WELLINGTON: City Development (Part 1)

Our own viaduct...

Not a high rise but a fantastic piece of architecture to be built beside The Steamship Wharf on the waterfront.As ususal people are opposing and would rather have grass, though people don't go to the Docklands in Melbourne for greenery...

YAAY, so here is the tory st development, alot better that any of the 'scenes' in auck dont u think?

Hotel Wellington, a development by Ms Pretergasts husband for upper cuba st, snazzy

Wool house, customhouse quay. At the moment you can see the blue glass being fitted.

flyin_higher said:

I think i know where this one is, there has been a crane there for a while now.

Hey astro, hows the construction site going for that new Customhouse Quay office tower on the old martime building site?

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Well to be honest it looks exactly the same as when that picture was posted. I guess its taking them a while to do the underground carpark, However.... the new Holiday Inn is definately on track and the steel beams just get higher and higher
Check out www.melview.co.nz to see 'The Featherston Tower'.If all goes to plan, it should sit right next to it.Will look great coming out of the train station!

Another upgrade

The Tower insurance building is up for sale with a value of about 12.5 million.When purchased it may be rufurbished and added to with a height of up to 60m. Hope they do a not so boxy job with this 1

flyin_higher said:

Now I fell like im picking on you.

Are you serious though? The HSBC development was voted as one of worst examples of heritage restoration in Wellington by the New Zealand Institute of Architects(NZIA). All the developer did was demolish 90% of the historic building onsite, leaving the front of it as a facade for the parking levels.

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I really like the HSBC tower, it defin8ly gives lambton a real "high city" feeling and looks good on the skyline.With the Tower Insurance building i think the addition on top should reflect whats already there, in keeping with the old yet still look modern. When theyve done that they should make over both axon and the NZ post building, soo 70's!

Progress

Shows the progress on the new Waitangi park, but more importantly... the museum apartments, rear left. I really hate how they have that blank concrete wall on so many new apartments.

Chaffers

Chaffers Dock, thats the 1! Its so good seeing money going into the waterfront, as well as the surrounding buildings. I still can't believe Waterfront Watch wants a park in northern queens wharf, after Wellington is undertaking one of its largest civic projects in all its history. Helloo? Well i spose if i could get paid to complain id jump on the bandwagon lol

Cuba/Dixon St development

Tried to post this ages ago, set to sit on the corner of cuba and dixon streets, replacing the old DEKA building.Builder Terri Serendipos is to start this 1 after the Century City apartments in Tory street.

Yeah, i think alot of people are suprised by Wellingtons skyline, and i agree that it may be hard creating such an amazing building with such height restrictions. A good looking building of that height is possible though, its basically building a "mobil on the park" next to the majestic.Will fill in that gap between that building and the BNZ which is a start... hopefully its a "permission for additional height" case that deems successful. I still have the article from 2004 when Clem Griffiths initiated the idea of a new high-rise on the site. Got a shock when i saw that it was still going through. Willis st's gonna be pretty hot with that and chews lanes 60m buildings.

Dom Post Article, 2003

flyin_higher said:

Hey astro, if you still have that article, do you think you could post it on here?

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One of Wellington's best-known building sites is to have a revamp with property investor Clem Griffiths announcing plans for a 24-level apartment and retail complex. The building will be on two properties at 70-80 willis st, on land which once hosted the Britannia hotel. Before the 1987 stockmarket crash, the area was marked for a big commercial development.
More than 15-years on, Mr Griffiths plans to realise the sites potential with a building featuring four levels of retailing in which existing tenants will be offered space. The development is subject to resource consent but Mr Griffiths said that the building will be within the councils 95m height limit. "Some peoples views will be blocked out. I'm very sorry about that, it's not intentional, its progress"
The development was already attracting interest, despite being at an early stage.
"The shopping plaza is half-leased and we havn't even gone to market; we want to create something that people will want to come to".
There will be two levels of lock-up space, one for the retailers and one for the apartment dwellers, above the retail plaza. Apartments will take up the remaining 18 levels. Mr Griffiths has bought the top two levels for himself and his wife, while the other 16-levels will have 6 units on each floor. He predicted buyers looking for inner-city residential locations would flock to the development. Mr Grffiths, who owns the Tug Boat on the Bay said that he had yet to set selling prices for the apartments.
Construction would not begin for about two years, he said.

And here we are in 2005 and it's all looking pretty good

Nearly done


The new tenants are going to be Deloitte. I hope they put illuminated signage up the top.

Chews Lane

Willis streets new precints plans have been released. The new Chews Lane is said to rival Auckland's Vulcan Lane when completed. Wellington doesn't really have a high fashion hub, though Lambton isn't far off... Here's what the finished product should look like.

Questions...

Um, after reading Wellington's Construction Status, could Property Boy answer me these...

27 Level Apartment/Retail, Willis Street - Under Construction
Q. I have failed to see any cranes, designs or anything since the article in the Dom Post...

Aqua, Oriental Parade - Nearing Completion
Q. These are completed. I think you might mean apartments 88 next to the Semple House..

Overseas Passenger Terminal, Waterfront - Proposed
- Whether apartments actually go in the overseas terminal is still up in the air. Wellington waterfront is seeking potential developers, with interest as far as Hong Kong.

MidCity Upgrade, Manners Street - Commencing Soon
- This has started, the wooden boards over the entrances are up.

Chews Lane - Commencing Soon
- This has also started with restorations taking place at present.

Hilton Hotel, Queens Wharf - Commencing Soon
- Wellington Waterfront is still having negotions with the developer. Hilton is unimpressed with the lengthy delays that are caused by waterfront consultations, processes... There is no set time on or if this developent even gets running.

Taranaki Wharf/Wellington Waterfront - Under Construction
- The reburbishment of the Free Ambulance building has begun but the areas plans are still seeking resource consent.

Aotea/Jervois Quay Landscape project - Commencing Soon
- This project isn't gonna start till the bypass is out of the way. That way they can see the how the bypass effects the waterfront route and can decide whether to reduce the 6 lanes to 4. At the moment they are deciding on what trees to plant.

Wellington Aquarium, Island Bay - Proposed
- This has been approved as the council is giving the Aquarium $8m to proceed.


Government Precinct, Urban Renewal - Commencing Soon
- Urm, well no plans have been drawn up yet. All they're saying is that in the future the goverment precinct is gonna be upgraded and more intergrated with the city, creating a real "Capital City" environment.

Well that's my beef, just didn't want people to get the wrong ideas..

Yaaaay! Wellington's waterfront is getting a further makeover. I was listening to the radio today and the lady said to the developer how it will compare to Melbournes Docklands and London's cananry wharf, then said, "what about the viaduct?" and he replied that what wellington will be doing different is paying alot of attention to the environment such as retaining rain water and using it for irregation. The pictures that were in the Dom Post can be seen at www.studiopacific.co.nz.
Because it will mostly be new i hope it blends in ok with the rest of the waterfront. The queens wharf event centre is pretty sad and there's too many shed-like buildings occupying prime space.. But rather focussing on the negatives, Wellington sounds like the place to be

hmmm

Though i fully support the idea for a hilton on the waterfront, the design is pretty average. I thought we we're getting away from the boxy designs... That design could be anywhere, there is nothing that stands out, shouts luxury or says "This is the best hotel in New Zealand's creative Capital". Curves add interest and seeing as the hotel is sitting on such an important site you would think they would give it the "wow factor". On the bright side at least we will have more than 1 5-star hotel and it shows that wellington can cater for the rich and famous. Lets just see what design aspects have to be fixed....

PS: In early october we will get to see the designs for the new building to be built on waitangi park. Architects from around the world are competing and there is a big emphasis on difference and promoting the city's creativity. They can be seen at the academy of fine arts. wellington waterfront has more information.

Holiday Inn

Remember that that is just the first of 3 towers to be built. Tower 1 will be the hotel and apartments, tower 2 and 3 will be a mix of office, retail, carparking and apartments. These are pics of what the rooms will look like.

Hilton, Maritime and Holiday Inn

For those who live in Wellington, although the design of the hilton isnt the greatest im sure its better than the abandoned looking sports shed that currently occupies the area.The hotel will enclose the area making the small precinct more intimate and high-class. Most people have a beef with a private building on a public space, tho the resaurant and bar is always open to the general public, as with the intercontinental.
I took a photo of the maritime and holiday inn buildings, shows great progress! these buildings will add some colour to this grey part of town.