, 2010, 09:42 AM

Found on the libraries website, what a great photo.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc12/IMG0038.jpg

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc12/IMG0038.jpg

Unfortunately the Wesleyan Mission has been badly damaged. I heard today it only needs another 5.5 and it will likely not be repearable.

Also, I found out today that there are still no Post Offices operating in the city centre. The buildings that house them are damaged. Yet the old Chief Post Office in Cathedral Square is still standing and all businesses in there are fine. I suppose its more important that we have that Starbucks that took over the space fully operational.

Davee

September 14th, 2010, 10:50 AM

The first stone church in Canterbury! It was ment to have spires, but they thought they would delay putting them up because of - you guessed it - earthquakes.

It must be saved - it's a to important a building to see go. I don't care if they unpick it like lego and put it back together again - anything other than a dull box of which we have so many of in CHC at the moment.

Milan Luka

September 14th, 2010, 10:56 AM

Davee

September 14th, 2010, 11:33 AM

^^ I saw it today and although at first glance it looks ok-ish, get closer and its in an incredibly bad state. Huge cracks all throughout the building.

And yes your right Davee, we certainly have the money to fix these important iconic buildings. Politicians love to cry poor when it suits them.

I can't wait for you and me (and a tag along if he want's) to do a full recky of the place in November - I'll provide all the food and refreshment stops - you do the leading - I'll bring the tissues and camera - we can dream and plan for the future!

Milan Luka

September 14th, 2010, 11:54 AM

^^ hehehe. You might not remember but Christchurch is a very spread out city and theres been a fair whack of damage mate. Might take more than one sortee!

:)

Davee

September 14th, 2010, 01:53 PM

^^ hehehe. You might not remember but Christchurch is a very spread out city and theres been a fair whack of damage mate. Might take more than one sortee!

:)

Hoorah! :)

MattTheTubaGuy

September 18th, 2010, 04:55 AM

I walked through the city today. the Westpac building looks bad actually. large chunks of concrete have come off on the vertical cylincer structure, and you can actually see the rebar in some cases.

the 7 floor New Zealand Express Company building doesn't appear too damaged. there is a visible crack running up the south brick wall, and a few windows are broken. the whole intersection there is cordoned off, so obviously it is actually quite bad, and that there is a reasonable risk that a large aftershock could cause it to collapse.:ohno:

sorry, no photos, but I will try get some next time I go in.

I think we are very lucky this wasn't the 'Big One', which would have done a lot more damage.:)

Milan Luka

September 21st, 2010, 10:34 PM

^^ While some buildings are still half standing/big piles of rubble its eerie to see all these empty lots around the cbd now. Victoria Street looks like a mouth with heaps of teeth punched out.

One thing that has really saddened me is all the great restaurants and cafes that we have lost.... The only positive thing I can think about that is the ones that remain open are all doing a roaring trade. Although that doesnt help those that have gone outta business, wonder what all the hospo staff are doing now?

Davee

September 25th, 2010, 04:36 PM

Any damage after last nights 3 rumbles? Hope you are all ok guys x

jarden

September 29th, 2010, 10:22 AM

Any more significant buildings come down recently?

Milan Luka

September 29th, 2010, 10:32 AM

Any damage after last nights 3 rumbles? Hope you are all ok guys x

Saturday nights quakes were real doozies. Had me thinking the worse was on its way. To the best of my knowledge only the Romanian Orthodox was damaged further that night.

Any more significant buildings come down recently?

Not that Im aware of. There are still plenty of half destroyed buildings on Manchester and also Colombo in Sydenham. Victoria Street looks just naked now with all those vacant lots. Apart from that I havent been out to investigate this week.

MattTheTubaGuy

October 1st, 2010, 11:05 AM

here is a photo of the Westpac building, where you can see the chunks of concrete missing.
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/6812/westpacbuilding.th.jpg (http://img826.imageshack.us/i/westpacbuilding.jpg/)
and a close up shot of the damage where you can see the rebar.
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/3625/concretemissing.th.jpg (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/concretemissing.jpg/)

also here is a before shot (http://maps.google.co.nz/?ie=UTF8&ll=-43.594235,172.218767&spn=0,0.002411&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=-43.594372,172.218716&panoid=4ob25QfZ7CwWRNQPLiuQPA&cbp=12,106.21,,0,-6.31) (Google street view)
and here is an after shot. notice how flat it used to be!
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6522/crack4c.th.jpg (http://img694.imageshack.us/i/crack4c.jpg/)http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1051/crack3.th.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/crack3.jpg/)http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5305/crack2.th.jpg (http://img836.imageshack.us/i/crack2.jpg/)http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1020/crack1m.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/crack1m.jpg/)

HavanaClub

October 2nd, 2010, 12:27 PM

OK, this is a big moment - a decisions is about to be made about the NZ Express Company building (now called Manchester Courts). $10.3m to buy it, repair it, and strengthen it. Who can make it to the council meeting on Monday to plead the case? (I'm not in ChCh.) The staff are suggesting that it will be demolished because $10.3m is too expensive. That seems like a bargain to me. There are funds from central government, from the quake heritage fund, from Fletcher Challenge and from others. Can we get some momentum behind this before it is to late (i.e. Monday)???

1905-2010 :ohno:

New Zealand Express Company

When completed was the tallest building in the country.

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/photos/disc6/IMG0005.jpg

By GLENN CONWAY - The Press

The fate of six earthquake-damaged Christchurch heritage buildings will be decided by city councillors on Monday, with staff saying four are too expensive to repair.

Those under threat include Manchester Courts in Manchester St, the former Nurse Maude Association building in Madras St and two Sydenham retail properties in Colombo St.

Two others – the Ohinetahi property of architect Sir Miles Warren at Governors Bay and a former shoe-polish factory in Ferry Rd – have been recommended for full or partial restoration.

Detailed reports and heritage assessments on all six buildings will be debated at an extraordinary meeting of the council starting at 9.30am on Monday. It is expected to be the final meeting of the current council, with local body elections next Saturday.

All six buildings suffered extensive damage in the September 4 quake and have been off-limits.

Damage to Warren's Ohinetahi property had not affected its structural integrity, a report said. The report said Warren wanted the building demolished, but it recommended the council offer to work with him to retain it, in whole or in part, and to provide grant money to bridge any gap between insurance cover and the final repair cost.

Warren said yesterday that he wanted only unstable sections of the building demolished.

"We believe that part of the house needs to be demolished because it's about to collapse," he said. "Three-quarters of it will be retained."

Warren was surprised the report suggested he favoured demolition, saying he had not been told what was in the report.

"I've asked for speaking rights at the meeting. Presumably we'll find out more about this on Monday."

It was "extraordinary" that the council would debate the house's future without his knowledge, he said.

A council staff report on Manchester Courts said the owners wanted to demolish the building because they could not afford the estimated $8 million to stabilise, repair and strengthen it.

Demolition could take five weeks and affect between 40 and 50 nearby businesses that were already suffering.

New powers given to the council by the Government meant it could agree to demolition without consulting widely.

The report estimated it could cost $10.3m for the council to buy Manchester Courts and repair and strengthen it.

The owners of the former Nurse Maude building also wanted consent to demolish the property. A report said strengthening could cost $500,000.

Assessments of the damaged block of Sydenham shops at 461-469 Colombo St said the roof had collapsed and other parts were "beyond repair".

A council report said "given significant damage to the building, it would not be economically viable to restore and strengthen ... as there would be a substantial gap between any insurance cover and the costs of restoration".

The same findings were reached on the Frame Building at 456 Colombo St.

However, council staff said strengthening the Ferry Rd factory was possible. The council might investigate helping the owners bring the structure up to new earthquake-strengthening standa

HavanaClub

October 2nd, 2010, 01:33 PM

Milan Luka

October 4th, 2010, 08:59 AM

@ MattTheTubaGuy: nice one man, thx for the photos. Really appreciated.

@ Havana Club: great work, I heard about the meeting today, I'll fire off a couple of emails though. Here's hoping fingers crossed etc etc.

Also as a result of the aftershocks half a block of High (btw St Asaph & Tuam, opp Jazz School) were closed this morning. Nine businesses ordered to shut up shop immediately.

Svartmetall

October 4th, 2010, 01:15 PM

Hope you're okay after this last big aftershock just recently, everyone. :(

KaneD

October 4th, 2010, 09:21 PM

Big picture: the cost of buying and repairing this building represents about 0.3% of the total cost of the earthquake. It is not an extravagance - it is absolutely worth it for the future of the city and is a small percentage of the overall cost.

I agree, it is vital that the city keeps and protects such heritage structures.

Still, the council has a duty of care to ensure that money is wisely allocated. Remember that 0.3% of $4bn is still a lot of cash and is money that was never budgeted for. This means that the money for this must come from somewhere else.

I'd personally like to see that this building (along with many others) do not get demolished, but I understand that it would be foolish for the council to rip shit and bust and throw good money which could be better spent elsewhere. Remember it is very easy to have a quick knee-jerk reaction over such things and it is important that we are realistic.

For what it's worth, $10m would go a long way to help protecting many other heritage buildings that luckily didn't fall victim to the quake but still need reinforcing anyway. If I were to choose from saving one (albeit very iconic building) for $10m, or protecting a good number of other buildings for the same money, then maybe it would be better to choose the latter option.

Still, I really do hope that a solution for this can be found.

Over and above this though, I really hope that whatever decision is made, some certainty can come out of this for all the business owners and their workers so that they too can move on. I feel very sorry for those whose livelihoods are on the block as a result of this.

woody

October 4th, 2010, 11:52 PM

Hi Luka, is this the block that could be demolished....

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010052.jpg

I shot this on our wander back in Jan, it should be saved .

Any news on these fine buildings ?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010059.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010029.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010055.jpg

Luka, any damage around Cathedral Square / Art Gallery !
You keep your tin hat on and stay safe. :cheers:

Marky Mark

October 5th, 2010, 12:26 AM

Did ya feel them Guys ? Ya all okay ? :cheers:

Milan Luka

October 5th, 2010, 10:32 AM

H guys, thanks for thinking about us.

Last nights little cluster of shakes certainly got us wondering again... Its wierd you get a 5, then a few minutes later a 4, then another. You're adrenaline is running because during those shakes you are wondering ... ok is this it.... do I need to dive under the table.

Then the quakes stop but your heart doesnt. Even though we didnt get any other quakes (thank God) you are left thinking, any... minute... now...????

So I ended up sleeping on the couch again last night in me clothes. Just in case.

Have felt a few smaller ones this afternoon and evening, I doubt they were any more than 3's but still enough to keep me on guard.

honeybear

October 5th, 2010, 10:32 AM

I am shocked to think that this building is being considered for demolition. It is iconic and we should be thanking our lucky stars that it didnt topple! I would happily let the other supposed heritage buildings go (dont even know what they are but suspect they are 1 or 2 storeyed run of the mill...) to save this. This building was built to replicate the first of the chicago skyscrapers at the turn of last century and put NZ construction on the map. It is known in the building industry within Australasia as iconic and I am just gob-smacked to think that it is even being considered for demolition. It can not be lumped in with those other forgettable brick shops that are of little importance! Come on Christchurch wake up and dont let this building be brought down!

Milan Luka

October 5th, 2010, 10:46 AM

Hi Luka, is this the block that could be demolished....

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010052.jpg

Hi Woody, Thanks for the emails. I cant wait to see Mann Island again. I'll def be staying at the Jury's next time. :lol:

That photo is beautiful. Really sad man, it looks like this one is definately a gonner.

I shot this on our wander back in Jan, it should be saved .

Any news on these fine buildings ?

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010059.jpg

:

Im not completely sure about these. I havent been down that way but seeing that end of Cashel Street from a distance last week there was a large area closed off on the opposite side of the street. Im confident these buildings are ok though, they were earthquake strengthened only a couple of years ago.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010029.jpg

:

Only minor damage to New Regent Street, its all back up and running there. HOWEVER! On that same block you can now see directly from Gloucester to Armagh Street. A couple of the older buildings have gone down, I think they were called Armagh Fair (?) and also a crappy old 24 bar next to Gloucester Arcade. We could end up with a whole new version of New Regent St.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010055.jpg

Luka, any damage around Cathedral Square / Art Gallery !
You keep your tin hat on and stay safe. :cheers:

That old pub was quietly waiting for the owners to redevelop. Once again Ive not been down this part of town, I really hope she's ok... If she withstood the initial Im not sure how she's handling the aftershocks.

As for the Square/Worcester Blvd. Mostly ok, just some fallen brickwork, cracked panels and broken glass. Everything got cleaned up pretty quickly. Im still not sure if the Press Building and the Base Backpackers have re-opened. Also, the residential homes around the Art gallery, well put it this way, no way has a chimney anymore. I even saw my neighbours lose one of theirs in an aftershock. That was surreal.

Cartel

October 6th, 2010, 05:56 AM

OK, I've found out what we can do -- assuming you'd like to help.

The following is a list of the email addresses of each of the councillors who will be attending the meeting at 9:30am on Monday to decide the fate of this building. If you want to express an opinion that it is worth saving this building *please* email them on SUNDAY.

I am going to say something along the lines that this quake has cost $4,000m or so, and despite having substantial damage to my family's property, what really gets me riled up is the loss of historical buildings in the fabric of Christchurch, and in particular Manchester Courts. Big picture: the cost of buying and repairing this building represents about 0.3% of the total cost of the earthquake. It is not an extravagance - it is absolutely worth it for the future of the city and is a small percentage of the overall cost. I'm sure that if the council reaches out, the rest of NZ will help - not just for this building but the businesses around it that will need to stay closed while it is being refurbished to its former glory.

If you do email - and please do - please say it in your own words so that they don't think this is some sort of email spam.

If you are really passionate, you can also call them. The link at the bottom contains each of their contact phone details. (I love NZ, how councillors are comfortable posting their private contact details on the web -- however they wouldn't post them if they didn't want people to contact them and if ever there was the time to do so.....)

Bob Parker
bob.parker@ccc.govt.nz
Helen Broughton
helen.broughton@ccc.govt.nz
Sally Buck
sally.buck@ccc.govt.nz
Ngaire Button
ngaire.button@ccc.govt.nz
Barry Corbett
barry.corbett@ccc.govt.nz
David Cox
david.cox@ccc.govt.nz
Yani Johanson
yani.johanson@ccc.govt.nz
Claudia Reid
claudia.reid@ccc.govt.nz
Bob Shearing
bob.shearing@ccc.govt.nz
Gail Sheriff
gail.sheriff@ccc.govt.nz
Mike Wall
mike.wall@ccc.govt.nz
Sue Wells
sue.wells@ccc.govt.nz
Chrissie Williams
chrissie.williams@ccc.govt.nz
Norm Withers
norm.withers@ccc.govt.nz

Telephone numbers can be found here: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/co...ors/index.aspx

Finally, if you are as concerned as me, please spread the word in this email in any way you can TODAY, i.e. SUNDAY, so that others may contact them too.

I am shocked to think that this building is being considered for demolition. It is iconic and we should be thanking our lucky stars that it didnt topple! I would happily let the other supposed heritage buildings go (dont even know what they are but suspect they are 1 or 2 storeyed run of the mill...) to save this. This building was built to replicate the first of the chicago skyscrapers at the turn of last century and put NZ construction on the map. It is known in the building industry within Australasia as iconic and I am just gob-smacked to think that it is even being considered for demolition. It can not be lumped in with those other forgettable brick shops that are of little importance! Come on Christchurch wake up and dont let this building be brought down!

You guys are dead right, surely they can fork out the $10 mil to save this beauty, even if they did undergo a lengthy demolition and rebuild on site... how much does an 8 storey tower cost? Surely you're not going to get much change from $10m. They shouldn't even be considering deomolition, this building is an icon!

Any news from Mondays meeting?

Milan Luka

October 6th, 2010, 10:13 AM

^^
Hi Luka, is this the block that could be demolished....

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/liverpool%202010/ChchwithLuka13-1-2010052.jpg

Comfirmation came through today that this building will be demolished. Apparently structurally it is far too undermined and is a death trap. It was said its at imminent risk of complete collapse, considering we are frequently getting still 4 and 5 earthquakes I tend to believe that as well.

Its beautiful and iconic as this building is its not worth anyones life. Tbh it probably should have collapsed on Sept 4. Consider also that any work to fix this will close the intersection for months, have an adverse effect on all busineeses around it.

However, Im all for a complete copy rising on the site. Doubt thats ever going to happen unfortunately.

Also drove past the Methodist Church today, large chunks of the facade and roof have fallen away. Not sure exactly when it happened but was still relatively intact on Saturday.

flyin_higher

October 6th, 2010, 11:29 AM

Gah! That's sad news :( Hopefully a full rebuild is in the pipeline..

palmheads

October 6th, 2010, 09:38 PM

Council can't win in this situation. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Sadly, i think the right decision was made. Hopefully a little more effort can go into building something really good there.

palmheads

October 6th, 2010, 09:39 PM

woody

October 7th, 2010, 01:00 AM

^^

Comfirmation came through today that this building will be demolished. Apparently structurally it is far too undermined and is a death trap. It was said its at imminent risk of complete collapse, considering we are frequently getting still 4 and 5 earthquakes I tend to believe that as well.

Its beautiful and iconic as this building is its not worth anyones life. Tbh it probably should have collapsed on Sept 4. Consider also that any work to fix this will close the intersection for months, have an adverse effect on all busineeses around it. .

Thanks for the info, Luka, very sad that this block must come down.
Also cheers for the rundown of heritage stock in other areas.

fozzy

October 7th, 2010, 10:29 AM

Such a shame that this building will be demolished! Hope they rebuild in the same design but with the top more like the original design of this building.

Svartmetall

October 7th, 2010, 10:39 AM

Such a shame it is going...

Cartel

October 7th, 2010, 11:03 PM

Lyttelton Port's container terminal will continue to sink for up to three years and about 40 per of its wharves have major damage.

Chief executive Peter Davie said Gladstone Pier, the worst hit, would have to be demolished along with a cool-store facility onsite. "The floor looks likes a rollercoaster," he said.

Yesterday, the pier was riddled with cracks, which in some places have pushed up large slabs of concrete up to 40cm apart, revealing the water beneath.

A weatherboard lighthouse built in 1878 sits at the end of pier, balancing at a precarious angle.

At Cashin Quay, where coal and other goods were unloaded, the three berths had been able to accept all ships despite quake damage but had been running at only 65 per cent capacity, he said.

Half the quay had slumped about 30cm, opening cracks that had left the surface weakened and unable to handle heavy loads.

While the port had remained remarkably functional after the quake, the cost of the damage was being constantly reassessed as cracks widened.

The port, which was fully insured, had previously estimated the damage bill to be more than $50 million but yesterday Mr Davie said it was impossible to tell until the dust had settled.

This was partly because the container terminal sitting in reclaimed land had already slumped between 20 and 30cm and would continue to sink for up three years.

That would cause fresh distortions and cracks that would eventually require the entire surface to be replaced.

"It's like soil has been thrown into the air and now it's settling."

Despite the destruction, Mr Davie said the quake had a silver lining, allowing expansion and beautification plans intended over the next three years to be brought forward as part of the rebuild.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce visited the port yesterday and commended it for opening quickly after the quake. Fairfax

MattTheTubaGuy

October 8th, 2010, 02:00 AM

^^

Also drove past the Methodist Church today, large chunks of the facade and roof have fallen away. Not sure exactly when it happened but was still relatively intact on Saturday.

this (http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3382676g.html) probably. that was one hell of a shake!:ohno:

I think something similar to the extension to the Warners Hotel at the new Novotel would be nice.
build it out of precast concrete pieces with similar shapes, which would mean not as much detailing, but I think that would be better than a boring brick. paint it the same colours, and build it taller, perhaps 10 to 12 floors.:)

buildemhigh

October 8th, 2010, 04:51 AM

this (http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3382676g.html) probably. that was one hell of a shake!:ohno:

I think something similar to the extension to the Warners Hotel at the new Novotel would be nice.
build it out of precast concrete pieces with similar shapes, which would mean not as much detailing, but I think that would be better than a boring brick. paint it the same colours, and build it taller, perhaps 10 to 12 floors.:)

i agree.. I actually really like the warners extn...

KaneD

October 9th, 2010, 09:21 AM

HavanaClub

October 9th, 2010, 01:26 PM

Agree, it would be impractical to build a complete replica of the MLC tower, but not entirely out of the question. Many European cities rebuilt large areas to original designs (Warsaw in Poland for example).

If they build a modern building with floor plates close to the old building, then it really only comes down to whether some sort of cladding can be made and attached that looks like the original. For that matter, it's no different than getting tilt slab concrete with a pattern etched out on it.

Failing that, if they can at least build something with similar lines as the old one like what they did with the Novotel extension, that would be acceptable.

But they should build it say 10-12 floors height and the top 2-3 floors can be an "earthquake museum" and cafe for visitors with a "rumble room" better than the one at Te Papa.

KaneD - I'm not clear what you are saying -- you're not saying you would like to see a 12-storey tilt-slab builting, like with faux turrets and painted-on bricks??

That would just double the tragedy to me - and there are some absolutely horrific examples of this sort of thing in ChCh. I'd rather see another Wilsons car park with weeds growing through it (which, let's be honest, is the most likely outcome).

Davee

October 15th, 2010, 12:18 AM

The Press

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1284158965/600/4119600.jpg

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1287016941/170/4233170.jpg
Barbed wire now surrounds the condemned Manchester Courts building on Manchester St.

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1287011670/742/4232742.jpg
A drawing of how the Manchester Courts building could look restored, provided by Donnithorne Architects.

The owner of Manchester Courts is proceeding with the demolition of his building in spite of protests from concerned heritage groups.

A group of residents is campaigning to stop the demolition of Manchester Courts, pending further investigation by engineers.

But the building owner warns it could collapse at any time.

Richard Peebles was in urgent talks with city council engineers this afternoon to fast-track its demolition.

An emotional Peebles told The Press this afternoon that yesterday's aftershocks had further damaged the structure and advice from Auckland University's department of civil and environmental engineering warned the seven-storey building was showing significant signs of "impending failure.''

The Christchurch City Council last week agreed to issue a demolition warrant for the 104-year-old building and the fi al terms of that agreemet were being finalised today but Peebles said the council needed to be told about the latest damage immediately because of the risk of it collapsing without warning.

The council met with Peebles this afternoon, but decided against withdrawing the building's demolition warrant.

Peebles said the demolition would proceed.

A group of heritage enthusiasts and others have launched a campaign to try and stop the building from being demolished.

The Christchurch Civic Trust has advertised in today's Press urging concerned Cantabrians to write to Mayor Bob Parker and the Christchurch City Council to "demand a stop to the demolition of Manchester Courts".

Davee

October 15th, 2010, 12:24 AM

The Press

A last-ditch campaign to save a Christchurch heritage building could be too late, with demolition expected to start as early as today.

Manchester Courts co-owner Richard Peebles and heritage supporters yesterday traded verbal blows over whether the earthquake-damaged property should be demolished or saved.

An urgent meeting between Peebles and Christchurch City Council engineers yesterday agreed the demolition of the 104-year-old building should continue.

Truck-loads of earth for a six-metre bund to contain debris began arriving late yesterday.

Southern Demolition director Alan Edge said the building was "deteriorating as we speak".

The six-week demolition was to start next Tuesday, but might begin today, he said.

That followed engineering advice to Peebles that warned columns bowing outwards were a "sign of impending failure".

The key argument regarding demolition hinged on whether there were steel columns throughout the seven-storey building.

Auckland University's faculty of engineering approached Peebles to study how the building survived the earthquake on September 4.

In an email this week associate professor Dr Charles Clifton said signs of bowing "would not be occurring if there was a steel column embedded in the perimeter frame piers".

Peebles, who appeared exhausted and close to tears when talking to The Press yesterday, said extensive tests could not confirm any steel framing above the bottom two levels. Those calling for the building to be saved were "kidding themselves", he said.

More extensive cracks had appeared on the building's south side since Wednesday's aftershocks, and he was worried its columns were gradually failing.

"It really could go at any time. That's why we need to urgently start demolition so we can at least control how it comes down."

Groups including the Christchurch Civic Trust and the ICON residents' group took out an advertisement in The Press yesterday, urging people to email the council and demand a halt to the building's demolition.

The groups argued the building was designed with "extensive use of steel internally" and an independent engineering survey was needed. They said the council relied on the reports of one engineer, Queenstown-based Warwick Weber. Weber could not be reached yesterday.

Christchurch Civic Trust deputy chairman Neil Roberts said it was "inconceivable" the building designers, the Luttrell brothers, would have built the tall building without "careful consideration" of earthquake risks.

"It was designed only four years after the 6.9 [magnitude] earthquake which took the top off the [Christ Church] Cathedral spire. Why would this technologically sophisticated architectural firm place a structurally weak upper five storeys on a massive reinforced concrete lower section?"

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Christchurch architect Don Donnithorne yesterday suggested a temporary solution to the building's precarious state, involving metal panels to brace the exterior facades, and stiffening work around the inner core.

Donnithorne said he was "passionate" about the building.

"They would be most unwise to knock it down," he said.

"I don't think [the owners] are aware of the depth of feeling about this and the background to the building."

Council regulation and democracy general manager Peter Mitchell, who was acting chief executive when the warrant was approved, said the council could reconsider its decision, but "no new engineering advice has come to hand and we are dealing with public safety".

Meanwhile, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust said the situation highlighted the need for councils and heritage-building owners to work together.

Southern region general manager Malcolm Duff said it was clear the council's decision was made "with great reluctance".

"Few wish to see this building lost, and it's been an emotional decision for many."

The trust had encouraged the council to get more detailed engineering information on the building's structure so any decisions were made on the best evidence. This information indicated there was no internal steel structure.

See tomorrow's Mainlander for a look at the effects of the September 4 earthquake on Christchurch's contemporary buildings.

Nicco

October 18th, 2010, 08:20 AM

For those of you interested in the restoration of Quake damaged earthquake buildings, this is an interesting example. I think full restoration can be done :) If only the city councils coughed up the money.

http://www.britomart.org/images/uploads/stanbeth_big.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mQZRLHeO5cg/TLvOQqtbOLI/AAAAAAAABcc/uSoaOAC7z8E/s720/P1030059.JPG

Fantastic Mr. Fox

October 18th, 2010, 10:12 AM

For those of you interested in the restoration of Quake damaged earthquake buildings, this is an interesting example. I think full restoration can be done :) If only the city councils coughed up the money.

Those buildings look beautiful, I'm guessing Britomart?

The only hitch is that I doubt they have been earthquake strengthened. Unfortunately keeping heritage buildings only works when you don't have to worry about them falling on top of people.

TomKiwi

October 18th, 2010, 10:08 PM

Davee

October 18th, 2010, 11:52 PM

Hi TomKiwi - welcome :)

frew

October 19th, 2010, 12:01 AM

Hi TomKiwi, welcome, I'm not 100% sure but I don't think they are going to knock St Elmos down. It got pretty badly damaged, but I heard that the owner wants to rebuild it, using his own money if necessary. So I don't think it will be knocked down.

Milan Luka

October 19th, 2010, 02:28 AM

^^ I hope you are all correct. The buildings looking pretty unstable though. I have a clear view of it from my balcony and I always check it after every big shake to make sure its still standing.

I just walked past it an hour ago and the pavement is swarming in guys with hard hats and clip boards. Fingers crossed everybody.

Fingers crossed.

Davee

October 19th, 2010, 03:03 PM

Fingers and toes crossed.....

fozzy

October 19th, 2010, 11:27 PM

I see they have started removing the top corner of the manchester courts building. So sad to see this great building start to come down.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

October 20th, 2010, 08:36 AM

Hey guys. I heard they may have to knock down St Elmo Courts on Hereford and Montreal too. Anyone know anything about that? Manchester Courts is one thing but it would be horrible to lose St Elmo too!

From talking to engineers and builders, I understand that St Elmo Courts is quite fixable, and at a cost which is reasonable/economic.

Milan Luka

October 20th, 2010, 10:13 AM

I see they have started removing the top corner of the manchester courts building. So sad to see this great building start to come down.

Im gutted man.

Really didnt want to see but was a block away today, couldnt help but look.

All our cities have landmarks which we see everyday and dont give a second thought to. Not actually realising that they help form our sense of community. To see a building that many people love getting torn down is really upsetting.

A quick video from the press

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/canterbury-earthquake/4253141/Manchester-Courts-demolishing-begins

I know theres a webcam of the demolition out there which I saw at work. I'll try and find it and post it here...

Davee

October 20th, 2010, 10:40 AM

Im gutted man.

Really didnt want to see but was a block away today, couldnt help but look.

All our cities have landmarks which we see everyday and dont give a second thought to. Not actually realising that they help form our sense of community. To see a building that many people love getting torn down is really upsetting.

A quick video from the press

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/canterbury-earthquake/4253141/Manchester-Courts-demolishing-begins

I know theres a webcam of the demolition out there which I saw at work. I'll try and find it and post it here...

Hear exactly what you are saying ML :ohno: But you are damned if you do and damned if you don't in this situation.

What we now need to focus on is what is to replace it. I'm not very inspired by Richard Peebles thoughts on that one. Something half the height, glass, incorporating some of the features of the old building.......sounds dull to me - this is an opportunity for a CHC style to emerge - surely there must be a new Gaudi or someone out there..................

Fantastic Mr. Fox

October 21st, 2010, 10:10 AM

From talking to engineers and builders, I understand that St Elmo Courts is quite fixable, and at a cost which is reasonable/economic.

I may have spoken too soon - latest news is that the aftershocks have taken their toll and now this one is also really badly damaged - its touch and go whether this will have to come down or not

Milan Luka

December 26th, 2010, 04:55 AM

Just updating.

Have had considerable amount of seismic activity today. One particular tremor at 10:30 is said to have caused quite a bit of structural damage to buildings around the city. Only 4.9, but very shallow base.

The blocks surrounding Cashel Street Mall are currently under police cordon.

Damage that Im aware of...

Regent Theatre (Aquarium) lost brickwork. Cathedral Square closed.

Nuns convent- Barbadoes St. Parts of the facade fell onto the road.

Guthrie Centre and Ballantynes- have heard there is some structural damage.

Arts Centre- cordoned off awaiting EQC to inspect.

Airport- apparently large cracks have appeared in the walls in a non public access area.

Hope everyones ok out there.

fozzy

December 27th, 2010, 10:39 AM

My thoughts go out to all those shopkeepers who were hoping for a bumper start to the sales. The boxing day sale starts at 10.00 and then at 10.30 the 4.9 hits "as if the people of Christchurch havn't suffered enough already". I am so glad nobody was injured it's a miracle given the time of day and all the shoppers hoping for a bargain.

Milan Luka

December 27th, 2010, 10:41 AM

Seriously bad news for our city Im afraid. So many of the older central city buildings are going to be added to the write off list after yesterdays shakes.

A number of retail buildings on Cashel St, High St, some of the loft warehouses in the Lanes. Base backpackers in the Square. The Press building and Ballantynes have been extensively damaged and can not be entered. Will have to wait and see about those two.

The Mall remains off limits. All the businesses meant to be raking it in right now. So sad I cant see the city bouncing back from this. Well, it will recover, but its going to take a huge amount of effort and will take years.

30k-25HjKRE?fs=1

fozzy

December 27th, 2010, 10:55 AM

interesting video!!! small quake but just so bloody shallow and close to the central city. "My thoughts go out to all in Christchurch".

Haydss

December 27th, 2010, 08:51 PM

Read/watched something that suggested Ballantynes building was fine, just a bit of a mess from stock/glass and superficial cracks in the floor and should be open in the not too distant future. They just need the ok from inspectors/officials.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

December 27th, 2010, 09:30 PM

My understanding is that Ballantynes is built to take another three or four floors above what is there already (I've heard that they'll put office floors above for the right price) - so I imagine the structure will be perfectly fine.

jarden

December 28th, 2010, 02:29 AM

Back in 1987 the was a render and story in the press about the Ballantynes office tower which was to take it up to 10 levels with the same style as the 1st 2 floors but with a setback then the stockmarket crashed and it got shelved. But the foundations were already put in place for the tower in the 80's refurbishment.

Milan Luka

December 28th, 2010, 08:29 AM

Just done a quick sortie into the cbd.

Hereford Street looks quite badly hit. Mythai, Vesuvios, Shades Arcade, Gough House, BNZ building are all cordoned off.

Remember the Wendys which opened 2 weeks ago? After all the money they spend doing up that beautiful art deco building its now got a red sticker. Massive cracks all over the building. :ohno:

High Street Mall; the old building on the corner which houses Hanafins is cordoned off. The rest look ok.

Lichfield Street; dont know the names of the buildings but a couple of the ones across from the Bus Exchange.

Dont want to explore any further, feels bad man.

Just had another rumble this very second..... 8:26pm

Thats it, my minds made up, taking the boy out of town for a couple of days. See y'all round.

SYDNEY

December 28th, 2010, 08:24 PM

Milan Luka

December 28th, 2010, 11:29 PM

^^ Thanks mate. Am going to shoot off after lunch.

Cashel Street Mall is now reopened to the public. We couldnt help it, had to go and have a look. About 75% of the block between Colombo and Oxford is red stickered. While everything is still standing some buildings are heavily damaged. Even the newish ones. What looks to be worse hit is the Indian restaurant next to the Nike store, which now no longer has a roof.

Some places are open and it is busy with foot traffic. Mostly people walking around with their mouths open. Ballantynes Department store is open, a handful of other shops and thats it though.

Eerie looking into the shops to see them exactly as they were when everyone was evacuated. Dummies on the ground, smashed crockery, book displays strewn on the floor.

Svartmetall

December 29th, 2010, 12:03 AM

^^ Such a shame. I read about the latest quake and cringed. It followed almost directly after the Vanuatu quake too... Seems Chch will have an awful lot of rebuilding to do. Our thoughts are with you all.

metroman

December 29th, 2010, 06:51 AM

Is the tram ok?

Davee

January 6th, 2011, 06:33 PM

The Press

Christchurch City Mall businesses closed since the Boxing Day earthquake face uncertain futures.

The buildings housing Whitcoulls, Paper Plus, Acquisitions, Stevens, the ASB bank, Cafe Bleu and Cue, along with several smaller shops, were damaged in the magnitude-4.9 quake.

Cafe Bleu owner Peter Yee said repair work on the 108-year-old building was continuing after part of a wall fell into the neighbouring Indian restaurant.

Workers were removing the fire escape and setting up scaffolding to secure the building before the damaged wall could be taken down.

Yee hoped the building could be saved but did not know how long repairs would take.

"How long is a piece of string? For us, the safety of the public is the main concern."

Work was also being done to ensure the safety of neighbouring buildings, he said.

Lichfield Holdings director Nick Hunt, who owns the red-stickered Old Weekly Press and Whitcoulls buildings, said it could be two weeks before the engineers' findings were known.

The buildings' 28 tenants included Whitcoulls, Paper Plus and Stevens.

"It is difficult for everybody, and I feel desperately sorry for my tenants," he said.

"Some are small and some are large, but it's difficult for them all. The time of the year doesn't help either."

The aim was to "minimise the inconvenience", Hunt said.

Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale said it was a concern that major traders were closed.

Relocation to other Lichfield-owned buildings, such as Shades Arcade, could be considered, he said. However, talk of relocation would be "jumping the gun".

"They all have leases that the insurance company and myself expect them to honour," he said.

Lonsdale hoped the Old Weekly Press and Whitcoulls buildings would not need to be demolished.

"Fingers crossed it never comes to that because they're a couple of lovely old buildings," he said.

"It would be a shame to see them go, and would certainly change the face of City Mall."

Hostel hopes for the best

A central Christchurch backpackers is likely to reopen next week but other inner-city buildings are still waiting to be cleared by engineers.

Base Backpackers general manager Phil Leslie said parapets were being removed from the Cathedral Square building, which closed after the Boxing Day aftershock, forcing 100 guests to be moved elsewhere.

Leslie said repairs to the front of the building started this week after a structural assessment cleared it of major damage.

He hoped the business could reopen next week and begin to recover from the loss of peak-season bookings.

"It's a terrible time to be closed, but we're a pretty resilient bunch," he said.

At Gloucester St, Coachman Central City Backpackers owner Nick Fleetwood said parapets were being removed yesterday.

Part of the building's wall fell through the roof of The Press newspaper sales building on Boxing Day.

Fleetwood had been unable to arrange a building assessment because engineers were on holiday, but he hoped the building could be checked next week.

He was confident the building could be repaired.

"It's been through fires. It's had everything happen to it in its 110 years of life, so I'm sure it will make its way through it," he said.

Fleetwood said he would find a new site if the building was not cleared for use.

At Worcester St, the manager of the Britten building said work on the site would be done today.

Brittco Property Management project manager Raymond Minehan said a crane would be used to remove damaged parapets.

Minehan said the tenants, which include the John Britten Motorcycle Company and the Metro Gold Cinema, would have to stay away until the building was cleared by engineers.

An assessment would be completed soon, he said.

Milan Luka

January 8th, 2011, 09:53 PM

So whats the latest? Ive been out of town for a few days, and when there's aftershocks gstill going along a lot can happen in that time. I will go for a walk around the city centre today to see whats now open/collapsed/safe/further damaged.

@metroman afaik the tram is fine. Construction of the lines was chuffing along nicely. Even the main quake didnt really hinder the work.

Davee

January 9th, 2011, 01:02 AM

Looking forward to your report ml :) hope you had a relaxing break - good to see you survived the kaikora yobo's ;)

Milan Luka

January 10th, 2011, 09:42 PM

^^ Yep so good up there Im doing it again this weekend!

I dont know where to start with any sort of update. I notice a couple of piles of rubble on Tuam and St Asaph Streets where there used to be buildings last week.

Many businesses still closed/red stickered on Cashel/Hereford/High. Wendys has reopened though! And on a side note, despite the boarded up windows and cordons everywhere the upgrade of Hereford Street looks fantastic!

Davee

January 10th, 2011, 10:27 PM

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1294647475/980/4526980.jpg

Earthquake repairs in the Christchurch City Council's former and present buildings are needed following the September 4 earthquake which struck a week after the council's new base was officially opened.

The council said yesterday its former Tuam St offices were significantly damaged in the earthquake and about $1.5 million was needed to repair it. The council's new building in Hereford St has a repair bill estimated at $2.5m.

A spokeswoman said an assessment of the Tuam St property showed damage mainly to the stairwells at either end of the building, exterior windows and some ceilings.

"A contractor has been engaged to undertake the work, which should commence later this month," she said. The building was fully insured.

Some council staff were still based in the Tuam St building when the quake hit. The damage forced them to work from home or relocate to council service centres for several weeks.

The council had been negotiating to sell the property to a Christchurch developer, but it is believed that deal fell through after the quake.

jarden

January 10th, 2011, 11:22 PM

^^If that was converted into apartments as an art-deco style it would look fairly nice but buyers maybe put off by the feeling it would not survive another quake.

Rooty

January 10th, 2011, 11:37 PM

Wendys has reopened though!
Do you eat there? Is there something for Vegetarians?

Milan Luka

January 10th, 2011, 11:46 PM

^^ Nah mate dont think Ive ever even set foot into a Wendys in my life. Just thought it funny that only days after opening they suffered heavy damage in the Boxing day quake.

After all those facebook fans, all the lobbying it seemed a shame it had to close after such a short time operating.

Rooty

January 11th, 2011, 02:51 AM

I'm told BK will make a Whopper with fried onions rings instead of a patty if you ask, but it still doesn't sound very appetising.

Milan Luka

January 11th, 2011, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the heads up rooty. But man, nah, I believe that you vote with your money. Aint no way Im going to give any of my dinars to any multi national fast food chain. Locally owned and operated all the way!

Svartmetall

January 11th, 2011, 11:41 AM

^^ You guys have Burgerfuel down there? They're locally owned/operated.

Milan Luka

January 11th, 2011, 12:09 PM

^^ Ive seen it but my memory might be getting mixed up as to where Ive seen it. Maybe Ive only encountered it in AKL. They are the guys that want to take over the world arent they?

Honestly but if we have it in CHC its probably red stickered now anyway.

Rooty

January 11th, 2011, 12:15 PM

^^ No. I wish. Riccarton would be perfect for one. 'Cause burger options in the main town part of Riccarton are limited to just McDs, KFC, and Theos (Fish only, but they'll put potato patties in).

Later edit: I forgot Nando's. The vege patties are good, but the buns are soggy, so they're a writeoff IMO.

Svartmetall

January 11th, 2011, 12:20 PM

Burger Fuel and Burger Wisconsin are two Kiwi chains I really do quite like, though I never really get to have any because: a) they're highly expensive and b) they're highly fatty. The Vennison burger at Burger Wisconsin is particularly good without being too fatty.

Indictable

January 12th, 2011, 08:38 AM

I wanna try Burger Wisconsin - only one I know of is Pap Road.. any others?

Rooty

January 12th, 2011, 09:07 AM

I wanna try Burger Wisconsin - only one I know of is Pap Road.. any others?
There's one in Cashmere, right down the very bottom of Colombo St. I had it from Papanui once, and it wasn't nearly as good as Cashmere. There used to be one in town, but not anymore.

Milan Luka

January 16th, 2011, 07:52 AM

Oh no. Terrible news. We've lost the Caxton Print. The back and some of the print rooms facade is still standing but the orginal building has been razed.

Discovered it today. Dont know when it happened but Im sure the Boxing Day Quake was to blame. It was looking precarious anyway. Theres another of Victoria Streets beauties gone.

Good news though, apparently todays one of the very few days when there's been not one recorded aftershock.

Davee

January 16th, 2011, 06:50 PM

Davee

January 24th, 2011, 06:17 PM

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1295861342/820/4575820.jpg

The Press

Twenty-two years of culinary history came crashing down in central Christchurch last night.

The original Lone Star restaurant in Manchester St, which spawned a 21-strong franchise, finally succumbed to damage from the September 4 earthquake.

A crowd gathered to watch the facade torn down.

Co-founder Tim Whelan said it was sad to see the end of the restaurant that started it all.

"This building is the mothership really. We've served nearly two million meals in that hallowed spot," he said. "To find out it had to come down because of structural damage from the earthquake was a shattering blow to everyone involved."

The building could have been repaired, but the cost was too great, Whelan said.

For Shane Hausler, one of the company's co-directors, watching the facade fall "was like putting my dog down".

"We've been waiting for it to happen. It's sad, but it's been coming for a long time," he said. "We've got so many memories in there. I can't believe it."

Whelan said an announcement on whether the company would rebuild on the site should be made within a month.

"We may be rebuilding on that site or we may relocate somewhere else in central Christchurch," he said. "We've had a few proposals put to us and some of them are pretty exciting."

Lara Gallen, of Avonhead, watched the demolition and favoured a new restaurant on the old site. "Put it back up, definitely. They always do a good trade," she said.

Whelan said about 90 per cent of staff had been kept on, with most of them shifting to Papanui or Riccarton sites.

"We were well covered by insurance," he said.

Svartmetall

January 25th, 2011, 10:14 AM

Such a shame! :(

I guess the only up side to this destruction is that Chch can rebuild itself in a thoughtful and progressive manner to leave an even better city than there was before. I just hope they take their time and plan it properly unlke 1960's Britain!

Nedd

January 31st, 2011, 12:43 AM

God! I went to that Lone Star many times, and one of my good friends used to work there. Being back in the UK, I've been sheltered from the earthquake fallout, but seeing that picture really brings the whole thing crashing down to reality.

Davee

February 12th, 2011, 11:48 PM

KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1297416565/099/4649099.jpg

DIFFICULT DAY: Ivan Yukich uses a digger to demolish the Coptic Church.

A century-old Coptic Church in Christchurch damaged beyond repair in the September earthquake has been demolished.

The church's Father Sourial Sourial and members of the local community watched the last blows to the church yesterday.

It took two days to demolish the brick building in Edgeware Rd which had been the religious home for more than 100 Egyptian and Ethiopian families.

Terry Coleman, from Contracting Services in Auckland, has spent the past three weeks salvaging material from the church and said 90 per cent of the building would be recycled.

"It was sad bringing it down. Being a religious man myself I found it quite sad, but I take courage in the fact that 90 per cent of the church will be reused," he said.

The stained-glass windows and arch doors were saved by the construction company and the wooden floors will be reused..

The church's community has been worshipping at a temporary venue in Harewood since September.