Sol Square revamp gains pace
Property developer David Henderson has started work on another of the Sol Square heritage buildings which had featured on Christchurch’s ‘‘Dirty 30’’ list.
The late 19th century former Sargood and Ewen building at 92 Lichfield St was damaged in the earthquakes and sits behind shipping containers.
Built of brick, the triple-storey building backs onto Henderson’s Sol Square complex.
Before the earthquakes it was known as MSC House and housed Mu steakhouse, a dance club, Christchurch City Council offices, and apartments.
The building was caught up in the receiverships of Henderson’s companies, which began in 2008.
After settling a long-running dispute with insurance company AAI, which went to the High Court and Court of Appeal, Henderson has now started clearing out the building for repairs and refitting.
‘‘It’s huge progress,’’ Henderson said. ‘‘It’s just been a matter of gutting it and working out what it’s best future prospects are.’’
He said the ‘‘best option at the moment’’ for the building was probably the same sort of mixed activities it housed before the earthquakes.
Strengthening work he did on the building 15 years ago had saved it from collapse in the earthquakes, Henderson said.
It is listed in the Christchurch city plan as having both historical and architectural significance.
The building is now off the list of the city council’s ‘‘dirty 30’’ sites seen as barriers to the rebuild, as are two other of his properties – the Wellington Woollens building next door and 179 Tuam St.
All three are noted by council staff as having commitment to action.
Henderson is working on 179 Tuam St – the main Sol Square building – after a company connected to him bought it back from receivers in 2016.
He has consent from the council to spend $1 million repairing and strengthening the five-storey building, which he hopes to revive as a hospitality hub similar to Sol Square’s mix of restaurants and bars.
Meanwhile, heritage marble-fronted Wellington Woollens building at 96 Lichfield St, and the cleared site of the His Lordships building next door, remain mired in insurance disputes with insurance group IAG.
●➤ his Tomorrow is the commemoration of the landing of New Zealand and Australian soldiers – the Anzacs – landing at the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.
Since 1916, Anzac Day has become the day New Zealanders acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all people involved in military conflicts.
It commemorates more than 300,000 New Zealanders who served their country and the 30,000 who have died in service, and had been a public holiday since 1921.
A list of the main services across the region is included below.
For local services contact your RSA.
CHRISTCHURCH AND BANKS PENINSULA
❚
11.30am
❚ 19th Battalion and Armoured Regiment Service, The Memorial, Victoria Park, Victoria Park Rd, Cashmere in Christchurch, 8am
❚ 20th Battalion Assn, Jane Deans Close, Riccarton in Christchurch,
9am
❚ Aranui, St Ambrose Church, 11am
❚ Burwood Community ANZAC Service, Burwood Monument, corner of Lake Terrace and New Brighton Road, 11am
❚ Christchurch Citizens’ Service: Transitional Cathedral, Latimer Square, 10am
❚ Christchurch Memorial RSA Anzac Day Dawn Service, Cranmer Square, 6.15 am
❚ Fendalton, St Barnabas Church,
10am
❚ Halswell Domain, War Memorial, 9am
❚ Harewood, Harewood School Cenotaph, 7am
❚ Heathcote, corner Martindales and Bridle Path Roads,
6.15am
❚ Hei Hei, War Memorial, 9am