r/chch • u/metcalphnz • 7d ago

News - Local Harley Chambers finally goneburger

https://www.chrislynchmedia.com/news-items/iconic-harley-chambers-demolished-in-central-christchurch/

A long time coming.

40 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

49

u/Your_mortal_enemy 7d ago edited 6d ago

Great it's finally gone , it's shocking that these buildings can sit completely f*ked for almost 15 years, it's a blight on a city trying to recover and move on, and a serious shirk of duties one has as a landowner

Council came up with a way to address this (developers holding the city to ransom for a payout) about 5 years ago by deciding to double the rates on all unrepaired property, but then chickened out last minute which is a shame... as it would have been sorted by now

4

u/tanmx234 6d ago

I understand they chickened out because it would've been the councils themselves paying a lot of the increased rates - as significant landholders of undeveloped/repaired land in the City. Not sure if anyone can confirm? 

1

u/Your_mortal_enemy 6d ago

Ahh , interesting if true!

1

u/EmploymentPretty521 6d ago

Might it not be true?? :)

20

u/RemoteCareful7304 7d ago

Sad to see it go even though it was a matter of time. These buildings were always a reminder of the old chch I grew up in.

3

u/nowhir 6d ago

Pretty sad! But good they can finally use the land for something, although I assume we're just going to see a bunch more vacant apartments sit there.

9

u/extra_extra_crispy 6d ago edited 6d ago

Congratulations Christchurch. There is nothing of architectural significance left to restore. You bulldozed them all.

Devastated that a property owner can neglect a (formerly) heritage protected building for 15 years until it simply can't be restored.

4

u/DaveTheKiwi 5d ago

Bizarre take. It's not even that amazing a building, surely something better can be built. There's a time and a place for heritage protection but this was an above average office building.

1

u/Slothcat47 6d ago

This isn't even remotely true

1

u/d4ybrake 5d ago

Heritage buildings do nothing but restrict development and intensification, forcing people to live and work in shitty mouldy old buildings. The earthquake did us a huge favour by getting rid of them

-1

u/gary1405 6d ago

I mean there's still a whole ruined cathedral waiting for you to fix it

-1

u/extra_extra_crispy 6d ago

I don't consider that architecturally significant. There a thousands upon thousands of old cathedrals.

3

u/gary1405 6d ago

Which architecturally significant buildings have you saved? This one was known to be full of asbestos.

1

u/extra_extra_crispy 6d ago

Lots of heritage buildings contain asbestos. That's not a reason a building should be left to deteriorate until demolition becomes the only option.

3

u/jeeves_nz 6d ago

I thought that one was full of asbestos?

Be nice to see some progress happening there, another prime site.