Tosswill calls plans ‘terrible’
New design for Moray Pl hotel
THE man behind Dunedin’s latest fivestar hotel bid has unveiled a new look for the project, but says even he is not happy with the ‘‘dramatic’’ changes.
Tekapo businessman Anthony Tosswill yesterday said the revised design was still being tweaked, but reduced the building to 12 storeys aboveground, or about 45m at its highest.
Earlier plans for a mirrored glass finish were also axed, while the building’s three towers, base and vehicle access had also been completely reconfigured, he said.
It would also feature two basement car park levels instead of three, but would still offer fivestar hotel rooms, apartments and penthouse suites, as well as retail spaces and other features.
The number of hotel rooms with premium views had dropped by 30% as a result of the design changes.
Mr Tosswill said the design changes aimed to mollify earlier critics of his plans for a 17storey glass hotel and apartment tower, standing up to 60m high, opposite the Dunedin Town Hall.
Asked if he was happy with the compromises, Mr Tosswill said they were ‘‘terrible’’.
‘‘It’s trying to conform with everybody’s wishes that objected, and it’s trying to get something built.
‘‘I’m very, very unhappy with it. It’s terrible to me, but everyone else seems to like it. It’s not a landmark. It’s not going to be another Dunedin stadium, or anything like that, which I think is sad and a shame.
The changes came after his original bid for consent was rejected by a panel of independent commissioners last year, prompting Mr Tosswill to lodge an Environment Court appeal.
Yesterday, he said mediation talks involving more than 20 parties had been adjourned earlier this year, to allow the revised design to be finalised and then tabled.
He expected to be ready to proceed by the end of July, and he would then either lodge a fresh consent application or resume mediation talks to try to reach agreement.
‘‘If we lodge a new resource consent, we will be specifically applying to be able to lodge that in the Environment Court, rather than going through the commissioners’ process again,’’ Mr Tosswill said.