Elliott Tower | Approved | 63 levels - 218 metres - NZ's tallest residential tower

[aucklandman]

Old: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441690&page=28

New: :cheers:

[jafa]

hey, why is kiwiscrapers so strict on archiving threads? no one else seems to do it... it's actually a pain having to look back on what's been said and what images have been posted in the past.

[jarbury]

I thought there was a general rule to keep threads to 500 posts so the database doesn't get clogged.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

can someone repost the renders of the tower please. The renders in the old thread disappeared somehow!

[aucklandman]

It has been a rule in the Kiwiscrapers forum that we have followed, Flyin and I understand that it was done everywhere else.

I also deleted the Elliot Tower renders from my servers quite awhile ago....

[jafa]

Ok all good :)

I just got confused cos there are so many Auckland forums in the 'Archive Section' compared to all other Oz sub-forums.

[Svartmetall]

^^ We just talk too much!

[MonsieurAquilone]

Here are pictures if this helps.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd6/MonsieurAquilone/elliottmodel3elliot1lge.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd6/MonsieurAquilone/elliottmodel1vstlge.jpg

:)

[SYDNEY]

Thanks MA ;)

[MonsieurAquilone]

I'm sorry for not giving credit to who took them. It was one of you, so here's to you...whoever you are!!

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Someone else reads these forums too : :)
http://pc.blogspot.com/2007/11/elliot-tower-gordon-moller.html
Dont know if its against or for lol

[Brizzy-Mike]

Interesting building.

[flyin_higher]

Thanks for the link Bluff.

[AltiusAltiusAltius]

Any chance this tower may be u/c this year ??

[MonsieurAquilone]

Today I received an email from Auckland City Council explaining that the Environment Court has not as yet arranged a date for a hearing for the Elliott Tower. I have been assured that I will be kept posted.

[jarbury]

Often there is mediation through the Environment Court before an actual hearing (I've been involved in this for a MUCH MUCH smaller issue). Possibly Sky City and the developers might sort out their differences without going to the Environment Court. However, personally I think the developers of Elliott should just dig their heels in as I think Sky City has no basis to their appeal.

[flyin_higher]

^^Indeed. I'm hopeful construction will get underway pretty much straight after the Env. Court drama has finished.

[Marin]

(More) Elliott renders (http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2026)

[Marky Mark]

Thanks for posting !:cheers:

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project/uploaded_files/2026_Elliott385.jpg

lookee at the Antipodean ......thanks Marin :cheers:

[Svartmetall]

^^ Looks good. I'll like it a lot more when it's surrounded by a few more tall ones to balance it out. It makes the skyline look very uneven from that angle.

[jarbury]

^^ Agreed with you there svarty. It looks a bit weird being so big and tall by itself.

[Neitszche]

Thanks for posting !:cheers:

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/project/uploaded_files/2026_Elliott385.jpg

lookee at the Antipodean ......thanks Marin :cheers:

I'm not so sure the placement is correct, and if you look at the bottom it's covering the top two floors of another building, and should be behind the Centra. Not exactly acurate. The building still looks pretty decent.

[KingKong1]

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/2026_2_Elliott2.jpg

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/2026_3_Elliott3.jpg

Looks really nice

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

^^ Agreed with you there svarty. It looks a bit weird being so big and tall by itself.

It does NOT look wierd all by itself! It looks really nice and compliments the surrounding architecture...


Very Nice Building!!:banana:

The Antipodean Tower looks really nice too! Love the green glass :)

I wonder why the Architects put the Antipodean in there?????

[minimum chips]

Not wierd looking at all. In fact this is excellent looking. Artist impressions are doing it for me big time. Im in awe of this one. This'll be good to see when its complete. I do't give a stuff about SkyCity objection. Im dead keen on this one.

[Svartmetall]

I didn't say that the building wasn't good - I think the building is great! I'm just saying that I will like it even more when it's not quite so monolithic.

(I previously passed judgement on the building itself earlier in the thread with the usual over-the-top "OMGWOWLUVVINIT" stuff).

[Milan Luka]

^^:lol::nuts::lol:

Yep we are all still very excited by this one judging by this thread which just keeps on giving despite the fact its locked up in the courts though. Those new pictures do look good. Thankfully, no one seems to think Sky City have a leg to stand on. Although, a good enough legal team can sway anybody on any decision I suppose.

[Svartmetall]

^^:lol::nuts::lol:

Yep we are all still very excited by this one judging by this thread which just keeps on giving despite the fact its locked up in the courts though. Those new pictures do look good. Thankfully, no one seems to think Sky City have a leg to stand on. Although, a good enough legal team can sway anybody on any decision I suppose.

I think (I do that a lot don't I unfortunately) that even our rather blinkered city council can see that a prestige project like this is essential simply for the further advancement of Auckland's image on an international scene and to encourage further projects of this scope and magnitude. If this project is shot down it could in fact result in a slump in this kind of innovative "push-the-boundary" type of project which will be detrimental to the development of a "world class" city which Auckland purports to aspire towards becoming.

[jarbury]

Once again I repeat that the findings of the hearings committee as well as the planning report by Auckland City found absolutely no merit to Sky City's submission.

1) Sky City does NOT own the rights to be the tallest building around (not that this building threatens that).

2) Sky City's original resource consent conditions (from way back in 1995 or whenever) clearly stated that it was their responsibility to ensure that any transmission equipment installed up there wouldn't interfere with surrounding buildings or future surrounding buildings.

Sky City's appeal totally ignores these issues, and is basically the simple result of them going "oh crap that's gonna block our views and we're going to need to spend more money on changing around our transmission equipment up there and might even need to relocate some of it".

Fortunately the Resource Management Act clearly outlines that business advantage cannot be referred to when making a decision to accept or decline a resource consent application. Therefore, they have absolutely no foundation to this appeal and I suspect/hope it'll be chucked out unbelievably quickly.

The other appelant, who I think is the owner of the Phillips Fox Tower complex where the National Bank is, has more minor issues relating to how pedestrian-oriented the street frontage is. Compromise is definitely possible here and I think they'll be able to sort it out without messing with the building proper. They were also concerned about the sheer scale of the building I think, but as above I think the environment court will tell them to get the fuck over it.

[aucklander]

the design is good - not so sure i like the orange / blue colour in that last pic though

is that definitely the final colour arrangement?

[minimum chips]

nothing to fear aucklander. Its not orange, it will actually be a coppery gold.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Once again I repeat that the findings of the hearings committee as well as the planning report by Auckland City found absolutely no merit to Sky City's submission.

1) Sky City does NOT own the rights to be the tallest building around (not that this building threatens that).

2) Sky City's original resource consent conditions (from way back in 1995 or whenever) clearly stated that it was their responsibility to ensure that any transmission equipment installed up there wouldn't interfere with surrounding buildings or future surrounding buildings.

Sky City's appeal totally ignores these issues, and is basically the simple result of them going "oh crap that's gonna block our views and we're going to need to spend more money on changing around our transmission equipment up there and might even need to relocate some of it".

Fortunately the Resource Management Act clearly outlines that business advantage cannot be referred to when making a decision to accept or decline a resource consent application. Therefore, they have absolutely no foundation to this appeal and I suspect/hope it'll be chucked out unbelievably quickly.

The other appelant, who I think is the owner of the Phillips Fox Tower complex where the National Bank is, has more minor issues relating to how pedestrian-oriented the street frontage is. Compromise is definitely possible here and I think they'll be able to sort it out without messing with the building proper. They were also concerned about the sheer scale of the building I think, but as above I think the environment court will tell them to get the fuck over it.
Well I just hope the Environment Court judges arent old people...cos they might have a differnt view? :nuts::nuts::nuts:

[jarbury]

The environment court are generally quite developer friendly. I've heard Auckland City Council moan about that. Geez and this time the developers even have the council on-side.

[Joelio Wilson]

UPDATES!!! 23/03/08

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2044.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2045.jpg

Looking up at Elliot Tower:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2046.jpg

WOW!!! :eek: This tower is looking GREAT guys!!!

[MonsieurAquilone]

Yea!! You can really see it dominating over the other buildings!! :lol:

[Joelio Wilson]

That is a damn sexy building right there. :lol:

[Blah]

UPDATES!!! 23/03/08

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2044.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2045.jpg

Looking up at Elliot Tower:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2046.jpg

WOW!!! :eek: This tower is looking GREAT guys!!!

You have to give it to the engineers. A 100% transparent tower!

[Joelio Wilson]

^^ Yet so visible! Omg it's impressive. :banana:

[KIWIKAAS]

UPDATES!!! 23/03/08

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2044.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2045.jpg

Looking up at Elliot Tower:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s62/WorkingFilms/Auckland2046.jpg

WOW!!! :eek: This tower is looking GREAT guys!!!

Great update Joelio!:banana:
Progressing nicely

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

This one looks sooo good on the skyline!! Thankyou so much environment Court for approving it! Auckland looks so nice now....The views from Mission bay are great! The Saffron is like the cherry on the cake...peering in behing Vero!

:lol:

[Joelio Wilson]

On a serious note, though, when the building is complete (that's right... not if... when ;)) it'll be shit hard to photograph it from street level. The carpark is huge, and the street isn't wide enough to stand on the other side and get a decent photo of the whole of even the base.

We'll have to go to the Sky Tower ;)

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

More pennies for the Sky tower to collect! ;)

[Joelio Wilson]

Exactly my point :D

[deepred]

On a serious note, though, when the building is complete (that's right... not if... when ;)) it'll be shit hard to photograph it from street level. The carpark is huge, and the street isn't wide enough to stand on the other side and get a decent photo of the whole of even the base.

We'll have to go to the Sky Tower ;)
Maybe a fish-eye lens will do the trick.

[DML2]

Is it likely that Elliot will be completed by 2011? Or at all?

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Dunno man! Im hoping for the best...but u never know-this is Auckland!

[Joelio Wilson]

this is Auckland!

Damn straight. It's been about six or seven months since I heard about Saffron, and it was supposed to start in March 2008...

WOAH! It's March 2008! :cheers: We in for some good shit.

*Waits for Saffron*

lol.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Plus Chancery's been on the road for about 5 years now? antipodean for about 4? elliott has taken about 2 years...Nelson Street site? hmmmm Dunno! Victoria Quarter Development-Dunno aswell!
and then, we dont know where Saffron is yet either?
and dont forget the Albert Street tower! I wonder where thats hiding?

[jarbury]

Lots seems to have slowed down at the moment, I think largely due to the meltdown of many finance companies and also the global credit crunch. Falling or stagnating property prices aren't exactly helping either. This is annoying though, as at the one stage when housing affordability isn't getting worse and worse everyone seems like they've stopped further development.... I guess perhaps in the hope that prices will go up again?

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

and less Asian immigrants and students...But mystery still hangs over Office towers! Where are they?? Theres demand isnt it?

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

http://www.urbannz.co.nz/images/tower_plan/tower_from_west.jpg

Photo-Moller Architects, from website:
http://www.urbannz.co.nz/skyscraper%20plan.htm

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

http://www.urbannz.co.nz/images/home_%20page_%20pix/URBAN_Dec_2007-1.jpg

On the Cover of the URBANNZ Magazine

[minimum chips]

Wow a month has gone by since the last post. An entire month without any news. You know that both camps are preparing for battle over this one. I Know some forumers are concerned about the height regarding its closeness to Sky City. To me thats a non issue, they probably still would have objected to it even if it was another couple of blocks away.

This will be a test case, should it go ahead and sell well I would expect others of a similar ilk to be built. Some people have stopped buying at the moment, the guys who can buy into this kind of development are still cashed up and happy to jump on board thankfully.

[jarbury]

The Environment Court axe can take a while to grind. There may be many months of mediation before any court hearing.

[Kiwi-Si]

Do other citys / countries around the world have to deal with things like the environment court and RMA? or are they just more revenue earners put in place by a money hungry government?

[Svartmetall]

Other countries of course have similar regulatory authorities to a certain degree. NZ is slightly overregulated in some instances though.

[Marky Mark]

:ohno:http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/2026_3_Elliott3.jpg

[SYDNEY]

^^ That looks fannytastic - I can do with an apartment that has so much glass - AND - the views :drool:

The public have far too much say in these matters for my liking ....

[flyin_higher]

Damn that looks good. And its green energy right there...solar panels ;) But those suburban mums would rather us living miles from anywhere only accessible via SUV than in a "gosh darn huge' tower like this.

[flyin_higher]

"Oh, with a view such as this, I could hardly but miss, the shimmering beauty bestowed"

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/2026_2_Elliott2.jpg

[MonsieurAquilone]

Haha, a whole month :lol:, and the moment you write in it again, 9 posts follow in quick succession. :D

She is a beauty. :P

[jarbury]

Do other citys / countries around the world have to deal with things like the environment court and RMA? or are they just more revenue earners put in place by a money hungry government?
Most half-decent countries have planning regulations. Ours are a bit more legalistic than most, but it's not exactly unusual.

[Joelio Wilson]

Omg, the lack of news for a month made me go insane when I saw the thread in bold with the word "Approved" in there. :bash:

[Classic Man]

I believe I have already ordainted this mighty structure with the official Classic Man Seal of Approval, so there's no need for me to do it again. I will pray to Zeus that this goes ahead, it would be a crime to prevent this masterpiece from rising.

And Sky City and NZ Herald are really starting to seem like Halliburton and Fox News aren't they? Their conduct is crass.

[jarbury]

Maybe the title should say "under appeal" or something like that? I'm sure if you called Auckland City Council or the Environment Court and asked for an update you might find out something.

[flyin_higher]

Yea good idea, i've amended thread title to say 'Approved - Appeal Underway' to reflect that, while the council gave resource consent, this is being appealed by certain submitters to the environment court.

[Joelio Wilson]

Yea good idea, i've amended thread title to say 'Approved - Appeal Underway' to reflect that, while the council gave resource consent, this is being appealed by certain submitters to the environment court.

Yeah, good idea. Thanks, man.

PLEEEEEASE build this one!!! I don't have much these days... except my precious flaming hobos, loose in the subways. ;)

[MelboyPete]

I noticed the change in thread title to include Appeal Underway.
Has there been a problem arise with the development/construction of this building & if so why ?
I hope this building is constructed IMO it would be a landmark building for the city of Auckland.

[flyin_higher]

^^Basically it was approved by the city council, but this decision has been appealed by some of the earlier submitters (ie; SkyCity and Phillips Fox lawyers, both in neighbouring buildings) to the Environment Court (NZ's planning tribunal), with the case yet to be heard, but hopefully within the next few months.
All going well construction will start by the end of the year.

[The Voice of reason]

I do not want to rain on anyones parade, but I read a lengthy article from Bloomberg about the coming troubles for the NZ Dollar. it also highlighted a coming problem with securitized debt.

take this to mean that Auckland will be facing more difficulties attracting foreign investors for about a year and a half. then once your currency drops 17% as the article predicted, NZ will again be flooded with foreign investment.

I hope this does not kill this project or others like it, but If I were you guys I would concider this law suit a serious threat even if it has no grounds. any delays could cause a developer to pull the plug. time is money.


That being said I think this is a striking building in a long dead location. Looking at the pictures it reminds me of how almost seedy things are right there.

This is across from Aucklands main bus stop. this is ground zero for the visiting backpacker. Am I mistaken, or is this not the lot that Auckland Central Backpackers uses? It would be nice for it to be a better used lot, but if Built I could not imagine how my impressions of Auckland would have changed upon first visit. In my time living in Auckland I spent planty of time around here whenever I had friends visiting from the states. ACB is really where most new arrivals stay their first night. Also the Distillery? is one of the few 24 hour places that feels like a bar not a club. Is someone going to fix up that building and the Dennys for that matter too if this high end residency is built?

the only sad thing is that the giant Heroin Needle in the sky was a great way to navigate the city by foot, and this building will go a long way in making that more difficult.

now... hopefully I can afford a unit in the thing when it is finally built come 2012ish

Cheers!

[LX]

Regarding the tower itself not consent tho unfortunately. Not sure it its already been posted

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/123/elliot1gq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Elliot Tower, Moller Architects, Auckland
Moller architects await ruling on Auckland's Elliott Tower

Moller, designer of the Auckland Sky and Macau (China) Towers is currently awaiting a Resource Consent ruling for go ahead for the 67 storey Elliott Tower, a residential development sitting atop a three level double height spaced retail centre podium based around a centralised atrium. The top of the podium has a substantial roof garden, where not occupied by the tower.

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1812/elliot2jc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The slim tower is designed to accommodate 260 apartments with the vertical height split by two Sky Gardens with large trees oxygenating the intake air to the mechanical plant and contributing to sustainable design principles which are further enhanced by the rooftop solar collectors and co-generation of heat from mechanical plants

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/232/elliot3yl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The 67 storey Elliott Tower consists of a gently curving East façade, forming a shimmering façade and backdrop to the Elliott Street retail podium, with the other three faces of the tower designed as orthogonal faces, separated into slimmer elements to accentuate the essence of a multi storey building.

The long west façade is further articulated with bay windows which give spectacular views from the building and provide a vigorous rhythm to this elevation.

The tower is placed on pilotis at the podium which repeat at the sky gardens, in an expression of the structural concept.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3700/elliot4gt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The top of the tower has two penthouses with decks, balconies and pergolas, and above are three layered roof forms - both to defer to Sky Tower in urban form terms and to provide 180 solar collectors which will provide hot water to the entire complex for 65% of the year.

The tower top has been carefully considered such that it provides a positive cap to the building, but is light and open, encapsulating a spatial lightness.

The stair to the east façade extends above the top of the building, which, along with the curved and extended glass façade, dissolves into the sky. This characteristic is further enhanced by the curved façade extending beyond the north and south ends of the tower.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4375/elliot5ig9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

In placing the tower close to the Albert Street frontage and in north/south orientation, the impact on the views towards the harbour from buildings to the south would be minimised, and the apartments within Elliott Tower would enjoy both morning and afternoon sun.

The podium consists of three double height levels of retail grouped around a central atrium and entry/exit points are located at the Elliott/Victoria and Victoria/Albert street corners, existing footpaths and via through site links between Elliott Street and Albert Street. Parking for 481 cars is accommodated in a six level basement with access from and to lower Albert Street.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/567/elliot6vb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The tower consists of 62 levels above the podium and has been designed to "address" Albert Street through being close to this boundary and the apartments are designed as cross over duplexes so that each has morning and afternoon sun and views. Common space for residents is provided by the podium roof garden, and two sky gardens located at third points on the tower. These also provide green spaces up the tower, and with large trees oxygenating the intake air to the mechanical plant and contributing to sustainable design principles which are further enhanced by the rooftop solar collectors and co-generation of heat from mechanical plants.

Man i hope this one gets built! Sorry to get the hopes up lol

[jarbury]

A nice synopsis of the tower there LX. I really don't know why it needs so many damn parking spaces though, slightly surprised council didn't want that to be reduced. Yeah I hope this goes through too. In my opinion there's no valid reason why it shouldn't, as I've stated earlier.

[Minty3000]

That photo from behind the CBD, likely from Mt Eden, is entirely wrong. It has the Elliot on the corner of K Rd and Symonds Street. It should be positioned on the north side of the Crowne Plaza Building instead.

[drosophila]

A nice synopsis of the tower there LX. I really don't know why it needs so many damn parking spaces though, slightly surprised council didn't want that to be reduced. Yeah I hope this goes through too. In my opinion there's no valid reason why it shouldn't, as I've stated earlier.

Seems like a lot of car parks - however I am guessing they want to include them with the pricier apartments, and sell the others alone. Car parks fetch quite a premium for what they are in Auckland, so in the absence of council regulations limiting them, you can see why developers are more than happy to build millions of them. To be honest, limiting car parks to one per apartment at the most, and charging developer fees for more would help to keep car numbers in Auckland down. Many cities have strict limits on inner city carparking and actively attempt to reduce what is there.

[jarbury]

^^ I totally agree. But once again our planning regulations seem stuck in the stone age and continue to encourage auto-dependency. I guess at least we don't have minimum parking provisions in the CBD like we do everywhere else in Auckland. Council could definitely do more to limit them though.

[Aesthetics of Otara]

I don't really care, as long as the car parks are underground.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

I dont care as long as it is built...so more will follow suit :D

Currently we have:
Elliott, Saffron, Wyndham Hotel, West Plaza Tower and Westfield Tower all waiting to add to the canyon...only if conctruction starts lol

oh and dont forget Antipodean, Chancery, Shortland Street, Britomart Hotel...and a couple more office towers in the near future

[jarbury]

Can't see much happening in the near future because of the property slump. Everyone seems to have a "wait and see" approach at the moment to see whether prices rebound or continue to slump.

[shoreguy]

When is this freaking building going to get built? Didnt get approval in Nov 2006 or something, its been 18 months and still no construction trucks or cranes! And how long does the appeal take? years? Because it feels like forever. The will need to build this fast for the Rugby World Cup, although i doubt it will get built in time!

[jarbury]

I haven't heard anything about progress on this appeal in forever. The environment court does grind fairly slowly though, so who knows when we'll hear anything.

[Minty3000]

I'd expect the availability of financing to be pretty slim at the moment too. It's the perfect storm of the credit crunch and a property market slump/collapse. If construction doesn't begin by the end of 2008, they likely wont be finished in time for the World Cup, which was part of theri justification for the development (an odd one given it's a one-off event).

Most property developers relied on local finance companies to provide the money needed - major banks are usually much more risk-averse. But with so many of tem going belly-up of late, developers have reduced access to funds.

Personally, I think financing would be more readily available if this was transformed into a commercial office building, given the pent-up demand and restricted supply in the market at present.

Unfortunately, I seriously doubt if more than one or two of the projects listed by Bluffmaster actually go ahead.

[Svartmetall]

I'd actually agree with you, Minty. Commercial space is still desirable, however, with the housing market in a bit of a fix I can see shifting apartments being a little difficult despite the fact that apartments have generally fared much better than houses.

[shoreguy]

I agree too, the latest stats on the NZ Herald show that vacancies for premium highrise office blocks is at an all time low. Time to start building 50 storey office blocks!

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

^^ What about my views? :(

[SYDNEY]

^^ What about my views? :(

:lol:

[TXSkyWatcher]

Sure hope this one makes it past all the usual BS and gets built....I like it! How tall is the big tower in the pics?

[flyin_higher]

^^328m

[jafa]

YAY - better late than never

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10519027

[Dazzle]

:):)
Yay, bloody yay!!
:):)

[jarbury]

Tower clears last legal obstacles
5:00AM Monday June 30, 2008
By Anne Gibson

http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/tower12.jpg
An artist's vision of the proposed Elliot Tower.

An entertainment business and a big city law firm have settled legal objections against the monster 67-level Elliott Tower rising near them in Auckland.

Negotiations between tower opponents SkyCity and DLA Phillips Fox and representatives of developer Dae Ju Housing of Korea resulted in an agreement being reached, according to Marcus Beveridge, the developer's lawyer.

The tower, planned to rise almost as high as Sky Tower, can go ahead on the vacant Royal International Hotel site despite a less robust economy than when it was mooted two years ago.

The $450 million tower will be about three times higher than surrounding buildings and is planned for the Victoria St/Albert St/Elliott St site, now used for carparking and a reverse bungy jump business.

Environment Court hearings were scheduled to begin today but Mr Beveridge said all matters were resolved and the hearings cancelled.

"An amicable settlement has been reached," he said.

Bryce Morrin, SkyCity's general manager of capital projects, confirmed the appeal was withdrawn.

SkyCity's appeal cited a threat to telecommunication signals on the top of the Sky Tower being blocked by Elliott Tower.

DLA Phillips Fox, which occupies a neighbouring tower, was concerned about the disruption to its business from traffic movements during the long building process, expected to draw up to 500 workers to the site at any one time.

SkyCity is now understood to have examined alternatives to ensure uninterrupted transmission and could move equipment further up its antennae to give unbroken broadcasting.

Vital signals were under threat, SkyCity said, because its tower provides communication services for a third of New Zealand, including significant emergency services.

The tower hosts more than 400 licensed services and radio communications facilities, two television stations, 22 FM radio stations, land and maritime mobile communications and broadband wireless services.

Mr Beveridge said Dae Ju planned to start building the 259-unit tower next year, despite the downturn. Hopes the giant would be up before 2011 Rugby World Cup had been dashed by the long approval process.

The tower will take four to five years to build, giving a new expected completion around about 2013.

The high rise was designed by architect Gordon Moller and Multiplex Constructions (NZ), headed by Dan Ashby, is the preferred builder.

BIG DEAL
The tower proposal could bring:

* 9ha of indoor area.
* 810 apartment occupants.
* 550 retail workers.
* 54 levels of apartments.
* 6 levels of carparking.
* 4 levels of trees or sky gardens.
* 3 levels of shopping.

Excellent news this! I had hoped things would turn out this way as the appeals were total bollocks. I wonder when we'll see a start.

[deepred]

:cheers:

[Marky Mark]

:banana::cheers::banana::)

Markets are expected to improve next Year and interest Rates start to come down ....all going well in the Middle East { Iran } ..........Buyers will buy anyways to get into this Tower :cheers:

[SYDNEY]

:applause: .... why wait ? start building NOW !!

[KingKong1]

Gr8t news! 4 to 5 years is a long build time! They should definetly start now though!

[Aesthetics of Otara]

The good thing is that now this one is approved, it will give the opponents of other tall buildings less ground to stand on. The developers can always whine "But you let Elliot through..."

Could be the beginning of a new era!

[SYDNEY]

The good thing is that now this one is approved, it will give the opponents of other tall buildings less ground to stand on. The developers can always whine "But you let Elliot through..."

Could be the beginning of a new era!

http://www.christiangiftshop.ca/Wooden/Hallelujah.jpg

[Dazzle]

In the title line, can "Appeal Underway" be binned or do we have to wait until its officially official? :)

[Sister Ray]

Finally something over 200m. :)

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

YAY!!!!
PLEASE START CONSTRUCTION NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when is it starting anyway?? what month next year?

[sth_Auk]

Yay!!! woohooo!!!! :banana::banana::banana::banana: :cheers2:

[MonsieurAquilone]

:D

[new zealander]

http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=10666&SID=950457451

SkyCity withdraws appeal, Dae Ju cleared to build Elliott Tower

Published 30 June 2008

SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd withdrew its opposition to Dae Ju Housing Co Ltd’s 67-storey Elliott Tower on the long-vacant site beside the Rifleman Building on Albert St & Atrium on Elliott last week, allowing a consent order to be signed.

Dae Ju got consent for its 259-unit tower last October and has been wrangling with SkyCity over its appeal ever since.

The Auckland lawyer acting for Dae Ju, Marcus Beveridge, said on Friday the appeal hearing due to start in the Environment Court today, would not proceed. Although this was a bad time to consider selling inner-city apartments, he said the project had a 42-month timeframe and would be completed in a different economic climate.

“It means we can actually get on with the project - I’ve got interior designers up in Seoul with the Dae Ju chairman now. The negative side is, the development contributions have gone from $1 million to $10 million in the process, but that’s not finished yet.”

The project has a 7-year consent. “It’s time to take a breather, but no one can stop us now except ourselves & the market. The chairman is talking about going ahead anyway.”

The site was previously home to the Royal International Hotel, which faced Victoria St West. (The model by architects Moller & Moller, at right, shows the perspective from the Victoria-Albert St intersection).

[Svartmetall]

Thank goodness for that! At least SkyCity has backed off and realised that it can't stop what everyone seems to want.

[KingKong1]

Stupid isn't it that after all the hassle Sky City realised that they were up against it with the pathetic case they put forward. It annoys me though that they delayed it by 9 to 10 months! Which has put it at risk given the current market situation now, although by that article it sounds like the Dae Ju Chairman is keen to throw caution to the wind and build it anyway..

[Minty3000]

What I'd like to know is how they will be financing this project. Given Dae Ju are an overseas firm, they may have sources elsewhere willing to go for it. I doubt they'd find much in New Zealand.

And will they be selling apartments off the plans or upon conmpletion? Given the state of the property market, I'd suspect any finance provider would want pre-sales. In a way, the delay may be useful to Dae Ju - if construction is not due to begin until 2009, they'll be able to gat a better idea of where the property market is heading.

A shame this one isn't an office tower - Auckland could very well do with some more of them, and the location is perfect for one.

[jarbury]

I'd be really curious to know what happened in the "negotations". Probably some environment court mediator told Sky City their issues were a load of bollocks.

[Svartmetall]

They could always convert it into a mixed use tower with the top half being apartments for example. That way it could be slightly more commercially viable perhaps?

I quite like the idea of mixed use towers anyway, don't know if people agree with me on that. :lol:

[flyin_higher]

Yaayyy! hehe. Great news indeed :)

I'll amend thread title immediately.

[KIWIKAAS]

But why 4-5 years to build?
That's a bloody long construction process

[Dazzle]

Don't you just love that word..."approved".
Has a nice sound to it! :)

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

no I think "Under Construction" is better!

[MonsieurAquilone]

no I think "Under Construction" is better!

Don't you mean "Complete" :lol:?

[Svartmetall]

Next you're going to be saying "REPLACED" is the pinnacle of the Elliot Tower designations. :ohno:



;)

(Woo, I just realised I passed 3000 posts!)

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

well that just takes the whole anticipation out of it lol

[Dazzle]

"Approved", such a lovely word! :)

[MelboyPete]

Excellent news....had my fingers crossed that this tower would get the go-ahead.
Skytower won't look so alone on the skyline once this scraper is completed.
Wonder how long before the next 200+m scraper gets the nod of approval ?

[jarbury]

I think mixed office/apartment towers would be great. I'm not sure whether this would require an adjustment to the resource consent (probably it would).

[Aesthetics of Otara]

But why 4-5 years to build?
That's a bloody long construction process

Yeah, but you should see how slow the other Dae Ju building on Hobson Street is going up! At least when it takes so long you get the feeling that they're doing the job properly, though.

[SYDNEY]

They could always convert it into a mixed use tower with the top half being apartments for example. That way it could be slightly more commercially viable perhaps?

I quite like the idea of mixed use towers anyway, don't know if people agree with me on that. :lol:

I am with you on that one ... I also love mixed-use towers. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing more mixed-use developments everywhere.

[Marky Mark]

Eureka took 4-5 Years and I believe Vision in Brisbane has a similar construction time frame :cheers:

[piles]

So where would the Elliot rank in height compared to other buildings in Australasia. Would it break the top 5?

[SYDNEY]

So where would the Elliot rank in height compared to other buildings in Australasia. Would it break the top 5?

I think that it will be at number 20

[Marky Mark]

So where would the Elliot rank in height compared to other buildings in Australasia. Would it break the top 5?:cheers:

[Marky Mark]

I think that it will be at number 20:cheers:

[SYDNEY]

:cheers:

:lol: Gr8 beautiful minds think alike ;)

[Kiwi-Si]

27th actually! assuming all the current proposed bulidings in Aussie get built and excluding towers!

[LX]

I make it 19th equal on this quick list i just compiled. I may have missed some though


Q1 322m
Eureka 297m
Vision 283m (u/c)
120 Collins 264m
101 Collins 260m
Ritalto Towers 251m
Central Park 249m
Chifley Tower 244m
Citigroup Centre 243m
Deutsch Bank Place 240m
Soul 240m (u/c)
World Tower 230m
MLC Centre 228m
Governor Phillips Tower 227m
Bourke Place 224m
Ernst & Young Tower 222m
Circle on Cavill 219m
Aurora Place 219m
ELLIOT TOWER 218m
Telstra Corperate Building 218m


Not sure how reliable my source was though but there we are :cheers:

[chris lewis]

I think a few of those Oz. measurements include the spires – noticeably the Q1 which really is 276 mtrs, but more importantly - 101 Collins St. is 195 mtrs. the Chiefly is 216 mtrs. the Aurora is 188 mtrs. the Ernst and Young tower is 190 mtrs. etc. etc.
When you take the spires away on a Oz. skyscraper diagram the Elliot Tower is approx. the 9th. tallest. This is excluding all the new ones planned and taking the ‘crown’ as part of the Elliot Tower as its full height of 218mtrs.
Yes it’s an old argument!

[DML2]

:banana2: IT'S APPROVED!!!!!
So happy :)

[viinniie]

OMG is it true lol
wowness..!!! cant wait till they tear that car park up, start date anyone??
:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:
:lol:

[KLK]

I think a few of those Oz. measurements include the spires – noticeably the Q1 which really is 276 mtrs, but more importantly - 101 Collins St. is 195 mtrs. the Chiefly is 216 mtrs. the Aurora is 188 mtrs. the Ernst and Young tower is 190 mtrs. etc. etc.
When you take the spires away on a Oz. skyscraper diagram the Elliot Tower is approx. the 9th. tallest. This is excluding all the new ones planned and taking the ‘crown’ as part of the Elliot Tower as its full height of 218mtrs.
Yes it’s an old argument!

I always found it strange that the foyer at ground level at the Ernst & Young building is listed as level 10. So while the top floor is listed as 40-something, its really 30-something.....cheeky.

[Milan Luka]

I make it 19th equal on this quick list i just compiled. I may have missed some though

[LIST=1]
Q1 322m
Eureka 297m
Vision 283m (u/c)
120 Collins 264m

Not sure how reliable my source was though but there we are :cheers:

arent you forgetting Skytower? Number one on the list!

By the way, well done Auckland. The first of many more new towers I suggest.

One thing is for certain, there is no stopping them; the many new towers will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new South Korean overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted skyscraper personality, I can be helpful in rounding up all nimbys to toil in their underground sugar caves.

Id like to comment further but it is late, Ive just finished working on a project and am typing this while watching the Bionic Woman. That Lindsay Wagner was something else.

[Kiwi_Rich]

Why is the building sometimes quoted as 232m in some articles?

What height does that refer to? Doesn't the stree slope somewhat around there?

[MelboyPete]

I think a few of those Oz. measurements include the spires – noticeably the Q1 which really is 276 mtrs, but more importantly - 101 Collins St. is 195 mtrs. the Chiefly is 216 mtrs. the Aurora is 188 mtrs. the Ernst and Young tower is 190 mtrs. etc. etc.
When you take the spires away on a Oz. skyscraper diagram the Elliot Tower is approx. the 9th. tallest. This is excluding all the new ones planned and taking the ‘crown’ as part of the Elliot Tower as its full height of 218mtrs.
Yes it’s an old argument!

I agree...that would then make Eureka undisputed World's tallest residential scraper (297m to roof) at least until those Dubai scrapers are completed..:banana:

[chris lewis]

I have been watching tall buildings going up in Auckland since the early 1970’s [yes I am old!]- The Air NZ [ HSBC] in 1971, the West Plaza in 1974, the Quay Tower in 1980, the BNZ in 1986, and the ANZ in 1991. Then in the last decade the Metropolis and Vero - as well as some others.
Due to a numerous of factors like shadowing, council regulations / bureaucracy, the RMA, and ‘politics’ I never really thought Auckland would get a 200 metre plus tower.
In about 5 year’s time the Auckland Skyline will look impressive with the Elliot, Westfield, Saffron, Chancery and all the other 100 mtr. plus ones planned hopefully finished.
Hope I will be alive to see it. !

[LX]

arent you forgetting Skytower? Number one on the list!

Nah didnt include Sky Tower because its not really a building if you know what i mean

[SYDNEY]

It would be interesting to compare these buildings as follows:

1.
Top 25 Tallest buildings in the Southern Hemisphere
2.
Top 25 tallest structures (which includes broadcasting towers) in the Southern Hemisphere

[SYDNEY]

The tallest building in South America is 221m (Caracas) BUT it isn't in the Southern Hemisphere. HELP ! (it might be 170m (Sao Paulo)
The tallest building in Africa is 223m (Johannesburg) and the tallest structure is 269m (Johannesburg)
The tallest building in Australasia is 323m (Gold Coast) and the tallest structure is 328m (Auckland)

The Elliott will feature quite low down ......

[Joelio Wilson]

http://www.bdcentral.co.nz/afa.asp?idWebPage=8338&idBobDeyProperty_Articles=10666&SID=950457451

SkyCity withdraws appeal, Dae Ju cleared to build Elliott Tower

Published 30 June 2008

SkyCity Entertainment Group Ltd withdrew its opposition to Dae Ju Housing Co Ltd’s 67-storey Elliott Tower on the long-vacant site beside the Rifleman Building on Albert St & Atrium on Elliott last week, allowing a consent order to be signed.

Dae Ju got consent for its 259-unit tower last October and has been wrangling with SkyCity over its appeal ever since.

The Auckland lawyer acting for Dae Ju, Marcus Beveridge, said on Friday the appeal hearing due to start in the Environment Court today, would not proceed. Although this was a bad time to consider selling inner-city apartments, he said the project had a 42-month timeframe and would be completed in a different economic climate.

“It means we can actually get on with the project - I’ve got interior designers up in Seoul with the Dae Ju chairman now. The negative side is, the development contributions have gone from $1 million to $10 million in the process, but that’s not finished yet.”

The project has a 7-year consent. “It’s time to take a breather, but no one can stop us now except ourselves & the market. The chairman is talking about going ahead anyway.”

The site was previously home to the Royal International Hotel, which faced Victoria St West. (The model by architects Moller & Moller, at right, shows the perspective from the Victoria-Albert St intersection).

I'm a bit late..

but..

YEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

:banana:

I love the world!!

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Why dont they just get on with it and BUILD IT!! lol

Seriously cant wait!!!!!! HURRY UP!! HURRY UP!!

[Svartmetall]

Woah mate, calm!

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

lol you never know what a year can do to a developers mind ?

they might just cancel everything

[Kiwi_Rich]

The tallest building in South America is 221m (Caracas) BUT it isn't in the Southern Hemisphere. HELP ! (it might be 170m (Sao Paulo)
The tallest building in Africa is 223m (Johannesburg) and the tallest structure is 269m (Johannesburg)
The tallest building in Australasia is 323m (Gold Coast) and the tallest structure is 328m (Auckland)

The Elliott will feature quite low down ......

South America =

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_Gran_Costanera

http://www.costaneracenter.cl/ccenter/index.html

300m it is in Santiago :)

[Kiwi_Rich]

lol you never know what a year can do to a developers mind ?

they might just cancel everything

Relax bruv!

By the sounds of it they have undertaken detailed design etc. already; they also now have a planning consent; through to this period I would assume (not including land purchase) that they have invested something like $6-7m of their own equity to get their hard-fought consent and producing the amount of design work that they have.

There are a few options a developer would have at this stage:

A) develop out the project with the consent they have

B) re-apply for a different consent with a potentially more profitable scheme (i.e an office building)

C) sit on the site and wait for economic conditions to re-adjust (unlikely as they will be looking to sell apartments when the market is next on the up i.e a few years from now which means begin building the building now.) This option could also mean taking a loss on the current equity invested; something people will always try to avoid.

D) sell the project to another developer to develop out.

Either way something gets built.

That piece of land is now very valuable with that consent so something is going to happen there...

As I said before just relax!

[shoreguy]

So thats it right? its over? Its going to be built?

[Neitzsche]

In theory yes, but I wouldn't be sure until they start digging up the site.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

^^ Yep

[jarbury]

I imagine they would have had the building consent application in with council for a while now, or at the very least had it "ready to go". I think the main issue for the skyscraper now is whether the developer can still afford to go ahead with it, considering how the economy isn't exactly in the best shape ever.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

^^

Shame all those poor cars that make the present site look like some dodgy second hand car market will have to find some other place to hang out for awhile. Perhaps the owners can leave them at home for a decade or two.

Hopefully New World gets their act together and puts in a New World Metro (Ala Wellington style) in the retail section of The Elliot.

[shoreguy]

Perhaps those car owners will catch the train to work and WALK or wait another 10 - 15 years for the CBD tunnel to be built

[jarbury]

Nah they'll all just park in the giant carpark that's proposed underneath the Elliott Tower.... 23,000 spaces proposed or something wasn't it?

[drosophila]

Nah they'll all just park in the giant carpark that's proposed underneath the Elliott Tower.... 23,000 spaces proposed or something wasn't it?

Jesus, Zurich doesn't allow any new capacity in the CBD, and actively reduces it whenever they can. How on earth could that many carparks be built and the council still seriously pretends to want to encourage PT. I guess half of them will be expanded to fit John Banks Bently collection, last time in council he spent $150,000 getting the ACC carpark expanded for them....

[Blah]

Nah they'll all just park in the giant carpark that's proposed underneath the Elliott Tower.... 23,000 spaces proposed or something wasn't it?

Holy crap. 23,000 car parks?!? That's a huge amount. You don't mean 2,300 do you?

[jarbury]

^^ Slight exaggeration. There are crap loads of parking spaces proposed.. might as well be 23,000.

[Blah]

^^ Slight exaggeration. There are crap loads of parking spaces proposed.. might as well be 23,000.

Oh ok. I was worried that they were going to have 20 floors reserved for parking. :lol:

[Milan Luka]

Heres my idea. Why not do that anyway, 20 floors parking above ground and then a 63 level tower on top of that. Blow Skytower out of the water.

Man arent we all going to have a great time watching this one take shape. I cant wait! So it'll start in a few months but we wont see any real development while they muck around for months and months and months with the foundations.

I hope theres going to be plenty of guys ready for photos for those of us that dont make it up to Auckland very often.

[SYDNEY]

Heres my idea. Why not do that anyway, 20 floors parking above ground and then a 63 level tower on top of that. Blow Skytower out of the water.

Man arent we all going to have a great time watching this one take shape. I cant wait! So it'll start in a few months but we wont see any real development while they muck around for months and months and months with the foundations.

I hope theres going to be plenty of guys ready for photos for those of us that dont make it up to Auckland very often.

We will document it for you - but only for a year .... there are loads of others camera-at-the-ready to keep you happy :)

[jarbury]

83 level tower, that'd be pretty cool. However I would NOT want 20 floors of parking in the city, we've already got way too much parking provided for the CBD, considering pretty much no matter where you are in Auckland there is a public transport service to the city if you think about it.

[flyin_higher]

^^Indeed, if there is one change I would like to see with this project it would be too vastly reduce the number of carparks provided.

[shoreguy]

plan is for 481 car parks. NOT 23,000 but auckland doesnt need more car parks if anything less!

[MonsieurAquilone]

Does the current council (yes, it's Banks and I regret my voting choice :lol:) have any plans (or have previous ones ever considered...) on legislation for limiting the number of carparks for future developments in the central city - or are projects free to decide how many carparks they want?

[jarbury]

I do think the District Plan Central Area Section somewhat limits the amount of carparks you can put in a development. But only to the extent that you need a minor level resource consent to go above it.

At least it's better than anywhere outside the CBD where developments have MINIMUM parking requirements (usually 2 for every residential dwelling, 1 per 40 sqm of office space and 1 per 15 sqm of retail space). It's like they WANT us to drive everywhere.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

360 degree of Elliot site

The Elliot (http://craigsyd.fileave.com/elliot.mov)

[drosophila]

Does the current council (yes, it's Banks and I regret my voting choice :lol:) have any plans (or have previous ones ever considered...) on legislation for limiting the number of carparks for future developments in the central city - or are projects free to decide how many carparks they want?

Banks certainly doesn't and I don't see how you can regret voting for him - he has been completely true to form - following the same sorts of policies from his last term in office. His last term in office included making it council policy to discoyrage pedestrian and cycle access to the city in favour of cars......hardly the sort of guy who would favour reducing the number of parks in buildings.

[jarbury]

^^ The only difference this time is Banks hasn't brought up the Eastern Motorway..... yet!

[shoreguy]

NOV 2007

Sky gardens and huge solar panels for water heating are some of the eco-friendly design features of Dae Ju Housing's proposed 67-level Elliott Tower.

Auckland City Council hearing commissioners, who this week approved the tower's resource consent, emphasised these design features in their written decision.

"Solar panels in the shape of large fins to be placed on the top of the tower will heat all of the water required for the whole building, including the retail outlets, for 65 per cent of each year," they said.

"The residential tower will include two sky gardens to break up the facade of the building, to assist with wind mitigation particularly at the podium and street level and also to provide common areas for the occupiers of the apartments," said the decision of the panel chaired by Leigh McGregor.

"The retail podium will include landscaped areas as will the tower which will contribute both to the streetscape and to the outlook gained from a number of surrounding buildings. "The building avoids having apartments that are only south-facing and many apartments have both an eastern and western outlook," they said.

Dae Ju's plans were publicly notified on January 14 and 20 submissions were received, the panel said.

The commissioners summed up the main issues in contention as:

* The porte cochere entrance on the Albert St frontage of the building, including urban design concerns and the difficulties with footpath access.

* The impact of construction traffic on buildings in the narrow Elliott St and on Kiwi Income Property's twin-tower office National Bank Centre between Queen St and Elliott St.

* The height of the approved tower, its urban design and visual impact aspects.

* Impairment on signal, telecommunication and broadcast equipment in the Sky Tower.

The porte cochere would be a key access for people and vehicles to the tower but there were concerns about the interaction between the public footpath and traffic, the commissioners found. A porte cochere management plan was needed and should be approved by the council. They raised safety issues about pedestrians crossing Albert St and Victoria St and said there were serious concerns about the existing situation at the major intersection.

Kiwi and Colwall Property Investment said they reached an agreement with the neighbours about construction traffic access. Vehicles would use Victoria St and not Elliott St.

The commissioners said they did not agree with SkyCity about the effects on telecommunications and broadcast facilities in the Sky Tower.

Submissions on huge shadows cast by Elliott Tower were made by Dae Ju, which emphasised the tower's slim profile.

"It appeared from these diagrams that there would be no adverse shadow effects on Aotea Square or Albert Park and further that as a result of the narrowness of the residential tower, any shadow effects would be short-lived," the commissioners said

[SexyKient]

lol

[MonsieurAquilone]

lol

You trying to increase post count?

[drosophila]

^^ The only difference this time is Banks hasn't brought up the Eastern Motorway..... yet!

Wait till National is in government. The National transport minister Maurice Williamson has said in the past he is supportive of the project but has kept a low profile on this ever since Banks was thrown out of office about it. But in the end both Banks and Maurice are just biding their time waiting for the right moment to resurrect it. Having both central govt. and local council supportive of the project will go a long way to making sure this project starts (before the RWC probably). In any case, knowing National they will pass the fuel levy policy but scrap the part about no more than 5c being spent on roads, with 10c a litre going towards the Eastern Motorway the project could quite easily be funded and started ASAP.

I mean who wants to catch a train into town, why that would be too convenient, much nice to be able to drive into town in gridlock and spend you morning searching for a carpark. Plus Auckland has too many parks on that side of town and a nice new motorway would really help to rejuvinate Tamaki drive which at this point is over run by pedestrians and cyclists, none of whom pay petrol tax and therefore shouldn't be taking up space.

[MonsieurAquilone]

^^ Very good points.

[Joelio Wilson]

You trying to increase post count?

Haha, if he was then he's not getting very far :lol:

[shoreguy]

No of course not. Ok maybe

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

Another look at the Elliot site from the side of the bungee this time

Elliot 360 (http://craigsyd.fileave.com/Bungee.mov)

[Joelio Wilson]

Another look at the Elliot site from the side of the bungee this time

Elliot 360 (http://craigsyd.fileave.com/Bungee.mov)

Nice 360 view, Kiwifruit. :)

It's really coming along now! :cheers: In a few months, we'll have a nice, tall carpark. Can't wait.

[drosophila]

So where will the bungy be moving too? I'm looking forward to seeing the removal of this ugly square....

[jarbury]

^^ Who cares! It doesn't take up much space so I'm sure it can go somewhere else... perhaps somewhere nearish Vector Arena.

[piles]

^^ On top of the Elliot maybe? :lol: That would really piss Skycity off.

[shoreguy]

You would hop on the bungy, be released and never come back! lol

[drosophila]

^^ Who cares! It doesn't take up much space so I'm sure it can go somewhere else... perhaps somewhere nearish Vector Arena.

I care so much in that as soon as we see it go we know that the project is getting going :-)

Bring on the construction barriers and get rid of those old bomby cars sitting there.

[shoreguy]

Eastern motorway!? YUK! there are so many more projects that are worth billions of dollars to pour into like the electrification of rail, expansion of the rail network, the completion of the WRR. I doubt Transit would take on this project. Too much on their plate, they already have 8 big time projects going in Auckland - they dont need this stupid motorway!

[chris lewis]

My opinion will go against most here. I think the Eastern Motorway was / is vital and it was a major mistake not to build it. I lived in Pakuranga Rd. near the Mall for number of years and am aware of the nightmare in commuting. The Eastern motorway would have started down in Manukau City and connected up at Tamaki Drive. The motorway could them have connected up to the planned second harbour crossing.
The cancellation sums up the politics / lack of consistent leadership and vision in Auckland. It is what has held us back. Sorry off topic.

[flyin_higher]

^^Yea try and keep on topic. Ta.

[drosophila]

My opinion will go against most here. I think the Eastern Motorway was / is vital and it was a major mistake not to build it. I lived in Pakuranga Rd. near the Mall for number of years and am aware of the nightmare in commuting. The Eastern motorway would have started down in Manukau City and connected up at Tamaki Drive. The motorway could them have connected up to the planned second harbour crossing.
The cancellation sums up the politics / lack of consistent leadership and vision in Auckland. It is what has held us back. Sorry off topic.

It's funny cos the cities that I have lived in in which rush hour basically doesn't exist - yes in many countries such as here in Switzerland, the term rush hour is basically unknown - are ones with great PT, not big filthy motorways all through the cities. The US followed this route and rush hour has turned into a 6am to 10pm phenomenon...

[piles]

^^Ok, this is starting to get annoying now.

Any updates on construction of the Elliott?

[Brisbaner21]

Has it even broke ground yet?

[jarbury]

OK Eastern Motorway discussion here in the private transport thread:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=557100&page=14

No updates on Elliott. Maybe someone should give the bungee guys a call/email and pretend to be a tourist coming in a few months time interested to see if they'll still be operating. I think Sydney did this a while ago?

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

Has it even broke ground yet?


Not yet :nuts:

[DML2]

Not yet :nuts:

:bleep: it would've been if SkyCity and the lawyers next door had shut the FUCK up!

[Dazzle]

^^
Fair point...and what did they achieve for themselves?
Nothing of any note. Possibly a minor change or two?
Maybe their whole aim was to try and delay the project long enough to mire it in the credit squeeze?

[DML2]

^^
Fair point...and what did they achieve for themselves?
Nothing of any note. Possibly a minor change or two?
Maybe their whole aim was to try and delay the project long enough to mire it in the credit squeeze?

I can picture them all sitting around the table plotting ways to send those pesky Koreans packing. :lol:

I agree, they were probably hoping that even if they lost the delay would ruin the project anyway

[Brisbaner21]

:bleep: it would've been if SkyCity and the lawyers next door had shut the FUCK up!

Angry much? Don't worry, I would be too. It took Vision, here in Brisbane ages to start to rise. But at least they broke ground for it quickly.

[shoreguy]

Does Elliot have an observation deck? If it doesnt then it should, not only for the general public but for for its residence, that shall we say don't have good views (e.g. level 3 -18)

[jarbury]

I don't think it has any public accessibility. After all it's an apartment building.

[shoreguy]

So is Vision in Brisbane, and Eureka in Melbs. What the hell it should. They can charge less $ than the sky tower, have a bit of a competition between them lol

[drosophila]

So is Vision in Brisbane, and Eureka in Melbs. What the hell it should. They can charge less $ than the sky tower, have a bit of a competition between them lol

They'll make more making the top floor into a bloody expensive Penthouse - $2 a visit tourists wouldn't make it worth it.

[shoreguy]

Um sky city charges $25 per person. Its hardly "$2"

[Blah]

Yeah, say they charge $20 per person and 100 people go a day - that's $2000 a day in pure profit. $14,000 a week

[jarbury]

Not really pure profit. There's a cost in having the viewing platform to start with, which is either lost revenue from a penthouse or an extra cost in having some "above the penthouse" viewing platform. You need staff, you need a separated private lift just for the viewing platform etc. etc. It's not going to be much of a different view than what you get from Sky Tower, if you think about it.

[Blah]

Not really pure profit. There's a cost in having the viewing platform to start with, which is either lost revenue from a penthouse or an extra cost in having some "above the penthouse" viewing platform. You need staff, you need a separated private lift just for the viewing platform etc. etc. It's not going to be much of a different view than what you get from Sky Tower, if you think about it.

Hmm...why do they need extra staff? Just get the reception to do it.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

It's not going to be much of a different view than what you get from Sky Tower, if you think about it.

at least one can give Skytower the finger from a different angle :)

[shoreguy]

Look i say do it! build an observation deck (unmanned). One of Sky Towers main objections was that it will block partial view from their observation deck. Well now you can have an observation deck, give them the finger and charge less! haha!

[MelboyPete]

IMO tourists would use a 2nd obs deck. Give a different perspective/angle.
Melbourne tourists still use the Rialto obs deck even though Eureka's skydeck is higher (288m).

[SYDNEY]

IMO tourists would use a 2nd obs deck. Give a different perspective/angle.
Melbourne tourists still use the Rialto obs deck even though Eureka's skydeck is higher (288m).

Both observation decks give a different perspective, Eureka's is exciting but I preferred the view from Rialto :cheers: ... anyways, send my love to Melbourne ;)

[drosophila]

Yeah, say they charge $20 per person and 100 people go a day - that's $2000 a day in pure profit. $14,000 a week

Also typically the developer doesn't have a long term investment/ownership in a given development, once it's sold they move on. Getting xxx million from a Penthouse is much more preferable to having an ongoing income stream that they won't have access to. Plus having to build in reception areas and lifts ads in a lot of lost space and money during the development.

[MelboyPete]

... anyways, send my love to Melbourne ;)

Will do....by the way those Melb pics you posted some time ago were magic...thanks for sharing.

:cheers::cheers:

[Blah]

Also typically the developer doesn't have a long term investment/ownership in a given development, once it's sold they move on. Getting xxx million from a Penthouse is much more preferable to having an ongoing income stream that they won't have access to. Plus having to build in reception areas and lifts ads in a lot of lost space and money during the development.

A reception area will already be there - I'll be surprised if a 60 floor tower doesn't have one.

They wont need to build any extra lifts. They just pay at reception and the person then buzzes them through the security door to where the lifts are.

If it wasn't profitable, places like Eureka and Rialto wouldn't do it.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

^^ :yes: :yes: Just like the BNZ tower on Queen Street...pay 3 bucks to get to the Ob. deck using normal lifts

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

Elliot site and its neighbors as seen from Skytower

http://craigsyd.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p942873926.jpg

[Marky Mark]

It doesn't look as though we will see any action until next year :nuts:

Tower clears last legal obstacles
5:00AM Monday June 30, 2008
By Anne Gibson
An entertainment business and a big city law firm have settled legal
objections against the monster 67-level Elliott Tower rising near
them in Auckland.
Negotiations between tower opponents SkyCity and DLA Phillips Fox
and representatives of developer Dae Ju Housing of Korea resulted in
an agreement being reached, according to Marcus Beveridge, the
developer's lawyer.
The tower, planned to rise almost as high as Sky Tower, can go ahead
on the vacant Royal International Hotel site despite a less robust
economy than when it was mooted two years ago.
The $450 million tower will be about three times higher than
surrounding buildings and is planned for the Victoria St/Albert
St/Elliott St site, now used for carparking and a reverse bungy jump
business.
Environment Court hearings were scheduled to begin today but Mr
Beveridge said all matters were resolved and the hearings cancelled.
"An amicable settlement has been reached," he said.
Bryce Morrin, SkyCity's general manager of capital projects, confirmed the appeal was withdrawn.
SkyCity's appeal cited a threat to telecommunication signals on the top of the Sky Tower being
blocked by Elliott Tower.
DLA Phillips Fox, which occupies a neighbouring tower, was concerned about the disruption to its
business from traffic movements during the long building process, expected to draw up to 500
workers to the site at any one time.
SkyCity is now understood to have examined alternatives to ensure uninterrupted transmission and
could move equipment further up its antennae to give unbroken broadcasting.
Vital signals were under threat, SkyCity said, because its tower provides communication services for
a third of New Zealand, including significant emergency services.
The tower hosts more than 400 licensed services and radio communications facilities, two
television stations, 22 FM radio stations, land and maritime mobile communications and broadband
wireless services.
Mr Beveridge said Dae Ju planned to start building the 259-unit tower next year, despite thedownturn. Hopes the giant would be up before 2011 Rugby World Cup had been dashed by the
long approval process.
The tower will take four to five years to build, giving a new expected completion around about
2013.
The high rise was designed by architect Gordon Moller

[DML2]

It'll make me so happy to watch it go up :colgate:

[GoluBoy]

Sounds very cool "music to my ears".....But I'm not refering to the Elliot.:naughty: :hilarious

[Marky Mark]

from what I have read that Multiplex had alot to do with the design of this Tower .....so I would expect Multiplex to get the Contract to build it ......then going by the way they seem to work .....waiting for one Major project to be 95 % complete before moving to the Next , as they did with The Sentinel Apartment Tower ....before moving on to the Deloitte Centre .....so I would expect once the Deloitte Centre starts to near Completion in 2009 as forecast .....the Elliot Tower will be commencing :nuts::cheers:

[DML2]

Sounds very cool "music to my ears".....But I'm not refering to the Elliot.:naughty: :hilarious

Lol you dodgy son of a bitch

[GoluBoy]

^^ HeHe...you have to be Gay to understand:)........

[DML2]

^^ HeHe...you have to be Gay to understand:)........

Damn :lol:

[viinniie]

LMAo

[shoreguy]

Come on Auckland must have more than one construction agency! Elliot and Westfield? What if another tower is approved it will have to wait till 2013?

[Jandles]

I have been thinking about when are they going to start work on this project..!!

Why...?

1.. NZ dollar is low, they can by cheap materials.
2.. More people are out of work.. So construction staff should not be as big of an issue as what it was last year.
3.. They have got the go ahead to start..

Or have they eaten to much Kimchi.. And now can't get off the Sh!!ter.

Whats the hold up..?

J

[viinniie]

yup..
good things do take time, esp in this fair city of ours
It'll be worth the wait !

[Neitzsche]

1.. NZ dollar is low, they can by cheap materials.

J

The NZ dollar being low means that materials will be more expensive, seeing as they are bought on the international market. That said the credit crunch has adversely affected projects across the globe, reducing demand and price. That's my guess at least. Your right about the construction staff, many builders have wound down considerably this year.

I'd imagine this project should get cracking buy late 08 - early 09.

[Jandles]

The NZ dollar being low means that materials will be more expensive, seeing as they are bought on the international market.

Hi Neitzsche,

I mean that if the Koreans buy them in Korean Wan or whatever it's called it will be cheaper. As I think there currency may be tied to the American which has gone up the last few weeks. Anyway I hope they start soon.

It will be Awesoooooooooooooooooome... :nuts:

[jarbury]

Wouldn't surprise me if they're preparing their building consent still, or that council might still be processing their building consent.

[Sister Ray]

I mean that if the Koreans buy them in Korean Wan or whatever it's called it will be cheaper. As I think there currency may be tied to the American which has gone up the last few weeks.

The won is a floating currency. The current rate is ~734w to the NZD. Not particularly strong.

I really hope this one starts soon. I have dreams of Auckland's own Tower Palace.

[shoreguy]

Oh god! dreams. I still think Elliot would look out of character after being built. It will be surrounded by low rise, old, yucky buildings. And the buildings accross the road, crn of Albert and Vic st. YUCK! 2 level in the central city. Its a crime. For such a beautiful tower in such a meh part of town. One good thing though will be (When it gets built) the Midtown rail station, which will hopefully be right on Elliots door steps

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

^^ TBH, I think the Eliott will soon be surrounded by TALL buildings...the whole of Albert Street will be a major canyon in the coming years...

It will be well complemented by Saffron, Wyndham, Westfield and 15 Albert Street-all these towers are 150+ and will make a nice 'concerete lump' in the skyline when viewed from places like Mt Eden, Devonport and Mission Bay...

[MonsieurAquilone]

^^ TBH, I think the Eliott will soon be surrounded by TALL buildings...the whole of Albert Street will be a major canyon in the coming years...

It will be well complemented by Saffron, Wyndham, Westfield and 15 Albert Street-all these towers are 150+ and will make a nice 'concerete lump' in the skyline when viewed from places like Mt Eden, Devonport and Mission Bay...

This I do hope! :D And thank you for spelling Elliott with two 't's!

[shoreguy]

What's Wyndham and 15 Albert Street? havent heard about these before!

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

As far as I know,

Wyndham Hotel, 35 Albert Street (Site of the old Stanley Tower-cnr. Albert and Swanson Streets)...a tower proposed by Tim Manning

15 Albert Street- Set of Run Down Buildings behind West Plaza...Valad group and Birmingham Group might build a tower there with Multiplex?? :nuts:

[KLK]

Oh god! dreams. I still think Elliot would look out of character after being built. It will be surrounded by low rise, old, yucky buildings. And the buildings accross the road, crn of Albert and Vic st. YUCK! 2 level in the central city. Its a crime. For such a beautiful tower in such a meh part of town.

I've often thought that - while its wonderful to have a 63-floor tower to spur development in that part of town - an innovative, 2x 32-floor "twin-tower" development (perhaps with a connecting "sky-bridge" half way up?) would have, from the perspective of height and density, killed two birds with one stone.

Still, beggars can't be choosers.....

[shoreguy]

As far as I know,

Wyndham Hotel, 35 Albert Street (Site of the old Stanley Tower-cnr. Albert and Swanson Streets)...a tower proposed by Tim Manning

15 Albert Street- Set of Run Down Buildings behind West Plaza...Valad group and Birmingham Group might build a tower there with Multiplex?? :nuts:

"run down" um half of Auckland central is RUN DOWN! This city seriously needs a facelift, an infrastructure boost and billions spent, see my Public Transport for more info :cheers:

[drosophila]

"run down" um half of Auckland central is RUN DOWN! This city seriously needs a facelift, an infrastructure boost and billions spent, see my Public Transport for more info :cheers:

Well Hubbard had plans for just this instead he was voted out and in place we have a council who is cancelling everything and wasting their time trying to ban parades on their conservative moral grounds. Jeez it's the current council who banned the Hero Parade as the christians on the council claimed it was unholy or some rubbish/

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

"run down" um half of Auckland central is RUN DOWN! This city seriously needs a facelift, an infrastructure boost and billions spent, see my Public Transport for more info :cheers:

Indeed...The only decent part is lower Queen Street/High Street/and Freyburg Square...

Hubbard planned to put a stop to cheapo apartment buildings but Im afraid it didnt work out properly since Banks came in...not when you look at Barclay, Federal and many others popping up around the Nelson St and Hobson St ridges...
:ohno:

[azza_the_arch]

Great to get approval for a big tower, but why does it look like a boring 'stick of ram' ?!

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

Its designed to allow Auckanders to multi task. The more RAM the better! ;)

[deepred]

Its designed to allow Auckanders to multi task. The more RAM the better! ;)
All that needs to be done now is a re-install of the city council. There's only so much RAM that a 2-bit council can address. :)

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

ctrl-alt-del the ACC!!!!

[Kane007]

Na, I say we take off and nuke the entire council from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure!

[shoreguy]

Look im over waiting building the fucking thing! as long as i see the foundations i will be happy! sigh of relief

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

yeh is anyone ever gonna ask the bungy people???

just tell me the start date of the construction

[Neitzsche]

Na, I say we take off and nuke the entire council from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure!

Game over man, game over.

[Kane007]

[sticks shotgun right inside an Bank's mouth] Eat this!

[deepred]

Better still, I'd have Banksie tied down in a chair and forced to watch this. :lol:

XC73PHdQX04

[Kane007]

^^:lol: OMG I can't sleep now, this is going to give me nightmares for weeks:nuts:

WARNING. DO NOT WATCH for your own sanity but definitely email to old slappers at the ACC.

[KIWIKAAS]

Oh christ! That was...........horrible
I nearly weed my pants :lol:

[crazymummyboy]

I love this building, its hot.

[Svartmetall]

Better still, I'd have Banksie tied down in a chair and forced to watch this. :lol:

Oh dear lord that was terrible. He should stick to being Spock, the whole Spock and nothing but the Spock.

[viinniie]

I love this building, its hot.

it aint even a building yet

[jarbury]

It's not anything yet. It's still a carpark and a bungee.

[OMG!AUCKLANDROCKS]

Nice tower :)

[KIWIKAAS]

OMGodzzzzzzzzz yeah!