NEWS Thread

[nalyd]

Unfortunately it was one of the few remaining heritage buildings on high street, right next to McKenzie and Willis....
A friend who was there sent me this photo.


Also a video that has surfaced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=lsHjYIWRRtI

[Milan Luka]

Ah shit the Globe. Another kick in the guts.

If i can find a positive at least in wasnt a building where people were. Lets hope its contained quickly.

[Milan Luka]

Now another fire has broken out on Moorhouse Avenue. Not sure of the location.

Hmmmmmm?

[nthbeach]

Yes I wonder too

[TonyNZ]

insurance job

[Milan Luka]

Central City Fires

Two Christchurch earthquake-prone buildings went up in flames last night and are still smouldering this morning as fire fighters are unable to get close enough to extinguish them.

A massive blaze engulfed a three-storey empty building on the corner of Tuam and High Street about 9.20pm and another fire broke out in another empty building on Moorhouse Ave, at 10.10pm, south fire communications shift manager Andrew Norris said.

The buildings are only about a kilometre apart and are located near the red zone. Both are in fenced-off properties, Christchurch central area commander Steve Kennedy said.

They were being treated as suspicious, but it was too early to speculate on whether the fires were connected or what was behind the blaze, Kennedy said.

Both buildings were still smouldering this morning as they are earthquake-prone, meaning fire fighters have only been able to attempt to extinguish the fires from the outside.

cont here...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...l-Christchurch

[Milan Luka]

While not yet confirmed it highly likely result of arson. A vacant structure, no electricty, completely sodden after yesterdays downpour. Can only hope someone saw something.

On average one house goes up in flames evey two days- of course most of this happens in abandoned streets that are for the most part unpatrolled. It's not the first time there's been fires in the cbd, but previous occasions have been homes. This is the first time its been a significant building.

[MattTheTubaGuy]

so what was the other building?
'On Moorhouse Ave' is isn't very helpful.
EDIT:
I think it was 132 Moorhouse

[HavanaClub]

Originally Posted by nalyd

Unfortunately it was one of the few remaining heritage buildings on high street, right next to McKenzie and Willis....
A friend who was there sent me this photo.

That's a huge kick in the guts to heritage in Christchurch. Nalyd - can you keep us updated? Fingers crossed that at least McKenzie & Willis will still make it through........

[Milan Luka]

Yep this was the one on Moorhouse. No idea what it looks like now...

[Milan Luka]

And this was the rear view of the MacKenzie and Willis building. The facade was salvageable, I'll try get down there this week sometime and see what remains. I believe it's prettu much destroyed.

[metroman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/chr...w-open-in-Chch

[jarden]

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission did not set out to apportion blame for the Canterbury Television building collapse, but several key parties will be uneasy at its findings.

The commissioners pointed to errors and problems over many decades which contributed to a under-engineered building and flawed structure.

The building collapsed when the magnitude-6.3 quake hit on February 22, 2011. It was a failure that caused the deaths of 115 people.

It started with the design of the building and supervision of a relatively inexperienced structural engineer.

Further, the building should not have been issued a permit but pressure allegedly applied to consenting staff in the Christchurch City Council meant concerns raised were apparently ignored.

The design flaws were missed by those building the CTV structure, and added to some non-conforming construction practices not picked up by the absentee construction manager, fake engineer Gerald Shirtcliff.

That alone makes for "grim and sobering reading", as Prime Minister John Key labelled yesterday's report, but the most frustrating part was yet to come.

In 1990, an engineer noticed the floors were not properly connected to the support walls. Here was something structurally wrong. The strengthening work was carried out in November 1991, nearly two years after the weakness was found, but not enough was done.

The commissioners noted an opportunity lost: "It should have been apparent . . . that the report was not a full review of the structural integrity of the building."

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission report, which is the result of an eight-week hearing by the commissioners, will be difficult reading for the families of those who died.

It exposes just how many times something could have been done to prevent the collapse.

Every section throws up another opportunity lost.

If just one had played out differently, the building and everyone in it may have been handed a different fate. This was the perfect storm, and the results were horrifying.

Michael Wright was among a team of Press reporters assigned to cover the CTV building collapse and subsequent royal commission inquiry.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...missed-chances

[Paulsy]

Still no decision on the FB building. Boy are they taking their time with this one!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/bus...ay-be-repaired

[JeremyM2]

Originally Posted by Paulsy

Still no decision on the FB building. Boy are they taking their time with this one!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/bus...ay-be-repaired

I hope it's a repair but I won't hold my breath - what a kick in the guts if this one has to come down. Such an eerie sight at the moment driving down Gloucester Street at night and seeing it there, vacant and towering over a ghost town in complete darkness and silence.

[fozzy]

I hope it's a repair job rather than a demo job!!!

[jarden]

Originally Posted by Paulsy

Still no decision on the FB building. Boy are they taking their time with this one!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/bus...ay-be-repaired

Yes its a very long process getting all the reports done. My unit in a Latimer SQ is still under this situation with no definite outcome for nearly 2 years.

I hope its saved too as Christchurch needs at least one tall office building in the city, the FB tower is our last hope now as the rest have all gone, but I might add not forgotten.

[Paulsy]

IRD building possibly going to be repaired now:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...n-IRD-building

Also to those wondering if the Clarendon facade was going to be saved I can confirm that it is gone - flattened.

[MattTheTubaGuy]

Originally Posted by Paulsy

Also to those wondering if the Clarendon facade was going to be saved I can confirm that it is gone - flattened.

seriously why the hell did they do that!

[metroman]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/chr...annery-project