PROJECT Summary

[Davee]

Originally Posted by Marky Mark

http://www.hallmark-realestate.co.nz...es.php?Type=JV

Thanks Marky. I can't remember seeing anything about it in the Press. It is a pitty they have not given an exact location. I must admit, developments like this one worry me, as they can easily look like they could become ghettos.

The Wellingon Hilton looks interesting and the Dunedin Hotel looks very grand

[Milan Luka]

An overview of downtown from the north west overlooking Victoria Square. Doesnt include all towers but a pretty good indication. Just wanting to show what is coming up for the city and hopefully this puts it into perspective for you. This view will look radically different very soon.

The C1 tower will rise just behind and to the right of Forsyth Barr House- the high blue second from the left.

QV tower will be situated midway between Forsyth Barr and the Victoria Apartments overlooking Victoria Square itself.

The Novotel will be situated behind the glass tower in front and the middle of this view- just to the left of the Cathedral.

The Pinnacle will be situated just behind the Westpac building in back of this aspect. About a third of the way in from the left.

[sensible]

hopefully the QV apartments go ahead, last i heard it was delayed until sometime in 2008... and now i cant find anything on the net. If they dont it will be a shame, that spare space right now is an eyesore and somehow if it were built it would complete Victoria Square just nicely.

[Milan Luka]

QV apartments are still being marketed by Harcourts. They have 12 apartments listed I dont know how many have been sold though. Maybe about a third.

If the plug is pulled on this one it'll be because it can't compete with the other high end apartments being built downtown. So if we are choosing between say, the Pinnacle or QV being built....

I think give it another couple of years and we might find a few more of these towers going ahead. I hope so, I really do.

[Cartel]

They're just not selling. And have been advertised for over 3 years now, same thing the agent told me they just haven't had enough interest to justify construction. The building was originally going to be bigger but now the design is like 11 whole floor apartments starting at $825,000+. The simple truth is that there aren't enough millionaires who want to live in central CHCH at the moment. Shame because it's such a nice building.

[sensible]

it is a shame... but if they want more and more people to live in the cbd then there needs to be more of a mix... some of these new high rise apartments are going for nothing below $1 million each... im not suggesting slums but sheesh like cartel said there aint enough milionaires prepared to part with the cash

still hopefully QV comes to something.... its an ugly gap

[minimum chips]

Central Christchurch is massive and there are so many potential sites for apartment developments. Like most of you I think the QV looks a nice design and everything and in an excellent location. One thing though- it seems as though QV and Victoria tower owners would be looking right into each others apartments. Theres no bloody space between them. If I had the $1mil for an entry level apartment downtown Im really not sure QV would be my 1st choice for that reason alone.

[Cartel]

Aaahh! CHCH needs new buildings, big ones, lots of them, now! Forget everything else just build me a goddamn city I can really be proud of. Where 'shit happens'.

[Milan Luka]

Yep agreed wholehartedly. I want clusters of towers in the burbs as well just like Carlton Mill. Brighton and South Hagley spring to mind.

[metroman]

Is it realistic that this will happen? Is Christchurch anti highrise or is there a strong pro highrise viewpoint there? What is the public opinion on highrise development like?

[Milan Luka]

I think most people dont have an opinion either way tbh. I am aware of a nimby element out at Brighton. Not heard any submissions against the new towers in Chc. Hang on, I think Cathedral Junction Quest had an issue with C1 because it will blocked views from some of the apartments.

[Cartel]

I think it mostly comes down to most developers completely lacking in vision, wanting to do things 'easy' and mindless height restriction policies by the city council. If I had my way there would be high rises here and there all the way down Colombo stfrom Bealey to Beckenham. And in those suburbs Milan suggested. And another 40-60 within the aves. Let's find that oil...

[canterburywatch]

Anyone know why this development has stalled?

[minimum chips]

I wasnt aware it had stalled, I often drive back the site but at odd hours when theres no workers meant to be there anyway. It's still being heavily marketed by Hendersons Property Ventures Group. I hope it does go ahead, its a perfect addition to that part of town. My ears and ears are open or any news.

[canterburywatch]

There was a mention of it in the NBR last week.. but just mentioned that work has stopped. No reason given..

[minimum chips]

I doubt there would be the market for this just yet in Christchurch. Maybe we dont have enough young dinky's who want to live in a Melrose Place style development in a kinda rough inner city neighbourhood. It is a fairly big development to I think, would have lots of apartments. Maybe she will go on the backburner awaiting more sales, just like the QV tower. I would think SydSq and the even larger Turners & Growers would be in competition with each other, I just hope at least one goes ahead.

[minimum chips]

I hear today that Dress Mart mall in Hornby has announced plans to increase it size by 50%. It's not the largest of malls (not sure of floor size) but the cost will be about $10mil apparently. Extension to increase out to Shands Road, includes an extra couple of levels of parking as well.

[KaneD]

Originally Posted by minimum chips

I hear today that Dress Mart mall in Hornby has announced plans to increase it size by 50%. It's not the largest of malls (not sure of floor size) but the cost will be about $10mil apparently. Extension to increase out to Shands Road, includes an extra couple of levels of parking as well.

Interesting - They only had an expansion a few years ago. But here in Chch at least, Mall Expansions have been a bit of a fad in the last say 10-12 years with Northlands having 2 redevlopments, The Palms 2, Riccarton/Westfield 2 and Hornby 2. Westfield has plans for another.

On the issue of height restrictions - It's a mixed bag really. I think the general majority don't want really tall highrises in the city at all and would rather keep it much where it is now at the 20-25 level max. In the 80's, there were plans to build a tower like the sky tower on Victoria Square, not long after the road through it was removed and before it was all redevloped into a park it is now. The tower was to be 160m tall, so quite tall, but noting near Sky City and it was pretty much doomed from day one it has so much opposition.

In the suburbs, the general feeling is that most people don't want highrises as such, but are mostly happy with low rise (up to 5 levels approx) in appropriate areas.

Recent(ish) protests I recall are:

1) Ferrymead plans for a 14 level tower got shot down by those that already live at altitude! - On the hill behind it. The current 7 level building replaces that original plan and even that has still angered residents.

2) Sumner - In the later 90's, on the streets just you enter sumner, there are a number of apartment complexes. One of them originally had plans to build a 9 level tower - It didn't get far on the basis that it would block peoples view. In actual fact, the specific site would have only blocked view from ONE house, the other areas behind it were all shopping/light commercial

3) New Brighton - I think most people here generally favour intensification close to the foreshore if only to improve New Brightons rather troubled image and to liven the mall and shore up a bit. But they'd draw a limit to someone planning a "Gold Coast" for Christchurh. I think that we might see 5-7 levels max perhaps in time.

4) Most other areas are limited to 3-4 level townhouse developments that seem to be the norm in Sydenham and St Albans. About the only other area outside the four avenues where residential high rises seem to get a reasonable acceptance is along the Carlton Mill Road stretch - Though I bet the old towers about 8 levels high that were built in maybe the 70's got a lot of stick back when they were planned!

[canterburywatch]

Originally Posted by minimum chips

I hear today that Dress Mart mall in Hornby has announced plans to increase it size by 50%. It's not the largest of malls (not sure of floor size) but the cost will be about $10mil apparently. Extension to increase out to Shands Road, includes an extra couple of levels of parking as well.

Riccarton mall is also due to be expanded later in the year. A second level will extend from Hoyts through to about the food court. Also an additional 2 cinema screens at hoyts are planned. Additional car parking will also be constructed towards the south with a overbridge linking to the existing carparks.

Hopefully they do something about the rotherham st so called 'entertainment and dining presinct'. They really stuffed up here and its a cold miserable area that lacks character (most malls in general lack character but they could do better here) The Westfield designers should obseve the success and atmosphere of arena at the palms.

[Kiwi_Rich]

Originally Posted by KaneD

On the issue of height restrictions - It's a mixed bag really. I think the general majority don't want really tall highrises in the city at all and would rather keep it much where it is now at the 20-25 level max. In the 80's, there were plans to build a tower like the sky tower on Victoria Square, not long after the road through it was removed and before it was all redevloped into a park it is now. The tower was to be 160m tall, so quite tall, but noting near Sky City and it was pretty much doomed from day one it has so much opposition.

What did Victoria Sqaure used to look like 'back in the day?' I really like Victoria Square although it needs some more active frontages around the periphery...

On the issue of height I believe that the council should up the height limit in the current district plan from where-ever it is currently 80m to 100m and just see what sort of development happens.

100m in a city with such flat geography is a height that would seem to give the CBD a sense of importance perhaps - yet still not be too overwhelming - thoughts?