Grants protect heritage buildings’ past, present, and future

Ten heritage buildings will benefit from the latest round of Wellington City Council’s Built Heritage Incentive Fund (BHIF) – continuing to make the Capital safer and stronger, while preserving the past.

The ten buildings jointly received over $280,000 approved by the Grants Subcommittee today, based on funding criteria, equitability and comparison of like requests.

Chair of the Subcommittee, Councillor Sarah Free, says the Built Heritage Incentive Fund is one of several Council initiatives designed to assist building owners to seismically strengthen their buildings.

“Resilience and funding are key focus areas for the fund, along with contributing towards restoring and protecting our heritage-listed buildings – for now, and the future,” says Councillor Free.

A number of the buildings have remarkable stories behind them, like the Trades Hall is the site of a 1984 bombing; the Karitane Products Society Factory Building was closely associated with Truby King and the history of the Plunket Society; and the former Ashleigh Court Private Hotel was a hostel for returning soldiers during WWI, then continued life as a hotel and boarding house until 1990 – the ground floor of which has recently been put on the market.

“It is encouraging to see that heritage-listed buildings are coming off the Earthquake Prone Building List and that the Built Heritage Incentive Fund, which was increased in 2015 to $3 million over three years, is assisting owners to strengthen them,” adds Councillor Free.

More than $1.9 million has been allocated to 38 seismic strengthening related projects that are currently being undertaken.

Senior Heritage Advisor Vanessa Tanner says the BHIF is making a difference across the Capital, but in particular in some historic neighbourhoods. “It’s positive to see the number of buildings being strengthened in some of Wellingtons’ very important heritage areas like Newtown and Cuba Street.”

The successful applicants are:

Project Amount

Ashleigh Court 113 Riddiford Street, Newtown $25,000

Former People’s Palace Hotel, 203-219 Cuba Street $50,000

144-146 Riddiford Street, Newtown $2,150

58 Ghuznee Street $3,700

Karitane Products Society Factory Building, 21a Manchester Tce, Melrose $8,672

Philosophy House, 33 Aro Street $50,000

Scots College Main Building, Miramar $30,000

Watkins Building, 176-182 Cuba Street $50,000

Wellington Trades Hall, 124 Vivian Street $50,000

Wellington Harbour Board Shed 7, 1 Queens Wharf $15,000

Total $284,522

ENDS

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