Developer with $11m debts says he’s left ‘the game’
An embattled Christchurch developer who registered a new Porsche days before liquidating three companies says he is done with the property sector.
The revelation comes as a new soon-to-be-registered company with the same listed address as his Crawford Developments business has taken over the projects he once oversaw. It has the same leadership, staff and social media accounts, but Harry Crawford insists he is not involved.
Three of his 19 registered companies were placed into liquidation after the High Court ordered Crawford Group to pay about $1.4 million in compensation to two Phillipstown homeowners over defaulted purchases of homes in Olliviers Rd.
The first liquidator report estimates the company’s debts are close to $11m.
Crawford Developments – which had two developments in Scott St, Sydenham and Rotherham St, Riccarton – has recently rebranded on social media to Envision Developments. Crawford says he has nothing to do with it. As of the end of this week he would be out of the property industry completely, he told The Press. “With everything going on it’s been too hard to continue, when you’ve got someone constantly chasing you for mistakes I’ve made.”
The mistakes – around the Olliviers Rd deal, which resulted in the High Court order against Crawford Group – were made almost three years ago but he was still being punished for, he said, adding he wanted to make things right, and hoped some creditors may still get paid. “I’d rather get out now and do it on my own terms.”
Envision Developments had taken over the Crawford Development projects, he said, and its director would be Crawford’s friend and ex-business partner, Danielle Bridge.
Bridge is listed as a current director and shareholder of Crawford Developments, alongside Crawford. It retains the Ferry Rd base, sales staff and most of the same leadership, but Crawford insisted he would be gone. “It’s gutting. You spend most of your working life working up to something ... then the wheels fall off a little bit. To tell you the truth, I just need some time to reset. It’s hard to show up when you’re getting smashed down every day.”
Crawford registered a new Porsche 911 GT3, which has a starting price of $385,000, to Crawford Group Ltd days before the companies were placed into liquidation. He previously said he regretted that particular purchase.
Yesterday he told The Press he’d been trying to sell it but that it had been “pretty hard to flick”. He was worried he would not get his money back for it.
Envision Developments has replaced Crawford Developments on social media, but is yet to be listed as a registered company. The company name had been reserved and approved, and it would be listed soon, Crawford said.
“I wish them the best of luck with the projects. I would’ve loved to have handled them. They’re looking good ...
“They’ll be delivered well and on time.” Crawford said he understood people may think the name of the company had just changed. “It’s important people know I’m not involved. I’m not. I’m finished.”
He said he likely would have finished the projects if not for the court ruling against his company.
“I’m stepping down from the game. I would’ve liked to see some of the court case go our way. It was a nightmare year last year. I just want to focus on myself.”
Creditors have until Sunday to file claims to the liquidator of Crawford’s three collapsed companies. He estimated the close to $11m in debts initially forecast would have gone down significantly by the time the final report was released.
The three companies in liquidation are ChCh Group Ltd (formerly Crawford Group), Chch Construction Limited and Cashel Street Townhouses Ltd. The initial report estimated there would be no money available to unsecured creditors.