Council to consider options for City properties
Council to consider options for City properties
30 November 2010
Christchurch City Council will not sell a Central City South property back to its former owner, property developer David Henderson as he has failed to meet the Council's deadline for settlement.
The Para North property on the corner of Tuam and Manchester Streets was the first of the five properties purchased from Mr Henderson in 2008 that was earmarked for development as part of the Central City South Master Plan.
The Council's General Manager of Corporate Services Paul Anderson says that a condition of the Council's agreement with Mr Henderson was for him to settle the purchase of the property five days after he was notified that a new title had been issued for the property. The title was issued two weeks ago and Mr Henderson was not able to settle, Mr Anderson says.
Mr Henderson still has first right of refusal on the other properties that the Council purchased from him in 2008, but as with Para North, he must develop it in accordance with the Council's plan and meet the required timeline.
Council staff will report back to the Council early next year on the remainder of the options that Mr Henderson has on Council properties and also on the Council's other land holdings in the city.
Mr Anderson says the reasons for purchasing the properties in 2008 are still valid today.
"All the properties are in key locations in the Central City and when they came on the market we had to move quickly to secure them. There was a risk that the sites could be broken up, sold individually and that they would end up in Big Box retail development which would stifle revitalisation opportunities," he says.
Mr Anderson says the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy (UDS) recognises the need to revitalise the central city and advocates increasing the number of people living within the four avenues. Developing the Central City South in line with the Master Plan and Vision aligns with the UDS. The Central City South Master Plan proposes a mixed use of retail and quality, high density residential development around lanes. An inner-city campus is one of the proposals
ENDS