Car park pressure ramps up

THE quake-hit James Smith parking building could remain closed for three months and school balls booked for its top-floor ballroom are being shifted to other venues.

The parking building in Wakefield St was shut for structural checks after the 6.5-magnitude quake that shook Wellington on July 21. Its managers say structural works are about to begin but it looks likely to remain closed for at least another three months – adding to the squeeze on the city’s parking.

James Smith was one of three parking buildings closed after the July quake, including Reading Courtenay and Victoria St, which left the city short by about 1500 parking spaces.

Oyster Property Group estimated the James Smith building would reopen to the public within 12 weeks, chief executive Mark Schiele said.

It remained closed to the public because remedial work on its columns and walls was required, he said. The cost of the work was not yet known but ‘‘it’s not going to be cheap’’.

The nearby Amora Hotel uses the building’s top floor as a ballroom and conference venue, and the lower floors are leased by Tournament Parking.

The Amora had been assessed by engineers and deemed structurally sound, manager Liam Craughwell said. Some events booked into the car park ballroom would be shifted into the hotel itself.

But the Hutt Valley High School and Hutt International Boys’ School balls had been moved to Te Papa, and Sacred Heart College would now hold its ball at the St James Theatre.

Mr Craughwell confirmed the hotel would miss out on the revenue from events it was having to shift to other venues.