$250m hotel, theatre and apartments proposed for K Rd
A $250 million Karangahape Rd apartment, hotel and theatre project has been proposed, with air bridges linking to an existing iconic block.
The Glamuzina Architects of Cross St plan for The McGreggor includes 39 apartments, a five-star boutique hotel and 50 to 60-seat theatre.
Air bridges link the project to the George Court apartment building on the corner of K Rd and Mercury Lane.
Actor and director Raymond Hawthorne, who owns and lives in a George Court apartment with wide views, expressed anger about the proposal, partly because the announcement included his photograph and quotes from a Herald article in which he expressed concern about a building on the site next to his block.
“It’s rubbish. It will be a disaster. I’m unimpressed. I’m furious,” he said yesterday of the proposed new building.
But the Glamuzina report predicted a good outcome.
“The proposed site, next to the iconic George Court building, wouldn’t be completely covered, as has been previously proposed in a contentious consent already granted to Northern Escapes,” it said.
“Well-known George Court resident Raymond Hawthorne was quoted in a New Zealand Herald article in March this year saying of Northern Escapes’ proposed building, ‘It’s going to block out our views, our sunlight . . . it’s going to block out everything.’
“In direct contrast The McGreggor would have an easement, a cross-site link along the eastern wall of George Court, in effect, a new urban street.” It would link K Rd to Cross St and create a new public space “in the vein of K Rd’s existing architecture and arcades” giving eastern-facing George Court residents the chance to add a balcony.
“Already this option has been exercised by two of the George Court residents.”
Ownership of properties within the proposed block would be a co-operative and only Kiwi citizens would be allowed in, Glamuzina said.
The co-operative would retain ownership of the commercial properties in the building, providing income for the members from the rents and the sale of power generated by the self-sustaining building.