In the Herald's new series Take a Walk, we visit a precious heritage building now locked off to the public, it's $67 million restoration stalled for a year with no sign of a re-start.
One of New Zealand's historic theatres faces the prospect of an "indefinite mothballing," Auckland councillors have been told, due to work stalling on the project some years ago and nothing happening since.
Council heritage manager Noel Reardon has written a memo to the council's planning committee members meeting today that makes for grim reading on the St James Theatre on Auckland's Queen St.
As at July 1, 2016 and still is today inside the St James. Photo/Jason Oxenham.
"The current situation ... remains at a standstill with the prospect of a possible sale of the site(s), and of a new owner perhaps proposing a new version of the full project, although there appears to be little prospect of such a party eventuating from within New Zealand, and none yet from elsewhere. The possible alternative is an indefinite mothballing of the theatre," Reardon has told the committee headed by Chris Darby.
Councillor Cathy Casey said today: "At the Planning Committee today, Auckland councillors will be updated on the fate of the St James Theatre. The landmark theatre sits abandoned after an adjacent apartment development - intended to provide support services for the theatre's restoration - lost funding."
The building at 314 Queen St was opened in 1928. Sir Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh were once on the stage, along with the Bolshoi Ballet, Black and White Minstrels and Cats.
Earlier last decade, developer Paul Doole bought the building and sought to develop apartments through the middle of it.
Herald archives show his purchase was around 2002 and many rock concerts were held there under his ownership. People talk of the entire building shaking and plaster coming down as loud rock concerts were staged within the ornate, historic walls.
In 2014, Doole sold the property to Lijun Li and family and its Relianz Holdings which is where one of the heirs to the Target Furniture business emerged – Steve Bielby, now in his early 30s, who said he has an interest in heritage buildings. This earned him the nickname 'hot property' from his Target colleagues.
A hopeful Steve Bielby in 2015 when work started briefly. Photo/Nick Reed
Around 2015, the St James' future appeared hopeful: the migrant Li family were then planning the massive St James apartments next door. Bielby said that would give the St James the essential services like disabled toilets and access at the theatre.
Work did start, particularly on the foyer and it seemed promising.
Around that time, Devonport-based filmmaker Margo McRae even screened The Show Goes On, a documentary on the theatre. Bielby starred in that along with the council's just-retired heritage manager George Farrant.
Margot McRae with Steve Bielby in 2015. Photo / Nick Reed
