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That proposal for 182 Lambton Qy appeared in Saturday's DomPost - it's going to be turned into a hotel with 8 extra storeys. The article isn't online though.
Posts by deepred
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That must be the Waterloo Tower that's been in the pipeline for a short while.
On a side note, I've been reading the Use your imagination on Auckland thread, and it got me thinking about the same for WLG. To take just one example, I'm hoping that Murphy's Law will crash a truck or bus into the Duxton Hotel window front, presenting a rare opportunity for Athfield/Walker/Warren/StudioPacific/ArchWorkshop to redesign it. :lol:
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From today's DomPost
Rare opportunity for a central city tower
The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 26 June 2007
One of the few remaining sites on central Wellington's Willis St with the potential of having a 95-metre high office tower built on it is on the market.
The development site, at 76 Willis St, formerly part of the Wellington Newspapers complex adjacent to the Majestic Tower, is being marketed by Hamish Stallworthy and Erin Palmer from CB Richard Ellis.
Only four remaining sites on Willis Street can accommodate 95-m-buildings, two of which have office towers on them that would need to be incorporated into any new development, says Mr Stallworthy. With the recent demand from commercial office tenants, and the subsequent developments, this site is one of only a handfull that are able to support a major commercial development.
The property is being sold by a local Wellington property trust. The trust would consider a joint venture if the right party was involved. Strong interest is expected in the site from Australian financial institutions and developers looking to invest given the lack of stock and opportunity in both the Sydney and Melbourne markets.
There was an opportunity with the proposed change in the district plan to build an iconic building setting a construction height similar, or slightly higher than its adjoining neighbour, the Majestic Building, said Mr Stallworthy. This height was an attractive feature of the property and allowed developers to create an additional drawcard to Willis St. Several new national and international retailers had moved into Willis St in the past 12 months and CB Richard Ellis was working with tenants looking at moving in, describing the street as having "the foot traffic of a mall but with the diversity of a shopping strip". Retail rentals had grown by 35-50 per cent in the past two years along this strip, reflecting the increased demand for the area and the creation of new retail spaces such as Chews Lane.
Proposed plan change 48 was brought in by Wellington City Council as a way of controlling new developments' impact on the existing environment. The two key factors under the proposed plan for this site was the requirement to have 75 per cent volume coverage and the opportunity to exceed the current height limit should an "iconic building" be approved by the council. The site can accommodate a building of 37,250 square metres within the permitted height and volume limits.
Mr Stallworthy and Mr Palmer said a building of this size in this location on Willis St would probably be developed with retail, offices and possibly apartments.
"The location and construction of a new building would provide views over Civic Square, Wellington harbour and through to Kelburn. It would be a great place to work in an office and an apartment view would be second- to-none. From an apartment perspective there is nothing in the Wellington market that could provide a penthouse harbour view from level 26."
The property provides an opportunity to build a green building. "Currently in Australia there is legislation around the need to design environmentally sustainable buildings with low carbon footprints," said Mr Palmer.
New Zealand was quickly adopting similar attitudes towards green buildings with the Government signalling this was likely to become a requirement in the near future. A new building on the site would allow architects, engineers and designers to meet new environmental and energy efficiency standards. Tenants were beginning to also demand "green buildings" and were accepting that whilst their was an additional capital cost they would provide substantial benefits in the future.
The site was previously owned by INL and is officially known as Press House Rear. Earlier plans to build a tower to match the Majestic Centre were mooted in the 1980s, but ended with the stock market crash.
"Finally the market will be able to realise the vision of a sister tower on Willis St," said Mr Stallworthy.
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Rare opportunity for a central city tower
The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 26 June 2007
One of the few remaining sites on central Wellington's Willis St with the potential of having a 95-metre high office tower built on it is on the market.
The development site, at 76 Willis St, formerly part of the Wellington Newspapers complex adjacent to the Majestic Tower, is being marketed by Hamish Stallworthy and Erin Palmer from CB Richard Ellis.
Only four remaining sites on Willis Street can accommodate 95-m-buildings, two of which have office towers on them that would need to be incorporated into any new development, says Mr Stallworthy. With the recent demand from commercial office tenants, and the subsequent developments, this site is one of only a handfull that are able to support a major commercial development.
The property is being sold by a local Wellington property trust. The trust would consider a joint venture if the right party was involved. Strong interest is expected in the site from Australian financial institutions and developers looking to invest given the lack of stock and opportunity in both the Sydney and Melbourne markets.
There was an opportunity with the proposed change in the district plan to build an iconic building setting a construction height similar, or slightly higher than its adjoining neighbour, the Majestic Building, said Mr Stallworthy. This height was an attractive feature of the property and allowed developers to create an additional drawcard to Willis St. Several new national and international retailers had moved into Willis St in the past 12 months and CB Richard Ellis was working with tenants looking at moving in, describing the street as having "the foot traffic of a mall but with the diversity of a shopping strip". Retail rentals had grown by 35-50 per cent in the past two years along this strip, reflecting the increased demand for the area and the creation of new retail spaces such as Chews Lane.
Proposed plan change 48 was brought in by Wellington City Council as a way of controlling new developments' impact on the existing environment. The two key factors under the proposed plan for this site was the requirement to have 75 per cent volume coverage and the opportunity to exceed the current height limit should an "iconic building" be approved by the council. The site can accommodate a building of 37,250 square metres within the permitted height and volume limits.
Mr Stallworthy and Mr Palmer said a building of this size in this location on Willis St would probably be developed with retail, offices and possibly apartments.
"The location and construction of a new building would provide views over Civic Square, Wellington harbour and through to Kelburn. It would be a great place to work in an office and an apartment view would be second- to-none. From an apartment perspective there is nothing in the Wellington market that could provide a penthouse harbour view from level 26."
The property provides an opportunity to build a green building. "Currently in Australia there is legislation around the need to design environmentally sustainable buildings with low carbon footprints," said Mr Palmer.
New Zealand was quickly adopting similar attitudes towards green buildings with the Government signalling this was likely to become a requirement in the near future. A new building on the site would allow architects, engineers and designers to meet new environmental and energy efficiency standards. Tenants were beginning to also demand "green buildings" and were accepting that whilst their was an additional capital cost they would provide substantial benefits in the future.
The site was previously owned by INL and is officially known as Press House Rear. Earlier plans to build a tower to match the Majestic Centre were mooted in the 1980s, but ended with the stock market crash.
"Finally the market will be able to realise the vision of a sister tower on Willis St," said Mr Stallworthy.
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There's no info on the Century City site as yet, but it sounds promising.On a more positive note, I've heard a few more things about the "Serepisos Tower". While it will have a mast that makes it really tall, the highest occupied floor will be at least as high as top of the Majestic Centre. My contact says it's being designed by a respected corporate architect, and he also says there is some really nice balcony detailing. Some floors will only have a single apartment, so if you can imagine a tower the height of the Majestic centre but much, much slimmer, you can see that even if it's not supertall, it should look like a real skyscraper
*There's also the space between those two 1960s concrete lumps on Willis St, opposite Chews Lane.
*I've also noticed the produce market on the Willis-Vivian corner is effectively vacant. Although there's a Wash 'n' Shop outlet there right now, it seems to be a by-word for "soon to be developed". For that matter, any car park that looks like it's wasting space is free advertising for development potential.
*There's another vacant spot next to the McKenzies Building where the bypass enters the city, which appears to have been paved over.
*And I wonder what's going to happen with the old Caltex station on Wakefield St?
Once I find my camera, or buy another one, I'll be on the case again.
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Apparently it's going to be near Cable Car Lane.
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That apartment tower that's going to replace the old Forest & Bird building on Taranaki St:
Gillies & Mark Real Estate #153635
Draw your own conclusions.
Gillies & Mark Real Estate #153635
Draw your own conclusions.
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You may be thinking of George Middleditch, the co-developer, who died a couple of years ago. According to the Sumich Architects web site, Lawrence is alive and well as the practice director.
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I think what would suit the area well is an indoor arena that can handle 8000-11000 people - more than the embarrassment known as TSB Arena, but fewer people than Westpac Stadium. WLG's missed out on quite a few concerts because of that gap in event capacity.
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Only for cost reasons.
I've been rather quiet on the photo front lately, but my camera went missing several weeks ago.
hno: Thankfully I got a new one off TradeMe for $50, and cheap 'n nasty it's not. :banana: Anyhow, as I was saying before I got rudely interrupted several weeks ago:
Century City, Tory St. March 2007 (left) and July 2007 (right):
Bellagio, Taranaki St. May 2007 (left), July 2007 (right):
Chaffers Dock, Waterfront. Complete as of Jun/Jul 2007:
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I flatted in the Hutt for several months a few years ago, and IMNSHO, it felt kind of 8 Mile-ish to me.
Hopefully 12 Daly St will be the beginning of the end of Suburbistan. :lol:
Hopefully 12 Daly St will be the beginning of the end of Suburbistan. :lol:
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^^ Here are the accompanying pics:
18 July 2007 (left) and 27 July 2007 (right):
On a side note, does anyone recognise this faux-Tudor building in the background at 97 Boulcott St? My guess is it's a Roger Walker, probably done around the same time as his Wills St Village in 1979-1980.
18 July 2007 (left) and 27 July 2007 (right):
On a side note, does anyone recognise this faux-Tudor building in the background at 97 Boulcott St? My guess is it's a Roger Walker, probably done around the same time as his Wills St Village in 1979-1980.
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1,329 Posts
From today's Dom Post
Meridian cuts power bill
The Dominion Post | Thursday, 16 August 2007
GREEN POWER: Meridian Energy chief Keith Turner outside the company's new Wellington offices, complete with solar panels and designed to use less water and power than similar buildings.
Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner will get the corner office on the top floor of the state- owned company's new Wellington waterfront building when the power company staff move in on October 15.
But he won't have a car park.
And neither will any other staff.
The lack of parks is deliberate, according to Dr Turner.
"There are plenty of bike racks," he said yesterday.
The site would also give staff good access to public transport, including trains and harbour ferries, Dr Turner said.
Transport is one of the biggest energy users and emitters of greenhouse gases, and Meridian is trying to play its part in reducing those.
Meridian also announced yesterday that it planned a small-scale demonstration of electric cars next year.
Its new office is designed to use 70 per cent less water and 60 per cent less power than other similar commercial office buildings.
It will have solar hot water for bathrooms and showers, and solar panels will produce some power for the building.
A computerised building management system will automatically adjust windows, lights and air conditioning for the weather conditions outside - believed to be a first for a New Zealand building.
The building is owned by Dominion Funds.
Meridian cuts power bill
The Dominion Post | Thursday, 16 August 2007
GREEN POWER: Meridian Energy chief Keith Turner outside the company's new Wellington offices, complete with solar panels and designed to use less water and power than similar buildings.
Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner will get the corner office on the top floor of the state- owned company's new Wellington waterfront building when the power company staff move in on October 15.
But he won't have a car park.
And neither will any other staff.
The lack of parks is deliberate, according to Dr Turner.
"There are plenty of bike racks," he said yesterday.
The site would also give staff good access to public transport, including trains and harbour ferries, Dr Turner said.
Transport is one of the biggest energy users and emitters of greenhouse gases, and Meridian is trying to play its part in reducing those.
Meridian also announced yesterday that it planned a small-scale demonstration of electric cars next year.
Its new office is designed to use 70 per cent less water and 60 per cent less power than other similar commercial office buildings.
It will have solar hot water for bathrooms and showers, and solar panels will produce some power for the building.
A computerised building management system will automatically adjust windows, lights and air conditioning for the weather conditions outside - believed to be a first for a New Zealand building.
The building is owned by Dominion Funds.
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New entry on Century City web site
IBM Building, Petone
"The property on which the new development forms a part is located on the south-western corner of The Esplanade and Victoria Street in Petone. The site is located approximately three kilometres from the Hutt CBD and six kilometres North of Wellington.
Petone is a well established commercial and industrial location with an increasing emphasis on the commercial range of uses including offices, bulk retail and showroom."
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"The Esplanade is the major thoroughfare connecting Wellington to Lower Hutt’s Eastern suburbs. Jackson Street, the regions new Ponsonby, is located immediately to the North.
The site is a short walk from the Petone railway station and has a number of well utilised bus stops near the site."
IBM Building, Petone
"The property on which the new development forms a part is located on the south-western corner of The Esplanade and Victoria Street in Petone. The site is located approximately three kilometres from the Hutt CBD and six kilometres North of Wellington.
Petone is a well established commercial and industrial location with an increasing emphasis on the commercial range of uses including offices, bulk retail and showroom."
"The Esplanade is the major thoroughfare connecting Wellington to Lower Hutt’s Eastern suburbs. Jackson Street, the regions new Ponsonby, is located immediately to the North.
The site is a short walk from the Petone railway station and has a number of well utilised bus stops near the site."
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