Council looking at car park buildings north of square
Developers are being sought for a new car park building north of Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.
The city council called for expressions of interest on December 7 from anyone interested in providing or partnering to build ‘‘new off street parking building(s) ... close to and north of Cathedral Square’’.
A spokeswoman said there was a need for mostly short-stay parking in the area for facilities including the Performing Arts Precinct, central library Tu¯ ranga, town hall and convention centre.
Looking at viable parking options in the area was a ‘‘priority’’, she said.
The expression of interest was related to work supporting the Performing Arts Precinct development, and could be for a building on the precinct.
The council expected 450 to 650 spaces would be enough to meet demand for the nearby developments. Its long term plan, which covers 2018 to 2028, has $6.8 million in the budget for central city offstreet parking. For comparison, the council’s 805-space, eight-storey Lichfield St building cost $31.3m.
The spokeswoman said the council was looking to partner with the private sector.
She said the council was at the beginning of the process of finding out if there was third-party interest, so it was too early to say what the options might look like or cost, but council would consider any responses.
Central City Business Association chairman Brendan Chase said he heard there were developers interested in the opportunity.
It made sense there would be a car park building in the area, Chase said.
It was wishful to think people would park on Lichfield St and walk to the performing precinct or town hall, especially at night and past rough or vacant lots, he said.
‘‘I’d like to think [a car park building] would be a catalyst for further commercial progress over that side of town, because it’s a pretty rugged environment over there.’’
The council is working on a feasibility study looking at moving the Court Theatre into the Performing Arts Precinct, which is bordered by Gloucester, Colombo and Armagh streets. It is based on a main theatre seating 360 people and a studio theatre seating 120. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in March.
The council is developing the new facilities on the precinct, with a capped budget of $30m. The Court Theatre is currently in Addington.
An earlier report on the precinct by accountancy firm PwC outlined possible ways to subsidise the expense of operating the Court Theatre in the central city.
It found a 400 space car park building built on the site, with a budget of $20.6m and $7m of council funding, would provide about $1m of revenue annually which would support precinct facilities long-term.
Court Theatre chief executive Barbara George would not say whether the theatre was putting in an expression of interest to the council.
‘‘The Court Theatre is very concerned for parking for patrons, we know that this is something that is important, and we’re working with the council on this particular issue.’’