$30m green space open next year
Christchurch’s $30 million east frame public space is to open early next year, but it is unlikely it will be surrounded by houses as per the plan..
The 660 metre by 40m space, stretching from Lichfield St north to Armagh St, will have paved and grassed areas, 312 trees, two table tennis tables, a basketball half court and 32 benches.
Crown company Otakaro had designated the east frame as a new residential area built around this park, but it was unlikely there would be any houses around the green space when it opened.
Otakaro east frame project manager Cameron McLean said the space completed what would eventually be a loop connecting the Avon River precinct, Margaret Mahy Playground, the east frame, the innovation precinct, the south frame and Christchurch Hospital.
‘‘It’s pretty much a lineal park [of] five city blocks,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s predominantly obviously green space through the middle with a cycleway on the eastern side and a laneway on the western side.
‘‘Then obviously central to that is the green, open space made up of lawns, rain gardens, tree planting and flexible space.’’
McLean said Otakaro was looking to open the space early next year.
Fletcher Living began building the first 20 east frame housing units on the corner of Hereford St and Latimer Sq in April.
They were scheduled for completion in May next year. The now-defunct Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (Cera) originally proposed starting construction in late 2015.
Yesterday a spokesman from Otakaro, Cera’s successor, said the next parcels of land – one piece on the corner of Madras and Lichfield streets and another between Worcester and Hereford streets – were expected to be transferred to Fletcher Living later this year so construction could continue.
‘‘This will see around 200 homes in the east frame constructed by the middle of 2019,’’ he said.