Council warns ‘dirty 30’ owners to act
Insurance wrangles are delaying progress on a quarter of Christchurch City Council’s ’’dirty 30’’ list of derelict properties.
The council has publicly released a list of 30 properties it deems to be holding up the central city rebuild. Many high profile buildings are on the list including the Christ Church Cathedral, the Old Post Office building and parts of Sol Square.
Owners were sent warning letters last week, offering guidance and listing enforcement options if action was not taken. As a last resort, the Crown could compulsorily acquire the sites.
The move follows public impatience at the lack of progress, anger from neighbours over squatters and concern the sites created a bad impression and deterred investment.
On Thursday, the council unanimously endorsed a threestep approach for dealing with property owners. First they would be offered help with development plans. Then council would apply pressure by charging for traffic management and cordons over public land.
Thirdly the organisation would threaten enforcement, including forced acquisition by the Crown under rebuild laws.
Councillor Jamie Gough, who has pushed for action on derelict sites, said earlier this week the council had a ’’war plan’’ to tackle landowners who were ‘‘kicking the city in the face’’ by leaving their buildings derelict.
The council attempted to soften its stance on Thursday by acknowledging that some building owners faced complicated issues delaying progress. About a quarter of the properties were still dealing with insurance issues.
It was also acknowledged some buildings were being actively repaired and physical cordons were necessary. In these cases, the council would work with owners to support them.
The list features five under active improvement, including Shand’s Emporium and the Public Trust Office.
Ceres New Zealand corporate manager Bernie de Vere said the letter was an insult.
The company owns the historic Peterborough Centre and Victoria Mansions. Their restoration had been delayed by insurance issues and the company was before the courts in respect of the Peterborough Centre, de Vere said.
‘‘We feel we’re personally being targeted as a poor corporate citizen that is dragging its heal and that’s just not right.’’
He said the building could be demolished within weeks, but Ceres wanted to restore it.
Cr Phil Clearwater said the council was showing no favouritism with the council-owned Our City O-Tautahi on the list. THE ‘DIRTY THIRTY’ Former Trinity Congregational Church/Shands Building, Worcester St, Public Trust Office, Oxford Tce, Lincoln House, Lichfield St, 143-145 Armagh St, Former Scorpio Books building, Hereford St, Old Post Office, Cathedral Square, Hereford Chambers, Hereford St, Cotters, High St, 201-203 High St, 235-237 High St, Parts of Sol Square, 216 Madras St, Our City, Oxford Tce, Peterborough Centre, Odeon Theatre and old Christchurch City Council offices, Tuam St, Spagalimis, Victoria St, Kaplan/ State Insurance, Worcester St, Former PWC Building, Armagh St, Former Holiday Inn, Cashel St, Stonehurst Hotel, Gloucester St, Former PSIS Building, Armagh St, Harley Building, Cambridge Tce, Former IRD Building, Cashel St, Christ Church Cathedral, Former Work & Income Building, High St, Park Tower, Latimer Square, 2 Fat Indians, Manchester St, 66 Oxford Tce, Victoria Mansions, Victoria St, A compound of buildings between 129 and 167 High St.