The Press Precinct

[Davee]

OK guys..........are you ready............. this looks like a real goer:banana::banana:

Thanks to the lovely Cartel bringing it to our attention yesterday..........:cheers:

Davee has just seen a small render in Wednesdays Press and on the design teams website :banana:

The add in the paper was about the consultation process. You can get a clear picture of the proposed 4 buildings for the Press site. As Cartel said, they look as though they range from about 10 stories through to 20 plus :banana:

The company dealing with this is Ganellen Design & Construction.

Their web site is http://www.ganellen.com/

Go look - the render is under the commercial heading.

I'm really excitied - I won't be able to sleep tonight :nuts:

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

Whoah that looks quite cool!

Any pictures of what is there currently?

:cheers:

[Brisol]

argh!!!!!

EXCITED!!!

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2548/presszq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Cartel]

Good idea for the thread Dave. Very exiting development indeed! Cannot wait for progress.

[Davee]

^^You announced it Cartel :banana::banana:

This is going to be good!!

Where do you think the render is pictured. I reckon Worcester St behind the Cathedral.

[Brisol]

I gave Ganellen an email and they said the would have more info/renderings to release next month

im so excited about this.....i hope it happens!!!

[Brisol]

The Press's central Christchurch site will undergo a $150 million redevelopment after its sale to an Australian construction firm.




The newspaper's owner, Fairfax Media, has signed a conditional contract to sell the eight-building Christchurch complex to Sydney-based construction company Ganellen.


Ganellen plans to refurbish the protected century-old Press building in Cathedral Square for use as a hotel or offices, build new premises for the newspaper next door, and create a lane precinct through the property.


The sale price has not been disclosed. However, Fairfax was told by its real estate agents when it went to market in October to expect about $15 million for the complex.


Fairfax South Island general manager Chris Jagusch described the deal as a "fantastic outcome" which would give the paper new premises while keeping it onsite.


The sale would help fund a $30m new printing facility due to open next year on a suburban site still to be chosen.

The paper's existing 24-year-old press is in the Gloucester Street end of its site, which extends to Worcester Street and includes Press Lane.


Until its new offices are built, the paper will lease back its premises for about $1.25m, with the rent dropping to about $1m when it closes the printhouse.


Ganellen director Peter Maneas said his company "would like to be there the next day" to start construction when the old press stopped running.


While no designs had been finalised, Ganellen planned to put new multi-storey buildings behind the property's historic facades on Gloucester Street.

These would house ground- floor shops and offices for the newspaper's office-based staff of about 280.


The original four-storey Press building, built between 1907 and 1909 from concrete and brick, would be refurbished for either a hotel or offices.


"We are still negotiating issues and having chats with council _ we are talking to heritage people right now," Maneas said.


A more recent adjoining building would be demolished to link Press Lane to Cathedral Junction.


"I really like the Lichfield Street lanes and Little Collins Street in Melbourne _ and we'd like to do that sort of development around Press Lane. It's great for Christchurch."


The contract was Ganellen's first move into New Zealand. The company's Sydney track record included new office, apartment and industrial buildings, as well as refurbished heritage buildings.


Jagusch said the contract had conditions on both sides. The sale could be finalised by April.

[sensible]

^^You announced it Cartel :banana::banana:

This is going to be good!!

Where do you think the render is pictured. I reckon Worcester St behind the Cathedral.

it cant be worcester st behind the cathedral... can it? I say that because there isnt a lot of room between the historic press building and cathedral junction for those buildings... it must be Gloucester st where the trucks go in near C1 down towards Colombo st... thats my pick.

This is basically like the Christchurch skyline winning powerball. Its really going to add density to that area and hopefully will drown out the dissapointing C1. Hopefully Pinnacle will go ahead (eventually) along with QV on Armagh, and not forgetting plans for Hilton and Mercure hotels.... most of all though they look like real city buildings... nothing outrageous but pretty slick

[Davee]

it cant be worcester st behind the cathedral... can it? I say that because there isnt a lot of room between the historic press building and cathedral junction for those buildings... it must be Gloucester st where the trucks go in near C1 down towards Colombo st... thats my pick.

This is basically like the Christchurch skyline winning powerball. Its really going to add density to that area and hopefully will drown out the dissapointing C1. Hopefully Pinnacle will go ahead (eventually) along with QV on Armagh, and not forgetting plans for Hilton and Mercure hotels.... most of all though they look like real city buildings... nothing outrageous but pretty slick

I think you are right Sensey :) - I don't know what I was thinking!!!!!!! Duhhh Davee.

I always said that C1 would get a tall neighbough and it looks like it will happen. This will so make Gloucester St come alive and make New Regent street a real humming place.

[Davee]

^^ Go find Brisol.

Has anyone got any pics of this area now - just so we can see how depressing it is??

[metroman]

Christchurch is going to have a great Cbd.:banana::banana:

[Davee]

Christchurch is going to have a great Cbd.:banana::banana:

It certainly will. There appears to be all these islands of development popping up all over the place. A good shot in 10 years time will show quiet an expansive CBD that could well be the envy of other cities much larger than CHC.

Hopefully, this area and the tranformation that is happening down in the Historic Quater will set a new minimal standard for building design and inovation for it's surrounding area.

CHC really does need some quality design and I think we are now starting to get it with the Pinicale, The Press Precinct etc and importantly the Airport.

[ZEALand]

argh!!!!!

EXCITED!!!

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/2548/presszq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I like, very swish :banana:

[Milan Luka]

"I really like the Lichfield Street lanes and Little Collins Street in Melbourne _ and we'd like to do that sort of development around Press Lane. It's great for Christchurch."




This is all great news but the above quote really stands out for me too.

Ive always thought Press Lane was a prime spot for development. It might not get much sun- but would still be a great place to take the missus for a breakfast, have an afternoon cuppa as well and a go back at night to sink a few.

Classy.

[metroman]

This will make Christchurch a much more attractive destination for tourists as there will be more for visitors. When the airport is finished which will possibly coincide with some of the other developments in the city, it will have a great flow on effect. :banana::cheers: This will possibly make Christchurch one of the most happening cities in Australasia.

[Davee]

I see in The Press on Saturday that resource consent has been granted for Stage 1 of this poject. That is for the first 3 building to be built. One of them is the new offices for The Press.

I'm so excited.

[Brisol]

Excited!!!

todays press in the property section article on commencement of 3 of the 4 buildings in October or November next year (i cant remember which) with 14 months to completion.

The Press new office 7 stories

New residential or commercial 14 stories

New residential or commercial 11 stories

with the fourth building due for completion in 2014?

ok, my memory is a little scratchy, will go buy the press to get the finer (more accurate) details.

also mentioned a multi million make over for the claridon tower

its a lovely morning

[Marky Mark]

:banana:

[youngtim]

certainly good news. All we need now is a few 25 - 30 story buildings thown in to the mix to add some texture to our expanding skyline...

[Cartel]

Oh dear it's the magic number again. Another 14 storey building... :fiddle:

[metroman]

An iconc tower would be nice, an idea which could be revisited.:cheers:

[Davee]

Oh dear it's the magic number again. Another 14 storey building... :fiddle:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

When are they going to be able to count above 14 :lol::lol:

Still, the infill all around that area is going to look brilliant. New Regent Street is going to become a oasis in this fantastic, dense new highrise area. When they put up a 20 pls floored building on the other side of the tracks from C1 - wow - it's just going to be brilliant.

[flyin_higher]

Ooo i'm away from the forums for a few weeks and look what great news we have for Chch. Very much liking the look of this proposal.

[BLUFFMASTER_Auckland]

More info in this article-plus a bigger render for u guys to print screen ;)
http://secure.smartpage.co.nz/clients/colliers/nz/ebook/sqm/winter2008/ :banana:

[Davee]

^^Thanks Bluffy:)

[youngtim]

great job. very cool

[Davee]

Stage 1 to commence in October 2009. Fully leased to Fairfax Media and home to The Press Offices.

Also, 54 apartments :banana:

[Davee]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g226/DavidEugene/233-1.jpg?t=1228784387

The historic Press Building..........what will they do with it???

[sensible]

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g226/DavidEugene/233-1.jpg?t=1228784387

The historic Press Building..........what will they do with it???

interior refurbishment and use as office space... apparently

remember that this building is safe

[Davee]

^^They need to bann ALL of that carparking - that needs to become PEOPLE space!

[Milan Luka]

Im not sure that there is a need for that parking. Who uses that parking anyway? Its certainly not pedestrian friendly I hate walking through here thinking a car might reverse out onto me. Im sure it is just short term for people checking into or leaving Warners Hotel or busses dropping off at the backpackers.

If that is the case they should have a proper drop off area akin to the Heritage Hotel on the other side of the Square. Maybe they will redesign the area once the Novotel has opened. I hope so.

[metroman]

Has anyone seen any designs of what the press site will look like?

[Davee]

Has anyone seen any designs of what the press site will look like?

Only the renders we have on the first page. I checked the website the other day - nothing yet. I'm sure something will be up soon.