Demolition to begin on Cathedral Square buildings
The clock is ticking for one of Christchurch’s ‘Dirty 30’ buildings, following the announcement of a series of demolitions.
The strip of abandoned shops - a two-storey pavilion and the six-storey car park which wraps around the 14-storey former Rydges Hotel, on the corner of Oxford Tce and Worcester Blvd - is expected to be gone by April 2024.
The Christchurch City Council granted Emmons Development NZ Ltd resource consent to demolish the buildings in May 2023, and on Thursday said the works will begin in September.
Emmons Development, whose sole shareholder is Singaporean-based Naoaki Sun, plans to redevelop the hotel after demolition is complete. Emmons Development also owned the cleared site of the former 12-storey Grant Thornton office building, which was demolished in 2012 and located next to the car park.
Read the full story from reporter Sinead Gill here (subscription required).
New Year, Same Brain Teasers!
A man was found dead with a cassette recorder in one hand and a gun in the other.
When the police pressed “play,” the tape said, “I can’t go on,” and then there was a gunshot.
Yet, the police knew it was a murder.
How?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!