Discussion begins with South Frame property owners

Discussion begins with South Frame property owners

Media Release – 4 June 2013

As the central city redevelopment focus moves on to the South Frame, owners of designated property in that area are being invited to discuss the potential impacts of a draft plan with the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU).

All property owners in the South Frame area between Manchester and Montreal Streets have been contacted recently by email and letter. The CCDU will engage with individual owners by the end of this month.

CCDU director Warwick Isaacs says until now the more urgent focus has been on other key anchor projects.

“But with those projects now in various stages of development, we can look to the next key area. While we have had some contact with some property owners in the South Frame, for others this may be the first opportunity to speak directly with our team.”

Mr Isaacs says the plan for the South Frame is still under development and it will have different impacts on different properties.

“In some instances we will want to purchase entire sites including buildings, in other cases there will be opportunities to look at other arrangements that will suit our needs.’’

As with all land designated under the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, a willing-seller willing-buyer negotiated agreement is the preferred option for the CCDU and property owners to work towards.

“And regardless of what we think we might require or be able to work around, it may be as simple as the property owner wanting to sell their land immediately. So we look forward to getting all of these discussions underway,” Mr Isaacs says.

To date, agreement has been reached with the owners of more than 63 per cent of the land area required for the priority anchor projects – the Convention Centre Precinct, the East Frame, the Bus Interchange, the Justice & Emergency Services Precinct and the Metro Sport Facility.

Negotiations for the purchase of the remaining properties are well underway.

ENDS

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