Derelict hotel progress promised
The owners of the derelict All Seasons Hotel in Christchurch could be seeking tenders for its demolition by the end of the month.
The Papanui Rd buildings sat attracting vandals and squatters since being earthquake damaged, angering neighbours. The site is owned by Auckland’s rich-listed Pandy family, owners of major hotel chain CP Group.
Pacific Architecture director Brett Taylor, speaking on behalf of the owners, said they had been working on development plans, which had become complicated by engineering issues.
‘‘We are currently preparing scope documents for the demolition of the buildings and these invitations to tender will be issued by the end of the month,’’ he said.
‘‘Once this is finalised, a consent application to undertake those works will be lodged and the demolition will follow once the consent is issued.’’
The Christchurch City Council has confirmed it held discussions with the owners’ representatives, but no consents have yet been lodged. Prakash Pandey – the director of Queensgate Trustees, which has taken over the site from the family’s hotel owning arm – has not answered questions from The Press about the property and is apparently overseas.
Taylor said Queensgate Trustees understood the ‘‘ongoing frustrations evident with the existing site condition but we are pleased to be able to confirm that significant progress is being made’’.
He said they hoped to be able to announce soon the name of the international hotel brand that would run the new hotel.
Representatives for the Pandey family have said several times in the past seven years that redevelopment plans for the site are under way. Other than fencing the site, no action has been taken.
Neighbours say it is an eyesore that attracts trouble and devalues an area with a large amount of visitor accommodation.
Prostitutes and gangs are reported to have used and damaged the site, and one resident said that ‘‘homeless and troubled young men’’ were now living there.
Taylor said his company had been working since late last year to resolve the issues affecting the project, and developing the new concepts. The work included site mitigation to prepare it for redevelopment, he said.