Gloucester St / Latimer Sq, Northeast corner: We looked at the Aussie USAR / TF Memorial commemorating three Aussie USAR / TF teams which crossed the Tasman to help NZ USAR / TF teams after the 22 February 2011 Quake. It was pathetic Aussie disinformation as the Aussie USAR / TF Memorial didn't even honour the 185 quake-dead! The Aussie Memorial bench was made from some of Christ Church Cathedral's salvaged-wood. The recent Royal Commission of Inquiry & Coroner's Inquest had found that on the 22 February 2011 Quake day there was no management coordination amongst cops & fire service & NZ USAR / TF teams at the collapsed multi-storey CTV where 115 people died! After surviving the CTV collapse, eight survivors died in the rubble while Fire Service & USAR / TF bosses dithered over who would extinguish the CTV fire & who would do rescuing!
27.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Aussie USAR / TF Memorial bench, Latimer Sq
Part of the Aussie USAR / TF plaque: "... responded to assist our New Zealand colleagues in saving lives & providing support to the Christchurch community..." Really? Like other foreign USAR / TF teams, Aussie USAR / TF arrived too late in Christchurch to save lives & community support was moot. I never saw one Aussie USAR / TF team member & few others, as citizens were forbidden entry into the CBD-cordon during quake-times. Only evidence I saw of USAR / TF efforts was their spray-painted graffiti on abandoned buildings.
27.12.12. Aussie USAR / TF Memorial plaque, Latimer Sq
After Aussie USAR / TF teams arrived on 23 February 2011, as so-called First Responders, all they did was check cordoned CBD buildings & spray-paint USAR / TF graffiti on buildings & footpaths. Years later, USAR / TF graffiti would still be seen on cordoned buildings. The USAR / TF Memorial was later moved from Latimer Sq to south bank, Kilmore St Bridge, opposite the USA's September 11 Firefighters' Memorial.
Gloucester St / Latimer Sq, Northwest corner near ZB Newstalk implosion site: I saw several orange painted tyres filled with planted petunias obscured by weeds on a demolition-site. Rotary had put flower-filled tyres on various CBD demolition-sites.
27.12.12. Rotary petunia tyres, weeds, demolition site, Latimer Sq / Gloucester St. Demolition sites & S red zone beyond. Left bldgs & right Westende House would be demolished, the demo area becoming CERA's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park. 2021. The tyre / petunia, demo site would become apartments, Latimer Sq / Gloucester St
Since its press release on 30 July 2012 five months before, CERA had made little progress in Cathedral Sq. The press release boasted about CERA's CCDU Blueprint for Christchurch CBD, touting anchor projects & Frame parkland bordering CERA's core-CBD.
Gloucester St: In the red-zone, New Regent St restoration was quiet, nothing happening during holidays. Isaac Theatre Royal restoration had triple-stacked shipping-containers supporting the front facade. The auditorium was gutted & roofless, the stage area was separated from the front facade.
Across the road, Next to The Press new building, workmen repaired cracks on Cathedral Junction concrete-walls with epoxy-glue. Novotel was being repaired in the red-zone. Beyond Warners Hotel demolition-site & the old Press demolition-site, we saw Government Departmental Building / Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel & the back of Christ Church Cathedral ruin in the red-zone.
27.12.12. Demolition site view, Novotel, Gloucester St
27.12.12. Demolition site view, Novotel & Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel left, Isaac Theatre Royal restoration & The Press right
27.12.12. Gloucester St view, Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel N red zone
27.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon, orange, plastic, bollard cordon. Gloucester St view, Isaac Theatre Royal restoration, N red zone
27.12.12. Gloucester St demolition sites view, new, The Press & Cathedral Junction left, Government Departmental Building middle, Heritage Hotel & Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel right, S red zone
27.12.12. Gloucester St demolition site view, new, The Press & Pacific Tower / Rendezvous Hotel left, Cathedral Junction right, S red zone
27.12.12. Cathedral Sq: Steel mesh fence cordon. Double stacked, shipping container cordon. The Press demolition site view, ruined Christ Church Cathedral, N transept, S red zone
Six weeks before when Prince Charles & Camilla visited CBD-ruins, Leah & I looked at NZDF-checkpointed, steel-mesh-fence-cordoned Christ Church Cathedral ruin in the southern red-zone. Behind the NZDF checkpoint hut, Gloucester St / Colombo St crossing, CERA had made a steel-mesh-fence-cordoned pocket for public to view Christ Church Cathedral. A NZDF-soldier lounged on a sofa outside his $10 000 wooden- checkpoint-hut. Another soldier slouched with his hands in pockets. Where did the sofa come from? We became used to seeing sloppy NZDF-soldiers lounging around checkpoints & banning citizens from the CBD red-zone. Who was in charge of those military louts?
27.12.12. Gloucester St view, ruined, Christ Church Cathedral. Novotel left, Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel behind, Camelot Hotel right, S red zone. Camelot Hotel would be demolished for Central Library / Turanga rebuild
27.12.12. Orange, plastic, road cones, steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint, S red zone, Gloucester St / Colombo St crossing
A checkpoint, steel-mesh-fence-cordon threat-sign:
STOP
HARD-HAT
HIGH VIZ VEST &
SAFETY BOOTS
TO BE
WORN
Gloucester St / Colombo St: As CERA was on holiday during the festive season, CERA had extended ite steel-mesh-fence-cordoned pocket across Cathedral Sq towards the cop-kiosk. Behind the soldiers' hut at the NZDF-checkpoint, CERA's propaganda boards festooned the steel-mesh-fence-cordon trumpeting CCDU's Blueprint which was released months before. CCDU's Blueprint predicted years of demolished ruins & their transformation into new buildings.
CCDU's Propaganda boards:
CHRISTCHURCH CENTRAL
RECOVERY PLAN
Te Mahere 'Maraka Otautahi'
Vision
Te Wawata
Central Christchurch will become the thriving heart of
an international city.
It will draw on its rich natural and cultural heritage,
and the skills and passion of its people to embrace
opportunities for innovation and growth.
Redevelopment will acknowledge the past and the
events that have shaped the city, while reflecting the
best of the new.
WHAT DO CHRISTCHURCH
PEOPLE WANT FOR THEIR CITY?
He Aha Nga Tino Whainga?
When Christchurch City Council asked people to Share an Idea about the central
city recovery, it received more than 100 000 suggestions. Advice also came from
professional institutes, interest groups and community organisations.
From the community's responses five key themes formed the basis of the draft
Central City Plan:
1. Green city
2. Stronger built identity
3. Compact CBD
4. Accessible city
5. Live, work, play, learn and visit
These themes are reflected in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.
THE BLUEPRINT PLAN
Te Hononga Mokowa
The Blueprint Plan provides a spatial framework for central Christchurch. It describes
the form in which the central city can be rebuilt as a whole, and it defines the location
of 'anchor projects' which will stimulate further development.
STADIUM
Taiwhanga Hakinakina
A large multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue is proposed for central
Christchurch. With seating for up to 35 000 people, the covered stadium will position
central Christchurch as a world-class option for attracting and hosting sporting
events and concerts.
The stadium will include:
*35 000 seat capacity, with 4 300 demountable seats to allow for staging and
scaling of events
*Corporate seats and lounge spaces with a 4 000 seat capacity
*Option of a fixed, transparent roof to allow natural turf and enable multiple uses
*Optimum spectator viewing through rectangular format for field of play and
seating.
2022-23. Construction of CERA's Blueprint Stadium would begin.
JUSTICE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICE PRECINCT
Te Manatu Ture me Te Kahui Whakamarumaru
The Justice and Emergency Service Precinct will incorporate the government and
emergency service sectors, along with Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
It will bring a substantial workforce into the central city, stimulating recovery by
supporting retail and commercial activity in the central area. The precinct will
accommodate up to 840 justice sector staff and 370 emergency service staff within
31 000 square metres of built floor area, possibly combining above and below
ground construction.
2016. Justice & Emergency Service Precinct would be built between Lichfield St & Tuam St. A huge steel frame, concrete & glass bldg.
METRO SPORTS FACILITY
Taiwhanga Rehia
A new Metro Sports Facility will attract people from across Canterbury, New Zealand
and the world. They will be able to train, participate and compete in a broad range
of sports for all ages and abilities. The facilities will also offer a pleasant and
relaxing environment for spectators. Conveniently located in central Christchurch
and close to other sports facilities, the Metro Sports Facility will be easy to access
by public transport, private vehicle and new walking and cycling tracks.
After CERA / CCDU had taken Douglas Furniture, where Luke worked, for its Blueprint, Luke would join Sylvan Salvage, as he didn't want to commute to the relocated joinery firm in Hornby. 2016. We saw a vast demolition-site where Luke had worked, but saw no sign of the Metro Sports Facility yet. 2023-24. The Metro Sports Facility was being built, but incomplete...
HEALTH PRECINCT
Te Papa Hauroa
There is the opportunity for a world class hub for health education research and
innovation to be established next to the existing Christchurch Hospital. The Health
Precinct is an inspirational project in which private research and professional
partners, educational and medi-hotel facilities will be within walking distance of the
main hospital. Located at the western end of the south Frame, the precinct will be
well connected to the Metro Sports Facility and the Core.
2018. Small traffic circle had been constructed at the bottom of Antigua St opp Antigua Boat Shed. New building by the traffic circle.
PERFORMING ARTS PRECINCT
Te Whare Tapere
The arts and creative industries are crucial to the recovery of Christchurch. They
contribute to the local economy, to community and cultural well being and support
tourism and hospitality. Most of all, they draw people to the city and make it an
inspiring place to be.
Despite CERA hoopla, the Blueprint didn't mention damaged Christchurch Town Hall.
September 2016. Opening of The Piano: Centre for Music & the Arts, Armagh St, behind refurbished Isaac Theatre Royal, Gloucester St.
2021. The Performing Arts precinct was still just just a temporary path & planter boxes covering demolition-rubble between restored Isaac Theatre Royal & Colombo St. Refurbished Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel & new Central Library / Turanga & new Convention Centre / Te Pae loomed over the vacant lot. A sign said new Court Theatre would be built on-site.
2023-24. Colombo St / Gloucester St: Court Theatre would be built, two theatres, enough to house 500 theatre-goers.
THE FRAME
Te Taparepare
Defining the Core, and providing new green space and a range of commercial and
residential development opportunities the Frame will reshape central Christchurch.
Its three components - East, South and North - each have their own distinct
character, while the Urban Gateways in the north-west and south-east provide
vibrant entry points to the central city.
2016. Margaret Mahy Family Playground would be built & operated in the North Frame. Otherwise, we saw only demolition-sites in CERA's North Frame & East Frame & South Frame. So far the South Frame was abandoned to new EPIC Innovation & old car dealers & faux lanes. CERA would disband in April 2016, briefly replaced by Regenerate Christchurch.
2018-19. Many apartments would be built lining the east side of the East Frame / Rauora Park: Latimer Terraces, Liverpool Terraces, Bedford Terraces, Bedford Apartments.
2020-22. Latimer Sq / Gloucester St, more apartments would be built.
2023. More apartments would be built along Manchester St, west side Rauora Park.
AVON RIVER PRECINCT
Te Papa Otakaro
The winding path of the Avon River / Otakaro will mark Christchurch's new river
precinct. Te Papa Otakaro will include Victoria Square (formerly Market Square)
and be part of the central city's spiritual and aesthetic identity.
2018. We saw some progress: Riverside restoration of paths, concrete-seating & a boardwalk near Antigua Boat Shed. The footbridge was repaired near Antigua Boat Shed. The Bridge of Remembrance was repaired near Restart Cashel Mall. New concrete steps were constructed on Avon River bank below The Terrace. Victoria Bridge was repaired near the Town Hall repair. Victoria Sq was revamped. Avon River: Matting was laid below water level on CBD riverbanks to stop erosion.
2020. From Oxford Tce, a pedestrian footbridge would be built over Avon River to Cambridge Tce to provide easy access for the PGC Memorial garden remembering 22 February 2011 Quake dead.
CENTRAL LIBRARY
Te Whare Pukapuka Matua
The new Central Library will be the city's hub for knowledge, heritage materials
recreational reading & listening. It will be an integral part of central Christchurch
and a gateway to the world via library collections and digital access.
The Central Library will continue to house some of the country's most important
collections of books and audio-visual materials. It will provide easy access to
digital technologies, local heritage collections, exhibition and performance spaces, a
learning centre, spaces to relax - indoors and outdoors - and activities to entertain
and educate people of all ages.
2016. Old Central Library had been demolished.
2018. New Central Library / Turanga was built on multistorey Camelot Hotel demolition-site next to multistorey Novotel, Cathedral Sq. After more than a decade working in Christchurch hospitality in several cafes & restaurants, even during quakes, Jake left hospitality & briefly temped as a gib-stopper at Central Library / Turanga rebuild. He would soon join a Cumnor Tce caterer near The Tannery.
CONVENTION CENTRE PRECINCT
Whare Runanga
A world-class Convention Centre will be developed to attract new and existing events
to the city. The precinct comprises of a number of buildings that will reactivate
surrounding streets and public spaces and generate new activity. The precinct will
support retail and hospitality within the Core and visitor attractions and services
throughout Christchurch.
The Convention Centre will connect to the Square, Victoria Square, Puari Pa and
the Avon River Precinct / Te papa Otakaro and there will be day to day activities at
ground level on all sides.
2016. The old Convention Centre was demolished, Kilmore St.
2018-21. The new Convention Centre / Te Pae would be built, a huge steel-framed concrete & glass structure, between Victoria Sq & Cathedral Sq It jutted over Gloucester St & bordered quake-survivor Isaac House, Armagh St side.
THE SQUARE
Te Ripeka
The Square will once again be the vibrant civic heart of central Christchurch.
Meet friends, eat lunch, listen to music, enjoy the city's passing parade - the
Square will always entertain. Civic facilities such as the Central Library and the
Convention Centre precinct will give life to the Square during the day. The return of
entertainment facilities such as cinemas, performance spaces, cafes and restaurants
will be encouraged to make it vibrant and safe during the night as well.
2018. Christ Church Cathedral restoration was retarded by the demolish / restore / rebuild squabble between Heritage-hailers & the Anglican diocese. A court judge's recent ruling: Anglicans must use quake insurance payout to rebuild the Cathedral on Christ Church Cathedral site. After Regenerate Christchurch succeeded CERA, NZ Labour government's Regenerate Christchurch minister, Dr Megan Woods wanted to tidy up Cathedral Sq & get Christ Church Cathedral restoration going. Upshot: Christ Church Cathedral would be reinstated, but reinstatement would take seven to ten years. 2024. Reinstatement money would run out. 2026. Reinstatement was still stalled due to lack of funds. The ruined / part-repaired Cathedral was still a blot on the quakescape!... See Coda below.
2019. Novotel & Heritage Hotel open. Millennium Hotel / Distinction Hotel open. BNZ demolished, being replaced by Spark multistorey, a glass-fronted office building.
2020. During Covid-19 pandemic, Distinction Hotel would be a quarantine hotel.
27.12.12. Cathedral Sq, steel mesh fence cordon fence view, Camelot Hotel & Novotel, S red zone. Prophet posters on fence. Camelot Hotel would be demolished for the Central Library / Turanga rebuild
On a steel-mesh-fence-cordon, a halfwit "Prophet" two A4 sized posters:
HEAR YE HEAR YE
CERA
TEAR DOWN THAT CORDON
In my capacity as newly minted Prophet of Canterbury
And on behalf of the good people of Christchurch
I call upon CERA to remove the cordon around Cathedral Square
So that we may once again
Especially at this magical time of year
Walk freely among the ruins of the city centre
Which although broken and down, is not out
As it remains for many of us, and will always be
Both the sacred and secular heart of Christchurch.
The Prophet of Canterbury
December 2012 AD
PROCLAMATION...
Meanwhile CERA boss Sutton condoned the insurer / EQC travesty:
"CERA is continuing to work with EQC and insurance companies to remove roadblocks to the rebuild and it's positive that nearly all the major insurers have now said they will get all greater Christchurch homes repaired or rebuilt by the end of 2015 to mid-2016." (CERA's Greater Christchurch Recovery Update Issue 17 January 2013). So much for recovery.
August 2019: The Press / TV1 News would report a court case: Southern Response (a Crown insurer, which took over AMI during quakes after AMI went bust) was "deceptive" in its dealings with claimants. Southern Response had lowballed claimants: low offer instead of a fair higher offer for claims, short-changing many claimants. Labour MP Megan Woods would set aside NZ$ 300m compensation for Southern Response faulty claims. And that was just Southern Response!
June 2021. After the devastating 14 November 2016 Kaikoura Quake, claimants would successfully deal only with their insurers instead of EQC, which had traumatized so many claimants for many years post Christchurch quakes. Future quake-claimants dealing only with their insurers would become the norm, insurers only dealing with EQC. It took a 2020, Dame Silvia Cartwright, Commission of Inquiry into EQC ineptitude to sort that out!
27.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, WW memorial & ruined Christ Church Cathedral, S red zone
27.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq military checkpoint view, ruined Christ Church Cathedral
27.12.12. Pre quakes tourist info board, Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint. Forsyth Barr / Crowne Plaza Hotel N red zone beyond
Since our last 2012 visit, CERA had done zilch new in Cathedral Sq. A pile of rubble showed demolished multistorey Clarendon Tower. Multistorey Government Life ruin still awaited demolition. More ruins which surrounded Christ Church Cathedral ruin were steel-mesh-fence-cordoned ever since the 22 February 2011 Quake.
27.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Cathedral Sq, NZDF checkpoint view, ruined Christ Church Cathedral. Cop kiosk right would be demolished 2021
October 2011, CERA had got Restart Cashel Mall going & a temporary bus exchange going off Tuam St & Lichfield St. Since those temporary facilities evolved, besides demolitions CERA did little in 2012 about CBD rebuild. So far, CERA's five months old CCDU Blueprint was just big talk, no action. As demolitions & rebuilds were stalled in Cathedral Sq & environs, when would CERA expedite its CCDU Blueprint?
Early evening: I drove along red-zone Avonside Dr from Avondale Rd Bridge to Swanns Rd Bridge. There were scores more residential demolition-sites along Avonside Dr since I'd last driven that way. On the ruined-road, there was ponding from road subsidence & Avon River seepage beyond the stopbank.
Friday 28.12.12. I parked on Armagh St by CCDU's Blueprint Avon River Precinct. I trekked the red-zone-cordon again past Christ Church Cathedral checkpoint. Bar demolitions, CERA had done little since I'd trekked the red-zone-cordon six weeks before.
"New" points of difference:
*Worcester St Bridge: The steel-mesh-fence-cordon was moved across the bridge to abandoned Our City for public access across the bridge to punts on Avon River bank. A WELCOME TO CHRISTCHURCH map & Prophet posters hung on that steel-mesh-fence-cordon too.
28.12.12. Worcester St Bridge, steel mesh fence cordon signs, southern red zone
28.12.12. Worcester St Bridge, steel mesh fence cordon view, S red zone. Steel propped, Our City left. Cathedral Sq bldgs right, revealed by Clarendon Tower demolition - rubble beyond cordon
28.12.12. Worcester St Bridge, steel mesh fence cordon view. Steel propped, Our City & Rydges Hotel, S red zone. Both bldgs would survive the quakes
*Hereford St by reopened Ibis Hotel: Demolition of multistorey IBM in progress. BNZ bank demolition across Colombo St was stalled: Same demolition status as six weeks before. Diagonally opposite Ibis Hotel, the building on Colombo St was being demolished. A digger was parked atop rubble by the temporary soccer astroturf.
The Press 04.01.13 reported: Stalled BNZ demolition was due to BNZ asbestos hazard found at the demolition-site & surroundings in July 2012. No wonder demolitions were stalled in Cathedral Sq. Never mind public access to Ibis Hotel & the Hereford St / Colombo St steel-mesh-fence- cordon & daily shopping & commerce at Restart Cashel Mall a block away.
Where was CERA's reporting about CERA demolished buildings containing asbestos? Where was CERA dumping asbestos waste? Despite nor'westers, I hadn't seen water-tankers laying demolition-dust for months.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon, orange / white, plastic bollard cordon. Yellow digger on Colombo St rubble. Hereford St view, demolition site, temp soccer astroturf
28.12.12. Demolition site, soccer astroturf view, IBM left, BNZ right, awaited demolitions, Hereford St / Colombo St. Asbestos polluted BNZ would be replaced by Spark, multi-storey, glass fronted, office bldg
* At Restart Cashel Mall: I saw more trinket sellers & more shoppers enjoying holiday shopping. A 1929 Baby Austin was parked for joyrides, $15 / ride.
28.12.12. 1929 Baby Austin Joyrider, Restart Cashel Mall
28.12.12. Restart Cashel Mall, shoppers, shipping container shops
In a flower-bed, a concrete-slab bearing a memorial-plaque:
In memory of those
who lost their lives
in City Mall during
the earthquake of
22 February 2011
28.12.12. Memorial, 3 quake dead, Restart Cashel Mall
28.12.12. Restart Cashel Mall, shipping container shops
*Colombo St / Cashel St, The Crossing view, south red-zone: Multistorey Holiday Inn was rubble pile. Twinkle Toes the giant digger had demolished fast.
28.12.12. Restart Cashel Mall, The Crossing view, S red zone
*Tuam St: I saw For Lease signs & USAR / TF graffiti on a brick building by a steel-mesh-fence-cordoned, razor wired / boarded alley to Sol Sq.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Sol Sq, boarded / razor wired alley, off Tuam St, S red zone. Old Council bldg left would be demolished for the new Bus Interchange
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. For Lease sign, USAR / TF graffiti, Tuam St, S red zone
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Weedy demolition site, Tuam St / Manchester St, S red zone
*Tuam St: I saw an Espresso Bar on a temporary trailer opposite Alice in Videoland (old PO). It was bordered by Gap Filler planter-boxes. The Espresso Bar was closed, missing holiday trade. (The area would become Evolution Sq). Behind stood steel-propped, McKenzie Willis ruined-facade awaiting restoration, Tuam St / High St.
28.12.12. Red Fix Espresso Bar, Tuam St. McKenzie Willis, facade awaited restoration, Tuam St / High St behind, S red zone
28.12.12. Red Fix Espresso Bar, Tuam St. Alice in Videoland (old PO) behind
28.12.12. Red Fix Espresso Bar, Gap Filler garden, Tuam St. EPIC Innovation behind. The area would become Evolution Sq
28.12.12. FOOTPATH CLOSED. Steel mesh fence cordon. Tuam St view, steel propped McKenzie Willis, facade awaited restoration, High St, S red zone
*High St to St Asaph St: Steel-mesh-fence-cordoned. A High St brick-ruin was burnt out near McKenzie Willis ruin. Arson? Electricity was off since the 22 February 2011 Quake. The burnt-ruin would be demolished for future High St development & restoration of old brick, damaged Duncan's Buildings. The area would become Salt District.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. High St view, burnt out bldg, near McKenzie Willis bldg. The burnt bldg would be demolished for future High St development. Duncan's Bldgs left would be restored, 2019
*Madras St / Cashel St, southeast view: St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition-site: I saw the 185 Empty Chair Memorial to 185 dead in the 22 February 2011 Quake. Beyond, I saw the Anglican Cardboard Cathedral's roof arch.
28.12.12. 185 Empty Chairs Memorial to 185 dead, 22.02.11 quake, St Pauls Trinity Pacific Presbyterian demolition site, Madras St / Cashel St. Anglican Cardboard Cathedral arch beyond
*Madras St / Cashel St, northwest view: Floral tributes on a steel-mesh-fence-cordon to 115 CTV dead at the CTV demolition-site. I saw gazanias in Council planter-boxes. Beyond the red-zone steel-mesh-fence-cordon, I saw a demolition-wasteland.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Floral tributes to 115 dead, CTV demolition site, Madras St / Cashel St, S red zone
*Madras St / Hereford St by Latimer Sq: I saw erection of the Anglican Cardboard Cathedral roof arch on St Johns demolition-site. At least the Anglican diocese was building its temporary Cardboard Cathedral. Meanwhile Council dithered over building consents while CERA demolished. On the opposite corner, on the Arrow House demolition-site I saw an advert on three-layered shipping-containers:
ZM
91.3
Today's Hit Music
2019. Arrow House demo site would become Liverpool Terraces flats.
28.12.12. Planter box. Anglican Cardboard Cathedral arch, St Johns demolition site, Madras St / Hereford St, by Latimer Sq
28.12.12. ZM 91.3 Today's Hit Music ad on stacked, shipping containers, Arrow House demolition site, Hereford St / Madras St, by Latimer Sq. IR bldg left, Les Mills gym right. 2019. Arrow House demo site would become Liverpool Terraces flats
*Latimer Sq / Worcester St: I saw Latimer Hotel rebuild, so far at two-storey height. Latimer Hotel would be renamed Rydges Hotel.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Latimer Hotel rebuild, Latimer Sq / Worcester St. Latimer Hotel would be renamed Rydges Hotel
CERA was a slow demolisher using taxpayers' money to destroy. Since CERA's red-zone-CBD occupation in May 2011, CERA made NO GO wastelands in Christchurch CBD & along Avon River banks. CERA wanted to take & demolish good CBD buildings for its Blueprint Frame & Precincts. CBD ghosts would still be demolished long past CERA's April 2016 expiry.
After nearly two years of CERA's CBD occupation, Christchurch CBD was a mess atop Christchurch Fault! Since CERA's 30 July fanfare of its CBD Blueprint, CERA was supposedly making another 100 day plan for the CBD rebuild. So far nothing. That was CERA's delay pattern throughout 2012. Big talk, no action CERA ignored its own deadline dates for land-zonings & took its time blaming slow Tonkin & Taylor geotech engineers, or waiting for a bouncing-rocks report from Milan University, while homeowners waited.
Christchurch CBD's post-quake incarnations:
1. Christchurch Council's Central City Plan, 2011.
2. NZ National government's / CERA's / CCDU's Blueprint, Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, 2012.
3. NZ National government's Regeneration Christchurch, 2016.
4. NZ Labour government's Regeneration Christchurch, 2017.
28.12.12. Steel mesh fence cordon. Spring & ponding on Amicus House demolition site, Madras St / Armagh St. The area would become part of CERA's Blueprint E Frame / Rauora Park
28.12.12. DANGER HAZARDS threat sign, Orion bldg, Armagh St. Orion bldg would survive the quakes, opp Margaret Mahy Family Playground
*Trekked Latimer Sq, Gloucester St, Cathedral Sq, Worcester St, Hereford St, Restart Cashel Mall, Tuam St, High St, Madras St. 96 images.
Coda:
Sunday 14.02.16. Valentines Day, M5.7 quake. Christ Church Cathedral's western facade would crumble more, despite the steel "Battering Ram" buttressing the facade.
08.06.19. During the NZ Labour / coalition government's tenure, I saw on Christ Church Cathedral's steel-mesh-fence-cordon, three Council infomation boards:
1. REINSTATE
The Future of
Christ Church Cathedral
This important part of Christchurch heritage will be reinstated.
Christ Church Cathedral, built for the glory of God, and one of
New Zealand's most significant heritage buildings, was badly
damaged by the Canterbury earthquakes.
There is now a project to reinstate this iconic building.
We now have a unique opportunity to reinstate the
Anglican Cathedral at the heart of our city -
for us and for future generations.
How long will the project take?
The Cathedral will be reinstated in three phases. The main Cathedral building will be first,
followed by the ancillary buildings (including the Visitor Centre) and, finally, the Tower.
Before work can begin the Cathedral will need to undergo intensive stabilisation works.
The scope of works cannot be finalised until it is safe to enter.
Overall, the project is expected to take between 7 and 10 years.
Find our more at reinstate org.nz
2. Christ Church Cathedral,
one of New Zealand's most
significant heritage buildings,
was badly damaged by the
Canterbury earthquakes.
We are reinstating this important
spiritual, social and civic place.
We're reinstating
Christ Church Cathedral
-The reinstated Cathedral will be a place where all can gather and be at home.
It will host friends, strangers, neighbours, tourists and visitors to our city. It will
welcome people of all faiths and none.
-'Reinstatement' is a combination of repair, restoration, reconstruction, rebuild
and seismic strengthening.
-The Cathedral will look similar to how it did pre-earthquake, keeping many
original design and heritage features.
-We're making it safer, more functional and more comfortable for worship
and civic, community and hospitality events.
-The project is expected to take between 7-10 years.
Autumn 2019
3. Christ Church Cathedral
So far most of the work has been behind the scenes, getting the
right people, processes and procedures in place.
-Physical reinstatement can start after the existing building is stabilised.
-The design for how the Cathedral will be stabilised, reinstated and operated is underway.
-Stabilisation construction is expected to begin in first quarter 2020 and take 12 to 18 months.
-Site maintenance will be ongoing. [After years of neglect caused by obstructive court cases].
-As investigation and design progresses we'll have more information about
the timing of next stages.
Autumn 2019
Heritage-hailers would have much to answer for, saddling ratepayers for years with ongoing Cathedral reinstatement & maintenance costs. If Anglicans had been allowed to rebuild, a new Christ Church Cathedral would've been built long before.
Christchurch Basilica farce: August 2019. The new Roman Catholic bishop, Paul Martin would use his CERA section 38 notice to demolish Christchurch Basilica ruin, Barbadoes St. He then touted a rebuild for a new Christchurch Basilica near Cathedral Sq, Armagh St / Colombo St / Oxford Tce, opposite the revamped Town Hall & Victoria Sq. Heritage-hailer, Anna Crighton's threatened court action to save Christchurch Basilica was useless, as Christchurch Basilica would be completely demolished in 2021. The Armagh St / Colombo St, Christchurch Basilica site would fizzle. Hopefully a new Christchurch Basilica would be built on the original Barbadoes St site.
2023. On Christ Church Cathedral's cordon fence, I saw new information:
Reinstatement
Project Timeline
End of 2027
Target completion for Cathedral Reinstatement
February 2023
Stabilisation expected to be complete
December 2020
Reinstatement Resource Consent granted
May 2020
Work commenced at the Cathedral with a site blessing
September 2017
Christ Church Cathedral Resinstatement Act 2017 enacted
September 2011
Cathedral deconsecrated to allow 'make safe' work to begin
February - June 2011
Cathedral severely damaged by the Canterbury earthquakes
2026. Christ Church Cathedral reinstatement was stalled due to lack of funds. Christchurch Basilica rebuild was non existant. The saga continued...
Content & pics Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.
See Impressive projects anchor a compact, green city, 30 July 2012 (CERA press release).
See Owner plans to 'fix, open' IRD building (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Asbestos hazard in CBD (The Press / Stuff Co).
See F grade unfair insurers council (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Big fight ahead for red zoners (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Reinstate Organisation NZ.
See Final Quake Deal (The Press / Stuff Co).
See Emergency power that took over 700 christchurch buildings is still in force (Stuff Co).
