The Council team provided a drop-in public briefing for local residents in the City Gallery on 3 April. The session outlined what’s happening this year (2024) and what’s planned for 2025, 2026 and even 2027 with the Civic Square/Te Ngākau. We went along to the talk to find out more and here is our attempt to unpack what was shared.

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The big picture

Lots is happening! Over the next 4 years, a number of buildings in the Civic Square/Te Ngākau will either be in the process of being repaired, demolished or built. Some things are known now - for example that the Civic Administration Building (CAB) will be demolished this year - while other decisions have yet to be made - for example, what will happen with the Municipal Office Building (MOB) and whether or not there is a developer out there willing to put a new building (or buildings) up where CAB and perhaps MOB, too, are currently located.

Will road closures be involved?

This year, yes. From June-September 2024, part of Wakefield Street will need to be closed so that a crane and demolition equipment can be positioned to demolish part of the CAB building.

What about access to the Civic Square/Te Ngākau?

It will be tricky but not impossible! There will still be access to the Square but the direct route accessed from Mercer Street will be closed. The Council is putting up maps to show the walking routes to take.. Some pavement access around the edge of the CAB site will also be closed.

What’s going to replace the CAB building?

The million dollar+ question! We don’t know if there is a developer interested in the site and, if so, what they might want to build. For example, might it be an office building with a restaurant on the ground floor? or a gallery on the ground floor? or maybe it could be a retail complex .. or? At this stage there’s no information to share. Nor is it clear whether or not the Council staff would move into this building.

If a new building is built, how tall can it be?

Under the updated District Plan, this building can be 40 metres. A rule of thumb is 3 metres can equal a floor. Often with a premium site building such as this, the ground floor might be higher, say 5 metres. So assuming that combination, then it could be 10-12 floors high.

Will the bulding that replaces the CAB also include the MOB site?

No-one knows that yet. A developer might want to take both sites, or a number of developers might want to bid for different parts of the 2 locations. And the MOB building has a challenge for a developer - it has to include providing facilities for the Town Hall (toilets, kitchen etc) because the Town Hall building doesn’t have these. If no developer wants to take on the MOB site, then the Council may decide to repair the current building, or it might decide to build a new small building (eg 3 floors) just to provide the toilets, kitchen etc that the Town Hall will need so that it can open. If that happens, the smaller building would be treated as an “Annexe” to the Town Hall

What else is happening in the area?

Good question! There’s work needed below the Square where pipes and electricals and storage exist, And decisions are still to be made about things like:

• the Michael Fowler Centre and car park

  • will Willis Bond build there now that Victoria University isn’t going to be an anchor tenant?

• the City to Sea Bridge

  • will it be strengthened or demolished?

• the concrete bridge from Frank Kitts Park

  • will it be demolished as previously suggested?

  • Or, if the City to Sea Bridge is going to be removed, will it need to stay in place for a while longer?

• Frank Kitts Park & underground car park

  • will the underground car park still be demolished?

  • and if so, will Frank Kitts Park be re-designed to be flatter and with more lawn space as previously explored.

• Fale

  • and if the Frank Kitts Park is re-designed, will the Fale be built?

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What next? Who knows? Only time will tell!

• Want to learn more - go here for the WCC info

• And see various maps here

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Timeline

2024

• Civic Administration Building (CAB) demolished

• Decision about Municipal Office Building (MOB) being considered - will it be demolished & a new building planned for the site, or repaired?

  • NB: If MOB is to be demolished, then a new building of some sort will be needed to provide facilities such as toilets and kitchen for the Town Hall in 2027. This must happen or the Town Hall can’t open.

• Central Library work continues

• Town Hall work continues

2025

• City Gallery closed for the year for repair

• CAB site now empty - hoardings surrounding it

• MOB building decision made about whether or not to demolish & a new building planned for the site, or repair.

• Central Library work continues

• Town Hall work continues

2026

• City Gallery re-opens

• Central Library re-opens

• MOB building decision being implemented (demolish or repair)

• Town Hall work continues

2027

• MOB building finished and open

• Town Hall re-opens

and then …. ?