New lease proposals for Sign of Takahe mulled
One of Christchurch’s most treasured heritage buildings could soon have a new use after sitting idle for eight years.
Two people have responded to the Christchurch City Council’s call for proposals from anyone interested in leasing the Sign of the Takahe, on Cashmere Hill.
The council would not release details of the proposals or say what the proposed uses were.
The Sign of the Takahe was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake and a $2.8 million restoration was completed in May 2017. The building has been closed since then and was only opened for a one-off open day organised by Cashmere School as a fundraiser in October. More than 2000 people turned out to take a look inside the building. The grounds were also used for jazz concerts this summer, but the building has remained mostly off limits to the public.
Before the earthquakes, the Sign of the Takahe was a restaurant, bar, wedding and function venue run by Christchurch businessmen Mark Bouvet and Richard Freeman. The lease was not due to expire until 2020, but the pair relinquished it in August 2017 after trying to sell it on Trade Me.
Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said an internal evaluation panel needed to consider the two expressions of interest before any information could be provided.
The panel was not scheduled to meet until mid-March and, once it had finished evaluating the applications, would make a recommendation to the Spreydon-Cashmere Community Board, which would make the final decision.
Rutledge said he did not know when the report would go to the community board.
Cashmere ward councillor Tim Scandrett said he was looking forward to seeing what the proposals were.
He said it was great to hear jazz on the grounds during the summer.
‘‘To go up there and see it being used was really wonderful.’’
Scandrett said it would be great to have a cafe or restaurant up there.
Christchurch Civic Trust chairman Chris Kissling said it was nice to have historic buildings open to the public but that should be balanced with a need to generate some form of income to help pay for the building’s upkeep.
He said he was not sure what he would like to see in the Sign of the Takahe. It could be used as a restaurant again or be used as a community centre and wedding venue, like the Old Stone House in neighbouring Cracroft.
‘‘That gets a lot of use.’’