Plans forge on to redevelop ‘eyesore’
Plans are forging ahead to convert a 115-year-old central Wellington ‘‘eyesore’’ into a redeveloped complex including a cafe´, restaurant, functions room, and rooftop bar.
The earthquake-prone Albemarle Hotel on Ghuznee St has been closed for well over a decade, but construction is now under way on an extensive redevelopment of the heritagelisted building.
It will include a cafe´ and bar on the ground floor, a restaurant on the first floor, a second floor functions room, and a rooftop bar and garden on the third floor, according to Wellington City Council documents.
The three-storey Edwardian building was built in 1906 and was initially used as an alcohol-free hotel before becoming a boarding house in 1950-51. It was last used as a brothel.
The hotel is owned by Clement and Patricia Griffiths, according to CoreLogic records, with resource consent for the redevelopment granted in 2016, and changes made three years later following unforeseen costs.
In applying for the design change in 2019, environmental and town planning consultants Urban Perspectives told the council the redevelopment had proven much more difficult than thought.
‘‘After a number of failed attempts by various people to strengthen and repurpose the building, Clem and Patricia Griffiths have taken up the challenge and are part-way through the works,’’ it said.
‘‘Unfortunately, as can be the case with heritage buildings, once work has commenced it has been discovered that significantly more work is having to be done to strengthen the building and make it fit for re-use.
‘‘This change will avoid the works to be first ceasing, and the building being left unstrengthened, unfinished and an eyesore.’’
Floor plans provided by the council show a ground floor with a large cafe´ and bar, alongside a small open yard and utility area, and a new building addition for an egress staircase and toilets.
A restaurant and deck is planned for the first floor, with a functions room and deck planned for the second floor. The rooftop will be converted into a garden and bar.
The new addition was originally meant to be much larger, encompassing the entire open yard area at the back of the property, but was downsized in 2019 to save on costs once the extent of earthquakestrengthening work required for the redevelopment was realised.
Updated plans show a first-floor kitchen relocated to the existing building, and a second-floor deck removed.
The new building, which will have vertical metal cladding and a powder coated finish to match the existing dome on top of the hotel, will include an egress staircase to the rooftop, and toilets on each floor.
The hotel’s western facade, heritage facade and entrance, and trees on Glover Park will be retained.
However, the development will include a new glazed barrier on the roof garden, and new balconies with glazed barriers on the first and second floors.
The ground floor also includes a public access walkway between the building and Glover Park.
Clement and Patricia Griffiths could not be reached for comment. They purchased the hotel from Northwards Investments Limited for $850,000 in 2015, according to CoreLogic records.
It was earlier sold by the Heritage Property Group to property developer Ian Cassels for $820,000 in 2012.
Cassels described the purchase as a ‘‘passionate mistake’’.